Borate glass
Appearance
![](http://178.128.105.246/cars-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/HARMONY_BORAX_WORKS%2C_DEATH_VALLEY%2C_CA.jpg/300px-HARMONY_BORAX_WORKS%2C_DEATH_VALLEY%2C_CA.jpg)
Borate glasses have a more complex action of alkali ions than silicate glasses.[1] Borate glasses also have major differences in their optical properties.[2]
The single largest use of boron compounds in the world (accounting for half of total global use) is the production of certain types of boron-treated glass fiber for insulating and structural fiberglass.[3] In these uses the boron may be present as borax or boron oxide, and adds to the structural strength of the glass as borosilicate, or is added as a fluxing agent to decrease the melting temperature of pure silica, which is difficult to extrude as fibers and work with in pure form, due to the high temperatures involved.
References
[edit]- ^ "Glasses - Alkali Borate Glasses". Archived from the original on 2014-12-01. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
- ^ Gautam, Chandkiram; Yadav, Avadhesh Kumar; Singh, Arbind Kumar (2012). "A Review on Infrared Spectroscopy of Borate Glasses with Effects of Different Additives". ISRN Ceramics. 2012: 1–17. doi:10.5402/2012/428497.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
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