In old days, use of glass in construction consider fragile and had very limited application.

People use wooden panels in window shutters. By passage of time use of glass in window panels starts instead of wooden panels. A great revolution comes in construction especially in urban development, use of glass become necessary. Now use of quality glass becomes unavoidable in construction work. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using glass in construction: Advantages: 1. Use of glass in construction work adds beauty to the building. 2. Its use fulfills the architectural view for external decoration. 3. By using glass in interior, it saves the space inside the building. 4. Glass cladding in building fulfill functional requirement of lighting, heat retention and energy saving. 5. Its use appear a sense of openness and harmonious. 6. As toughened glass is available, one can have good interior design with the use of glass in transparent staircase, colored shelves, ceiling etc. 7. Glass is an excellent material for thermal insulation, water proofing and energy conservation. 8. Glass is bad conductor of heat; it saves energy in air conditioning of building. 9. For making glass partition on upper floors, no extra design is required for slab as glass is light in weight.

Here are some images of glass

That is glass and how is it produced?

Glass is a hard material normally fragile and transparent common in our daily life. It is composed mainly of sand (silicates, SiO2) and an alkali. These materials at high temperature (i.e. molten viscous state) fuse together; then they are cooled rapidly forming a rigid structure, however not having enough time to form a crystalline regular structure. Depending on the final use and application the composition of the glass and cooling rate will vary to achieve the adequate properties for the specific application. These are the common ingredients to obtain glass: 1. Sand (SiO2 silica) In its pure form it exists as a polymer, (SiO2)n. 2. Soda ash (sodium carbonate Na2CO3) Normally SiO2 softens up to 2000C, where it starts to degrade (at 1713C most of the

molecules can already move freely). Adding soda will lower the melting point to 1000C making it more manageable. 3. Limestone (calcium carbonate or CaCo3) or dolomite (MgCO3) Also known as lime, calcium carbonate is found naturally as limestone, marble, or chalk. The soda makes the glass water-soluble, soft and not very durable. Therefore lime is added increasing the hardness and chemical durability and providing insolubility of the materials.
Other materials and oxides can be added to increase properties (tinting, durability, etc.), produce different effects, colors, etc.

Main properties of glass

These are the main characteristics of glass: - Solid and hard material - Disordered and amorphous structure - Fragile and easily breakable into sharp pieces - Transparent to visible light - Inert and biologically inactive material. - Glass is 100% recyclable and one of the safest packaging materials due to its composition and properties Glass is used for architecture application, illumination, electrical transmission, instruments for scientific research, optical instruments, domestic tools and even textiles. Glass does not deteriorate, corrode, stain or fade and therefore is one of the safest packaging materials. These properties can be modified and changed by adding other compounds or heat treatment.

Types of glass and market application

The main types of glass are described below: Commercial glass or Soda-lime glass: This is the most common commercial glass and less expensive. The composition of soda-lime glass is normally 60-75% silica, 12-18% soda, and 5-12% lime. A low percentage of other materials can be added for specific properties such as coloring.

- It has light transmission appropriate to be use in flat glass in windows; - It has a smooth and nonporous surface that allows glass bottles and packaging glass to be easily cleaned; - Soda-lime glass containers are virtually inert, resistant to chemical attack from aqueous solutions so they will not contaminate the contents inside or affect the taste. Whereas pure glass SiO2 does not absorb UV light, soda-lime glass does not allow light at a wavelength of lower than 400 nm (UV light) to pass. The disadvantages of soda-lime glass is that is not resistant to high temperatures and sudden thermal changes. For example, everybody has experienced a glass breaking down when pouring liquid at high temperature, for example to make tea. Some of the use of soda-lime glass is primarily used for bottles, jars, everyday drinking glasses, and window glass. Lead glass: Lead glass is composed of 54-65% SiO2, 18-38% lead oxide (PbO), 13-15% soda (Na2O) or potash (K2), and various other oxides. When the content of PbO is less than 18% is known as crystal glass. - In moderate amounts lead increases durability; - In high amounts it lowers the melting point and decreases the hardness giving a soft surface; - In addition it has a high refractive index giving high brilliance glass. These two last properties make it appropriate for decorating purposes. Glass with high lead oxide contents (i.e. 65%) may be used as radiation shielding glass because lead absorb gamma rays and other forms of harmful radiation, for example, for nuclear industry. As with soda-lime glass, lead glass will not withstand high temperatures or sudden changes in temperature. Borosilicate glass: Borosilicate glass is mainly composed of silica (70-80%), boric oxide B2O3 (7-13%) and smaller amounts of the alkalis (sodium and potassium oxides) such as 4-8% of Na2O and K2O, and 27% aluminum oxide (Al2O3). Boron gives greater resistance to thermal changes and chemical corrosion. It is suitable for industrial chemical process plants, in laboratories, in the pharmaceutical industry, in bulbs for high-powered lamps, etc. Borosilicate glass is also used in the home for

cooking plates and other heat-resistant products. It is used for domestic kitchens and chemistry laboratories, this is because it has greater resistance to thermal shock and allows for greater accuracy in laboratory measurements when heating and cooling experiments. There are other special types of glass by adding different substances. For example: Element Properties

Alumina It improves chemical resistance and increases viscosity in lower temperature ranges Cerium To absorb infrared rays Metals and metal oxides to change color (ex. manganese and selenium to decolorized Coloring gas, cobalt for blue, copper for red, nickel produces blue, violet or black glass, titanium agents produces yellowish-brown, etc.). Barium Glass containing barium is not quite as heavy as lead crystal, but achieves similar oxide brilliance due to its high refractive index. Fluorine-containing materials, such as fluorspar (CaF2) or phosphates to form small crystalline particles in the glass which gives them a cloudy and opaque impression Recently developed forms of glass include: Fluorine - Safety glass, constructed of two pieces of plate glass join by a plastic to prevent the glass from scattering when broken. - Fiberglass made from molten glass formed into continuous filaments that is used for fabrics or electrical insulation - Foam glass made by trapping gas bubbles in glass to produce a spongy material for insulating purposes.

