John Mauro chuckles as he queries one of his students on the phone: How many times would you have to hit the recently-made glass with a mallet to shatter it?
According to Prof Mauro of Pennsylvania State University, it is essential to use a lot of physical effort to achieve the desired results. He states that the glass should be scratched with either a diamond or tungsten carbide stylus and afterwards hammered with a mallet, operated by a post-doctoral student.
Mauro professes that the innovation known as LionGlass is ten times more resilient than average glass. Think of a wine bottle being unscathed even after being dropped onto a tiled kitchen floor.
Although not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal or having an application for a patent filed, there is little information available on LionGlass.
A noteworthy factor is that this specific type of glass does not require soda ash or limestone to be manufactured, unlike traditional glass. The alternative ingredients are being kept confidential at the moment.
For millennia, glass has been appreciated for its glittering characteristics and capability of being fashioned into complex shapes. Despite this, its weakness has always been it's tendency to break. Yet, it looks like this may no longer be an issue for much longer.
From automobile windshields to sparkling wine glasses, the potential advantages from creating glass that is more resilient are endless.
The rivalry to create the toughest, most durable glass at a sensible cost is fierce, and it might just transform the world.
According to Professor Mauro, if we are serious about decreasing the amount of carbon that is emitted, then tackling soda lime silicate is essential.
When heated together with quartz sand, soda ash and limestone release carbon dioxide (CO2). This is a common recipe for making glass and requires very high temperatures, resulting in significant energy consumption.
In comparison to others, LionGlass does not draw on carbon-laden substances. Also, its creation temperatures are significantly lower, ranging from 300C to 400C.
The downside is that this particular glass can't be used for smartphone or tablet screens, even though there is a high demand for them due to its lower thermal tolerance than other glasses.
Glass must endure high temperatures during the fabrication phase in order to be manufactured.
Prof Mauro states that if the glass goes through a size alteration, the pixels can become misaligned.
LionGlass could have a variety of purposes, such as glass tableware and windows for buildings.
Glassmaking facilities that already exist can produce this glass without any alterations to their equipment and it won't need any additional treatment once it is created. According to Prof Mauro, its sturdiness is a fundamental aspect of its nature.
Robert Ritchie of the University of California, Berkeley claims that LionGlass could have a broad influence in any area where glass is utilized, excluding smartphones.
Around ten years ago, Prof Ritchie and his colleagues created a type of non-transparent glass which is more robust than steel.
Cheryl Atkinson of Atkinson Architect in Canada suggests that the introduction of LionGlass could encourage architects to think differently in terms of its implementation, as this material is much stronger than traditional glass. For instance, it could result in thinner window panes.
She notes that this would lessen the heaviness of insulated glass units or triple glazing, and in turn reduce the CO2 emissions linked with transporting the glass.
Nevertheless, one glitch with the existing window technology is that the plastic seals frequently malfunction after a few decades, not only depending on the quality of the glass.
Acknowledging the significance of energy efficiency, Ms Atkinson and other architects are factoring in less glass in their designs in order to reduce thermal losses from buildings during the winter and avoid excessive indoor heating on sunny days.
Mauro's former place of work, Corning, is widely known for having created the renowned Gorilla Glass used in smart devices, tablets and TV displays. Apart from this, the company produces other items such as thick glass for sturdy pharmaceutical vials, including those used to store Covid-19 vaccines, and toughened architectural glass utilized for edifices.
Jaymin Amin, Corning's chief technology officer, has informed the BBC that the firm is examining a project involving "very high-end" energy saving windows.
This could be implemented by utilizing a very thin sheet of glass between the two panes of a traditional window, resulting in triple glazed units that are thinner and lighter compared to existing windows, according to him.
Corning announced in their quarterly earnings update in July that there was a decrease in the demand for smartphones.
Mr Amin states that consumer electronics is a major driving force in the company's growth.
Manufacturers of smartphones are choosing to use glass for both their frames and displays, in part because it enables the gadgets to take in and broadcast 5G signals of a high frequency, as per Corning's explanation.
At the same time, the longevity is getting better.
Last year, Corning launched Victus 2 Gorilla Glass which can withstand a drop onto concrete from a one-metre height. Dr Amin states that this was the first time that the company had released a product containing certified recycled content. He further asserts that they are increasingly moving in this direction.
Recycling glass leads to a reduced carbon footprint as it requires lower temperatures for the production process.
William Kerwin, an analyst at Morningstar Research Services, highlights Corning's superiority in glassmaking, noting that they have greater than half of the market share for the glass required for contemporary big-size television screens.
Mr Kerwin states that the use of glass in solar panels is a rapidly growing application. He adds that five years ago, he would not have even considered the concept, indicating that it has become much more important to the glass industry over the past few years.
Manufacturers of solar panels are seeking out stronger, thinner glass in order to reduce the weight of the panels, according to him.
Businesses are utilizing more technology than ever before. They are taking advantage of the latest advancements to improve their operations and increase their efficiency. This is being done through the adoption of new software, automation, and other tools that enable them to work more effectively. By embracing technology, businesses are able to stay competitive and remain at the forefront of their respective industries.
Ben Wood of CCS Insight claims that smartphones still have a lot of potential for further development.
He says that folding phones must be capable of enduring tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of folds during its lifespan.
People remain dubious as to whether foldable phones can handle regular use, according to him.
Devices of this type account for merely 5% of the worldwide premium smartphone market right now.
"Mr Wood declares that the dream is like an unbreakable glass - a dream which is still to be achieved."
Comentários