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Unveiling High Borosilicate Glass: Why Can It Endure ＂Hot and Cold＂?
In the laboratory, a beaker was taken out of a 300°C oven and directly immersed in ice water, but it was safe and sound; in the kitchen, a glass teapot remained as bright and clean as new after countless boiling water brewing. Behind these miracles, it is all thanks to a magical material – high borosilicate glass. So, what is so special about this glass that can easily cope with extreme temperature differences? Let’s uncover its secrets at the molecular level.
The secret weapon of molecular structure
The extraordinary performance of high borosilicate glass comes from its unique chemical composition. Compared with ordinary glass, it adds 12%-15% of boron trioxide (B₂O₃) on the basis of silicon dioxide (SiO₂). This change forms a tighter three-dimensional network structure of silicon oxygen boron at the microscopic level, making the internal stress distribution of the material more uniform. Like a more elastic net, it can better absorb and disperse thermal stress when the temperature changes drastically to avoid local rupture.
Key breakthrough in thermal expansion coefficient
The thermal expansion coefficient of ordinary glass is about 9×10⁻⁶/℃, while that of high borosilicate glass is only 3.3×10⁻⁶/℃. This means that under the same temperature difference, the volume change of high borosilicate glass is less than one-third of that of ordinary glass. This property enables it to withstand instantaneous temperature differences of up to 300℃, which is 3-5 times the limit of ordinary glass. Experimental data show that a 2mm thick piece of high borosilicate glass can drop from 200℃ to 0℃ in 1 second without breaking.
Application revolution from laboratory to daily life
This excellent temperature resistance allows high borosilicate glass to show its prowess in many fields. In the field of scientific research, it has become the preferred material for chemical laboratory utensils; in the medical industry, it is used to make syringes that can be sterilized at high temperatures; in the home field, it is used to make glass cookers that can be directly heated by open flames. According to statistics, the breakage rate of laboratory utensils using high borosilicate glass is more than 80% lower than that of ordinary glass, which greatly improves the safety of the experiment.
Temperature code of manufacturing process
The manufacturing process of high borosilicate glass is also full of scientific and technological content. The raw materials need to be melted at a high temperature of more than 1600℃, which is about 200℃ higher than ordinary glass. This high-temperature treatment allows the boron atoms to fully integrate into the silicon-oxygen network to form a more stable structure. Modern processes also further optimize its internal stress distribution by precisely controlling the cooling rate, so that the finished product can easily cope with the extreme test of “ice and fire”.
From molecular structure to macroscopic performance, high borosilicate glass shows us the subtleties of materials science. It is not only a functional material, but also a wonderful presentation of human wisdom in the microscopic world. With the development of science and technology, this “temperature master” will surely show its unique value in more fields.
