Ask A Scientist General Science Archive

 
name        Ricky T.
status       student

Question -   I was wondering how do people blow glass?
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A nice explanation and directions for school-based chemistry lab demonstration at 
http://www.ecu.edu/chem/glassblowing/glassdemo.htm

Don Silvert
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In my experience, it is somewhat like blowing bubbles from the end of a straw,
except one is using a very hot, thicker liquid.  The basic procedure is that
glass material is heated on the end of a tube, and the glassblower blows
through the end close to his/her body (the near end) of the tube to make a
bubble in the blob of glass.  The glass occasionally needs to be reheated to
make it soft again (as it cools, it stiffens and cannot be expanded).  Really
talented glass blowers can make beautiful objects by turning the glass in
certain ways and adding bits of color.  I have not done artistic glass
blowing, but I have made some lab equipment for experiments using glass
blowing techniques.  Are you interested in blowing glass yourself?  You do not
say how old you are.  If you are young, you should speak to your parents
before starting, and find someone who can train you.  Because of the
temperatures involved, it is potentially dangerous, and it really is not an
easy skill to learn.

Pat Rowe
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Glass blowing is an art even "scientific" glass blowing. The basics are to
heat the glass until it softens sufficiently that it can be bent, or "blown"
in much the same way you would blow bubbles with a soda straw. Of course,
the "straw" is made of glass, carbon, or metal. It sounds simple enough but
it is a real craft and art form. Because most all glass contains sodium ions
which emit intense yellow light it is necessary to wear special glasses both
to see the glass inside the intense light and to protect the eyes which can
be harmed by the intense sodium emission.


Vince Calder
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