Researchers Produce Cheap, Eco-Friendly Glass Material

The researchers explained that glass is used in high-tech products in the field of optics,

telecommunications, chemistry and medicine, as well as ineveryday objects such as bottles and windows. However, glass production is mainly based on processes such as melting, grinding or etching. These processes have existed for decades, are technologically complex, energy-intensive and very limited in terms of the forms they can implement. Scientists from the University of Freiburg in Germany wanted to solve this problem.

Thanks to their injection molding technologyGlassomer from special granulate can now be produced glass with high throughput at temperatures as low as 130 ° C. The cast components are then transformed from a 3D printer into glass by a heat treatment process; the result is pure quartz glass. This process requires less energy than conventional glass melting, resulting in energy efficiency and fewer emissions.

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The researchers added that they had decided so earlier.existing problems in glass casting such as porosity and abrasion of particles. In addition, the key technological steps of the new method were developed with the use of water as the main material, which made the technology more environmentally friendly and durable.

“We see great potential especially forsmall high-tech glass components. Along with transparency, the very low coefficient of expansion of quartz glass makes the technology interesting. Sensors and optics work reliably at any temperature as long as key components are made of glass, ”added the researchers.

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