Borosilicate glass is highly durable and heat-resistant, making it useful in many applications that involve temperature changes. A unique combination of silica and boric oxide, as well as other oxides, gives the material its strength and resistance. As some of the oxide components are replaced with boron oxide, the binding forces within the glass material are enhanced.

There are numerous advantages to using this glass material:

  • Can withstand high temperatures easily
  • Inert to almost all chemicals
  • Can withstand high agitation & thermal stress
  • Extremely low coefficient of expansion
  • Corrosion-resistant

Borosilicate glass properties

Low thermal expansion

Pure borosilicate glass is significantly less likely to warp or deform when exposed to temperature changes because its thermal expansion coefficient is at least 3.2 x 10-6 1/K.

This material is suitable for laboratory heating and cookware due to its strength in thermal shock exposure. As a result of its characteristically low thermal expansion, the material maintains its integrity even when transferred in seconds between a cold and a hot environment.

In spite of modifications in its number of components, the thermal expansion coefficient may reach 7.38 x 10-6 1/K, but it is still much more resistant than ordinary soda-lime glass.

Some of the thermal properties of borosilicate glass are:

Annealing temperature = 470 – 640°C

Vicat softening temperature = 460 – 840°C

Transition temperature = 440 – 560°C

High material strength

The borosilicate glassware dubai is more resistant to blunt force impacts than similar glassware. At 20°C, it has a Knoop hardness of 400 – 480 and a Shear modulus of 26.5 – 27 GPa.

Chemically Stable

When exposed to acidic environments, borosilicate glass will not corrode or break.

Laboratory glassware

Laboratories often consist of glassware in the form of beakers, burettes, cylinders, vials, and Petri dishes. As a result of its inert properties, chemical substances can be placed inside it. However, not all glassware is equal. Emphor DLAS is the best laboratory equipment supplier in UAE. Emphor DLAS deals with the best-in-class equipment made from borosilicate glass.

The most common type of glass found in laboratories is this type, which is used in beakers, vials, test tubes, flasks, etc. Because of its low expansion, it is suitable for a wide range of laboratory applications. The material is resistant to chemical attacks and has a very low expansion coefficient.

However, there are some substances that are inert to this glass material. These are:

  • Hydrofluoric acid
  • Strong Caustic solution
  • Phosphoric acid

Even in small concentrations, hydrofluoric acid is highly effective. You can affect your experiment by using caustic solutions and phosphoric acid at high temperatures. The material can be used in almost all applications with proper care.

The chemical and thermal stability of borosilicate glass makes it popular for laboratory glassware.

Laboratory beakers, flasks and much other glassware equipment are using borosilicate glass as the most common ingredient material.

Other Applications of Borosilicate Glass

With its top-notch properties, borosilicate glass is used in a wide variety of industries and applications, because of its physical and chemical properties. Let us check some of the applications in which borosilicate glass is widely used.

Optical equipment

Due to the stability of borosilicate glass, it is a good material for fabricating slides and lenses for microscopes, telescopes, and other optical devices. In some circumstances, the doping agents may likely change the characteristics of the glass such as optical absorption spectra.

Pharmaceutical glass tubing

Pharmaceutical containers like syringes, cartridges, vials, and ampoules are made of borosilicate glass. In most cases, the material is chemically inert when it comes into contact with liquid medications.

Lighting technology

Borosilicate glass is extremely useful for glass receptacles and membranes used in lighting equipment. Modern high-powered flashlights, studio spotlights, and HID lamps all use this type of glass.

In recent studies, doping chemicals have been added to borosilicate glass to modify its chemical composition. W-LED, solid state display and similar applications are useful for the alteration of the photoluminescence spectra of borosilicate laboratory glassware.

Cookware and kitchen implements

With its impeccable thermal resistance properties, borosilicate glass material has entered cooking and baking. Popular cookware brands have started to make use of this glass material for glass cooking pots and baking dishes. Also, due to its low thermal expansion properties, it is used in making measuring cups and similar receptacles that are exposed to high temperatures.

Conclusion

Almost all lab equipment serves a unique purpose. To get the best quality laboratory glassware equipment that meets your required standards, feel free to contact us the best lab equipment suppliers in Dubai.