Glasswork Honor

Arts & Crafts

Requirements

1. Name 10 types of glass.

   Answer: Common glass (soda-lime), tempered, laminated, borosilicate (Pyrex), crystal (with lead), wired, mirrored, frosted/sandblasted, photochromic, and flat float glass. Each type has its own characteristics regarding strength, transparency, safety, and applications in construction, decoration, and laboratory. — Soda-lime is the most common (windows, bottles). Tempered has 5x greater strength. Laminated has PVB between sheets (windshields). Borosilicate withstands heat (laboratory, ovens). Crystal has an elegant shine (glassware). Wired has an embedded metal mesh. Mirrored has a metallic deposition. Photochromic darkens with UV (eyeglasses). Float is manufactured by floating on liquid tin.

2. Know what types of glass are used in furniture, insulation, airplanes, and automobiles.

   Answer: 1) Furniture: tempered glass (tabletops, shelves, doors) for resisting impacts and breaking into non-cutting fragments; also mirrored and decorative laminated glass. 2) Insulation (thermal/acoustic): glass wool (fiberglass) and double/insulated glass (two panes with an air or argon gas chamber between them). 3) Airplanes: high-strength laminated glass (several layers of glass and polymer/acrylic) to withstand pressurization and impacts. 4) Automobiles: laminated glass in the windshield (it does not shatter, staying attached to the PVB film) and tempered glass in the side and rear windows (it shatters into small pieces, safer). — Airplane windows are made of multiple alternating layers of polycarbonate and tempered glass, withstanding up to 5 atmospheres of pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the airplane.

3. Collect and prepare at least 3 colors of glass to make a picture.

   Answer: Gather bottles and shards of various colors (green, amber, clear, blue). Wash them well, use gloves and safety glasses, break them into small pieces with a hammer inside a thick cloth. Sand the cutting edges with wet sandpaper. Separate by color and size into different containers for the work. — Common bottles offer green (wine), amber (beer), and clear. Blue glass comes from medicine bottles. Use a hammer inside a cloth to avoid flying shards. 80-120 grit sandpaper eliminates points. Cleaning beforehand removes chemical residues. In artistic mosaics, intense colors such as red can come from decorative glass sold in stores specializing in art.

4. Know the steps to make a picture with glass and complete this picture using at least 3 colors.

   Answer: Draw the sketch on a rigid base (wood, MDF), apply appropriate glue (white PVA or epoxy). Glue the shards following the design and varying the colors. Let it dry for 24h. Apply grout, covering the spaces, removing the excess with a damp sponge. Polish and seal with transparent varnish. — Use a base of waterproofed MDF or ceramic. Glue: PVA for beginners, epoxy for wet areas. A uniform thickness of the shards is important for leveling. Colored cement grout defines the look. A sponge removes the excess before it dries. Acrylic varnish protects against moisture. Working in a ventilated environment is recommended to avoid inhaling dust.

5. Research the history of glass and how the manufacturing process works. Choose one of the following:
   • A report of at least 300 words.
   • Give an oral presentation of at least 3 minutes.

   Answer: History: glass appeared in Mesopotamia about 4,000 years ago (glass objects around 3500 BC); it was improved by the Egyptians (beads and containers) and Phoenicians. Around the 1st century BC the Romans developed the glassblowing technique, popularizing its use. In the Middle Ages the stained-glass windows of cathedrals appeared. In the 20th century the float process was created (1959), the standard to this day. Manufacturing process: the raw materials are melted — sand (silica, SiO₂), soda ash (sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃, which lowers the melting point) and limestone (CaCO₃, which gives durability) — in a furnace at about 1,500°C, forming a liquid mass (molten glass). This mass is then shaped by blowing, pressing, molding or by the float process (poured over a bath of liquid tin so that it comes out flat and smooth). Finally it is cooled in a controlled way (annealing) to relieve internal stresses. — The earliest glass dates back to 3500 BC (Mesopotamian beads). Roman blowing (1st century BC) democratized its use. In the 20th century, Pilkington created the float process (1959): glass floating on liquid tin for a flat surface. Typical composition: 70% silica, 15% soda ash, 10% limestone, 5% others. Annealing controls internal stresses to prevent spontaneous breakage.

6. Know what tools are necessary and what precautions we should take when working with glass.

   Answer: Tools: glass cutter, breaking pliers, hammer, wet sandpaper, spatula, sponge, brushes. Precautions: use leather gloves, safety goggles, a dust mask, work on a flat surface with a non-slip mat, keep children away and dispose of shards in a closed rigid container. — A glass cutter with a tungsten wheel scores the piece; pliers break it along the line. A hammer wrapped in cloth fragments the shards. Wet sandpaper 80-150 removes the sharp edges. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory: leather gloves, goggles with side protection, a PFF1 mask. A ventilated environment prevents the inhalation of silica dust, harmful to the lungs.

7. Research in your region the following:
   • How does the glass recycling process work?
   • What happens to glass offcuts at glassworks?
   • What is the most recommended way to dispose of broken glass at home?

   Answer: Glass is separated by color, washed, crushed into fine shards (cullet), melted at 1500°C with raw materials and remolded. Glaziers return scraps to cooperatives. Household shards should be wrapped in thick newspaper or a rigid box marked 'careful glass' and disposed of in selective collection. — Glass recycling is infinite, with no loss of quality. Each kilogram recycled saves energy and reduces CO₂. ABIVIDRO coordinates it in Brazil. Scraps go to cooperatives such as CataKi and EcoPet. At home, wrapping it in newspaper prevents injury to collectors. Tempered, mirrored and Pyrex glass are not recycled together with common glass due to their different composition.