Sand, limestone and sodium (or potassium) carbonate – elements which seem quite distinct, don’t they? But could it be that they have something in common – how about it? YES, THEY DO! By melting these components in special ovens at extremely hight temperatures, alongside auxiliary substances, we get the fascinating GLASS – used for millennia in various fields. A material that may seem trivial, but it is our hope that the details we are about to reveal will convince you that glass was and remains an innovative element, and its captivating story cannot be said to have reached its conclusion yet.
The physical properties of the glass are determined by their composition – e.g.:
The composition of common glass or sodium glass is, approximately, 6SiO2·CaO·Na2O. It is used to make windows and glass packaging material.
The composition of potassium glass is 6SiO2·CaO·K2O; it is resistant to changes in temperature and is used in the manufacture of laboratory glassware. The laboratory – this chamber where we can find special equipment and devices for scientific research, classroom experiments and assays etc., used chiefly in fields such as physics, chemistry or biology; the meeting place of art and science. But if we were to pass into the ambiance of this place straight out of a fairy tale, we would become overwhelmed with emotion whether we looked back at our own experiences or the literature each of us had gone through – an atmosphere replete with science, precision, responsibility, curiosity, various items, multiple substances, research, chemical reactions and experiments – magic.
But let us go back to laboratory glass. Why?
The glass used in a chemistry lab is exceptional. It must hold its own against chemical substances and water vapours; its characteristics must include high mechanical strength, resistance to thermal shock and a low tendency towards devitrification. But is it necessary to pay attention to these aspects? You might have guessed the answer, of course, if we take into account that certain pieces of glassware must withstand sterilisation; others are used to measure specific volumes, and thus cannot change their size significantly at room temperature. Chemical substances may require heating and cooling, so glass must be resistant to shattering because of thermal shock. Therefore, most glassware is made from borosilicate glass. And just how is borosilicate glass obtained? By adding small quantities of Al2O3 or B2O3, we can get glass that is resistant to sudden changes in temperature (e.g., Jena, Pyrex or Duran glass). They have high chemical resistance and a low expansion coefficient.
The first laboratory glass made of borosilicate glass was developed over 120 years ago by chemist Otto Schott and launched on the market by Glastechnische Laboratorium Schott & Genossen Jena.
In physics or chemistry labs, one component of analytical instruments or optical devices is optical filters as well. For laboratories, as well as for industrial or home use, various types of glassware equipped with a heating unit are made, which are based on semiconducting film applied directly on the walls of the container. Electric current is introduced through silver contacts deposited using a paste. For the electrical isolation of the semiconducting paste, it is lined with a second layer of SiO2 and TiO2 film.
Glassware used in laboratories and obtained through processing glass tubes are containers (glasses, inners, cylinders, test tubes), simple devices (burettes, pipettes, weighing ampoules, freezers, containers for washing), connecting elements etc.
We could most definitely go on with details about these, but our aim with this story is only to start off the journey into this fascinating field.
If you have a short visit in mind to a Romanian museum, we suggest a unique location: The Sibiu Museum of Pharmaceutical History.
It was officially opened to the public in 1972, has been part of the National Brukenthal Museum since the start of the collection in 1950, and is a rarity in both the Romanian as well as the European museographic landscape. The founding of the Sibiu museum was done for two reasons: this is where the first pharmacy in Romania operated, documented in 1494, followed by the brisk development of a rich tradition of pharmaceutical activity in the Sibiu area. The collections of the museum comprise 6642 items; they stand as a testament to the evolution of pharmaceutical treatment and the techniques used throughout more than three and a half centuries, and have been gathered from renowned European centres such as: Vienna, Dresden, Leipzig, Berlin, Stuttgart, Budapest, London and Paris. They were purchased by pharmacists practising in Romania, thus also resulting in the creation of an international heritage.
Throughout our short journey today we have invited you to explore a few chapters from the history of glass – in particular, the special laboratory glass, from the way it is made to its properties and its applications, and we suggested a short stop at a special location in the country in which you can find unique artefacts.
Glass, one of the most versatile substances for the future, with unimaginable properties, which still offers a high potential for innovation that may lead to its use in completely novel applications. Innovations in the glassware industry continue to assist laboratory researchers to contribute to the development of the next generation of chemical substances and medications all so necessary for the medical science of the future in order to ensure the access of the population to effective and high-quality health and treatment services.
