Summary of "Come si produce il Vetro - Figo non lo sapevo"

Glass Production

Basic Ingredients: Glass is primarily made from sand, which requires high temperatures to melt.
- Pure sand requires temperatures of about 1800°C.
- Adding approximately 15% soda (sodium carbonate) lowers the melting temperature to around 1500-1550°C.
Amorphous Structure: The rapid cooling of molten glass prevents the formation of ordered crystalline structures, resulting in an amorphous material.

Darkened Glass: Achieved by adding dark pigments during production.
Glass Wool: Made by mixing recycled glass with natural sand, melted at 1300-1500°C, and then spun into fibers for insulation.
Tempered Glass:
- Production: Involves thermal or chemical treatments.
- Thermal Treatment: Glass is heated to about 700°C and then rapidly cooled to create surface compression, enhancing resistance to stress and thermal shock.
- Chemical Treatment: Sodium atoms are replaced with larger potassium atoms, increasing the glass's compactness and resistance to breaking.
Bulletproof Glass: Composed of multiple layers of Tempered Glass and plastic, designed to dissipate impact energy. The thickness varies based on application, ranging from 7 mm for cars to 50 mm for armored vehicles.

Swarovski Crystal: A fine glass that includes about 24% lead, enhancing its shine, transparency, and elasticity.
Natural Glass: Exists in nature, such as obsidian and Syrian glass, formed from rapidly cooled magma.

Light Interaction: Glass is transparent to visible light but blocks ultraviolet light. Transparency is related to the material's ability to allow specific frequencies of light to pass through.