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Quizzes > Quizzes for Business > Manufacturing

Take the Glass Knowledge Assessment Quiz

Explore Glass Materials, Structure, and Applications

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to Glass Knowledge Assessment Quiz.

This glass knowledge quiz helps you check your grasp of composition, production, and real-world uses in 15 multiple-choice questions. Use it to spot gaps before a class or exam, then try a related knowledge quiz or explore a product quiz for more practice.

What is the primary network-forming oxide in typical soda-lime glass?
Sodium oxide (Na2O)
Calcium oxide (CaO)
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
Aluminum oxide (Al2O3)
Silicon dioxide (SiO2) is the main network former in soda-lime glass, creating the amorphous silica network. The other oxides act as fluxes or modifiers, but they do not form the primary glass network.
Why is glass generally transparent to visible light?
It has an amorphous structure without grain boundaries that scatter light.
It contains metal ions that absorb visible wavelengths.
Its crystalline lattice diffracts visible light out of the beam.
It is too thin to allow any light absorption.
The lack of long-range crystalline order in glass means there are no grain boundaries to scatter visible light, giving it transparency. Crystalline or polycrystalline materials would scatter or absorb more light.
Which raw material is the main source of silica in glass manufacture?
Kaolin clay
Quartz sand
Feldspar
Limestone
Quartz sand is over 90% silicon dioxide and is the primary source of silica for most commercial glass compositions. The other minerals contribute other oxides but are not the main silica source.
What is the main purpose of annealing in glass production?
To coat the surface with protective film
To increase refractive index uniformly
To relieve residual internal stresses
To remove gas bubbles by breaking them down
Annealing involves holding glass at a temperature near its strain point to relieve internal stresses developed during forming. This prevents spontaneous cracking and improves mechanical stability.
Which application commonly uses tempered glass?
Laboratory beakers
Automobile side windows
Optical fibers
Residential window panes
Automobile side windows are typically made from tempered glass, which, when fractured, crumbles into small granular pieces for safety. Laboratory beakers and residential windows use annealed or borosilicate glass, while optical fibers use fused silica.
Which additive is primarily responsible for the high thermal shock resistance of borosilicate glass?
Boron oxide (B2O3)
Potassium oxide (K2O)
Zinc oxide (ZnO)
Lead oxide (PbO)
Boron oxide lowers the coefficient of thermal expansion and increases the elasticity of the glass network, giving borosilicate glass its superior thermal shock resistance. The other oxides do not significantly improve thermal shock performance.
What is the key characteristic of the float glass manufacturing process?
Molten glass spreads on a bath of molten tin to form flat sheets.
Glass is blown into molds using compressed air.
Glass powder is sintered on a rotating drum.
Glass is pressed between two rollers under high pressure.
In the float glass process, molten glass floats on liquid tin, creating a smooth, flat surface on both sides of the sheet. This continuous process is widely used for window glass production.
Glass viscosity near the working point is most sensitive to changes in:
Colorant concentration
Temperature
Glass thickness
Annealing time
Viscosity of glass has an exponential dependence on temperature near the working point, so small temperature changes drastically affect fluidity. Thickness, colorants, and annealing time have far smaller immediate effects.
Which property most directly reduces thermal shock in a given glass object?
High density
High ionic content
High refractive index
Low coefficient of thermal expansion
A low coefficient of thermal expansion minimizes internal stresses when temperature changes occur quickly, reducing the risk of thermal shock. Density and refractive index are unrelated to thermal stress resistance.
In chemical strengthening of glass, which ion exchange occurs at the surface?
Potassium ions (K+) are replaced by sodium ions (Na+).
Sodium ions (Na+) are replaced by larger potassium ions (K+).
Silicon ions (Si4+) are replaced by aluminum ions (Al3+).
Calcium ions (Ca2+) are replaced by sodium ions (Na+).
Chemical strengthening involves soaking glass in a molten potassium salt bath so that smaller Na+ ions are exchanged for larger K+ ions at the surface, creating compressive stress. The reverse exchange does not strengthen glass.
What describes the stress profile of tempered glass?
Uniform tensile stress throughout
Surface tensile stress and core compressive stress
No residual stresses after tempering
Surface compressive stress and core tensile stress
Tempering introduces compressive stresses at the surface and balancing tensile stresses in the core. This profile increases strength and causes tempered glass to crumble into small pieces when broken.
When tempered glass fractures, it typically breaks into:
Sharp, long shards
Large curved plates
Fibrous strands
Small cuboidal granules
Tempered glass fractures into small cuboidal granules due to its uniform compressive surface stress, which causes cracks to propagate rapidly in many small segments. This granular breakup reduces injury risk.
Gorilla Glass used in smartphone screens is primarily what type of glass?
Soda-lime glass
Lead crystal glass
Borosilicate glass
Chemically strengthened aluminosilicate glass
Gorilla Glass is an aluminosilicate formulation that is chemically strengthened via ion exchange to achieve high scratch resistance and toughness. Soda-lime and borosilicate glasses lack the necessary strength for smartphone screens.
Which type of glass is most suitable for high-temperature furnace windows?
Lead glass
Acrylic plastic
Soda-lime glass
Fused silica
Fused silica has an extremely high softening point, low thermal expansion, and excellent thermal shock resistance, making it ideal for furnace windows. Soda-lime and lead glasses cannot withstand such temperatures.
Which glass composition offers the highest chemical durability against water and acids?
Zinc-borosilicate glass
Borosilicate glass
Lead crystal glass
Soda-lime glass
Borosilicate glass combines silica with boron oxide, greatly improving resistance to water and acids compared to soda-lime or lead crystal glass. Zinc-borosilicate may be durable but is less common.
Adding increasing amounts of alkali-earth oxide (e.g., CaO) to a silicate glass generally leads to:
Network depolymerization and increased coefficient of thermal expansion
Higher viscosity at melting temperature
Network polymerization and decreased thermal expansion
Significantly improved chemical durability
Alkali-earth oxides act as network modifiers, breaking Si - O - Si bonds, which depolymerizes the network and raises the coefficient of thermal expansion. They also lower viscosity rather than increase it.
Why is borosilicate glass preferred for immobilizing radioactive waste?
Due to its high optical clarity for inspection
Because it is the lowest cost glass available
Because of its low thermal expansion and high chemical durability under radiation
Due to its high density for radiation shielding
Borosilicate glass has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, which minimizes stress from heat generated by radioactive decay, and excellent chemical durability to encapsulate waste long-term. Clarity and cost are secondary factors.
What characteristic of fused silica makes it ideal for optical fiber preform fabrication?
Extremely low impurity and hydroxyl content leading to minimal signal attenuation
High alkali content for ion exchange
Partially crystalline structure for strength
High lead content for density
Fused silica's ultrahigh purity and minimal OHâˆ' (hydroxyl) content reduce light absorption and scattering, crucial for low-loss optical fibers. Crystallinity or high alkali would introduce losses.
A significant edge flaw in a glass pane reduces its strength primarily because of:
Uniform stress distribution
Stress concentration at the flaw tip
Increased thermal conductivity
Enhanced chemical leaching
Edge flaws act as stress concentrators, intensifying local tensile stresses and causing crack initiation under much lower loads. Thermal conductivity and chemical effects are secondary.
To minimize residual thermal stress in a thick glass component, the most effective approach is to:
Skip the annealing step entirely
Use a slower cooling rate through the strain point
Increase quenching water temperature
Apply a rapid cooling rate after a high-temperature hold
Slower cooling through the strain point allows internal and surface temperatures to equalize, relieving stress. Rapid cooling or skipping annealing traps stress, and changing water temperature alone is not as effective.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse common glass compositions and their physical properties
  2. Identify glass manufacturing techniques and process steps
  3. Evaluate the effects of thermal and mechanical stresses on glass
  4. Demonstrate understanding of different glass types and uses
  5. Apply glass knowledge to real-world material selection scenarios
  6. Master essential terminology in glass science and technology

