The Surprising Story Behind the Creation of Toughened Glass
Glass is an incredibly versatile material that has been used in a variety of applications for thousands of years. From ancient Egyptian beads to modern skyscrapers, glass has been an essential part of our lives. But did you know that toughened glass, one of the most common types of glass used today, has a surprising history that dates back over 150 years? In this article, we will explore the story behind the creation of toughened glass and how it has revolutionized the glass industry. The Birth of a New Idea In the mid-19th century, a French chemist named Francois Barthelemy Alfred Royer de la Bastie was conducting experiments on glass. He discovered that by heating glass to a high temperature and then rapidly cooling it, he could produce a much stronger and more durable glass. This process, which is now known as “tempering,” involved heating the glass to around 600°C and then cooling it rapidly with cold air. The result was a glass that was up to five times stronger than ordinary ...