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master soda-lime glass composition - Soda-lime glass is your everyday glass, made of roughly 74% silica, 13% sodium oxide, and 10.5% calcium oxide. Remember the "74-13-10" ratio like a secret code to unlock clarity and durability in windows and bottles. This magical blend ensures your drinking glass is both transparent and tough.
  2. Explore the float glass process - Imagine molten glass gliding over a lake of molten tin to create perfectly flat, distortion-free sheets - this is the float glass marvel. It revolutionized how we make windows and mirrors, giving us crystal-clear views and reflective surfaces. Learning this process feels like watching dough rise, but at thousands of degrees!
  3. Discover the Fourcault process - In this vintage technique, glass is drawn vertically from a molten bath through a special die, yielding flat sheets with a distinctive antique character. Though it's largely historical, studying how pioneers shaped glass highlights the evolution of manufacturing techniques. Think of it as the grandparent of today's sleek windowpanes!
  4. Understand tempered glass strength - Tempered glass undergoes rapid cooling to boost its toughness - about four times stronger than regular glass - and shatters into small, safer bits when it fails. It's the unsung hero in car windows, shower doors, and smartphone screens. Next time you hear the sizzle of a tempering furnace, you'll know it's all for your protection!
  5. Grasp thermal stress in glass - Glass expands or contracts with sudden temperature changes, often leading to cracks or breakage if it can't keep up. That's why borosilicate glass is the go-to for labware and bakeware - its low expansion coefficient keeps the drama to a minimum. Picture your favorite kitchen dish staying calm under a wild oven ride!
  6. Learn about mechanical stress - Glass loves compression but hates tension; it's like being great at hugs but terrible at pull-ups. Designers minimize pulling forces to keep windows and glass structures intact and fracture-free. Understanding these stress quirks helps engineers prevent unwanted breakage.
  7. Differentiate glass varieties - Soda-lime glass rules windows, borosilicate glass rocks labs and cookware, and lead glass adds sparkle to decorative pieces. Each type's unique ingredients tailor its strength, thermal resistance, and optical qualities for specific uses. Ready to match the right glass to a job?
  8. Apply glass properties smartly - Choose tempered glass for car windshields to keep you safe, and borosilicate for lab beakers to handle heat spikes. Matching glass traits to tasks transforms everyday challenges into smooth experiences, just like picking the right tool from a toolbox but in the world of transparent supermaterials!
  9. Master key glass terminology - "Annealing" slowly cools glass to relieve internal stress, "tempering" rapidly cools to strengthen it, and "lamination" bonds layers for extra safety. These terms are your VIP pass to understanding sophisticated glass processing techniques. Sprinkle them into your study sessions to sound like a glass guru!
  10. Recognize glass's amorphous nature - Unlike crystals, glass has a disordered, non-crystalline structure that gives it unique transparency and brittleness. This "frozen liquid" state makes glass both wonderful to look through and challenging to break safely. Embrace the paradox of this material marvel in your studies!
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