Now some disadvantages: 1. As glass is very costly material, it may increase the budgeted cost of construction work. 2. Use of glass also enhances the cost of security. 3. Its use in hilly area and desert may cause more maintenance cost. 4. Glass is also unsafe for earthquake proven area. cclaimed architect Bruno Taut said, "If we want our culture to rise to a higher level, we are obligated for better or for worse, to change our architecture. And this only becomes possible if we take away the closed character from the rooms in which we live. We can only do that by introducing glass architecture, which lets in the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars". A New Architectural Era

Built in Hyde Park, London to house the Great Exhibition in 1851 the Crystal Palace is commonly considered as a significant turning point in architectural history. This magnificent structure built from steel and glass paved the way for further exploration of glass as an architectural element. The glass sail of the new Milan trade fair and Louvre pyramid are other stunning example of the use of glass as a structural as well as a design element. Other examples of glass architecture include the London Bridge, Agbar and Federazija Towers as well as the Tokyo International Forum. While the use of glass in construction was previously quite limited to grand designs and office buildings it is starting to become a core structural and design element in many homes. Glass facilitates natural light and opens up rooms allowing smaller spaces to look bigger as well as facilitating a natural indoor/outdoor flow which often enhances the tranquillity as well as the value of your home. Glass is also relatively inexpensive and fully recyclable, an important consideration in the current era of heightened environmental consciousness. Glass use in construction has increased dramatically due to the rapid changes in glass production and technology. Previously glass was thought to be quite a fragile building material and many steered away from it because of this. Modern glass, however, is not only spectacular to look through but it is safer, stronger and energy efficient. Glass in the home In the past glass was mainly utilized for windows to allow some air and light in to rooms. Today glass is utilized in the construction of several elements of exterior and interior architecture. Exterior glass architecture includes facades, display windows' skylights, skywalks, entrances, revolving doors, canopies, winter gardens and conservatories. All of which allow homes to be bathed in natural sunlight with gorgeous outdoor views. Interior glass architecture can be used for staircases, elevated walkways and even as traditional walls. There are some houses in which all of the walls are actually glass. Such high quantities of glass previously compromised other aspects such as the heating and cooling requirements. Often glass architecture would incur high heating costs in winter and cooling costs in summer. Fortunately such great progress has been made in the glass industry that we now have access a variety of different kinds of glass each with fantastic benefits. One such example is glass with spectrally-selective qualities, which allows light to stream into the house without being harmful or degenerative to occupants and their belongings. Caring for your Glass To keep your glass looking great and streak free you will need to ensure that it is cleaned often. Try a few different cleaning solutions before you decide which one to use, options vary from store bought to home made solutions. Many use products such as ammonia, vinegar, borax, alcohol or Epsom salts to clean glass. An important point to remember is that when using your own solutions never combine an acid and an alkaline, for example vinegar and ammonia, as they neutralise on another. After washing use a dry cotton towel rather than paper towels or newspaper as they tend to disintegrate and leave deposits on your glass. For a great shine a dry blackboard eraser can be used.

To keep frost from accumulating on exterior windows during the winter, add two cups of antifreeze or rubbing alcohol to each gallon of wash water. For deposits of paint, resin or glue wet the surface and then scrape them off using a razor blade scraper. Take care to scrape in one direction only in order to avoid scratching the surface. Another option, and a fantastic one at that, is the breakthrough technology that has brought us self-cleaning glass. An ultra-thin coating is applied to the glass during the manufacturing process; this coating has two highly beneficial effects on the glass. First organic residue on the glass broken down by the ultraviolet wavelengths in sunlight then when it rains the dirt is washed off. As the coating is hydrophilic when rain hits the glass, it doesn't form droplets and in turn eradicates streaking. Rain water flows down the glass in a sheet and washes the dirt away. If you don't have time to wait for the rain a simple garden hose will be just as effective. Self-cleaning glass is making the lives of homeowners far easier and is giving home owners absolutely no reason to hesitate to use of glass in the construction of their homes. What could be better than bright, open rooms with excellent outdoor views facilitated by huge sheets of glass, without having to spend your days cleaning them? Modern day architectural trends have elevated the way we think about the use of glass in our own homes. It is no longer simply a material for windows and the occasional sliding door; it is a design component in its own right. With each passing day glass becomes a more important element in architecture not only in grand public structures but also in the lives and homes of families across the world. The beauty of glass lies in its simplicity, it enables us to be enveloped by nature while living comfortably in doors. Many architects, designers and construction companies recommend Pilkington when it comes to glass. Having been in the glass industry for 179 years, Pilkington is recognised as the world's technological leader in glass. Out of all of their innovative products, Pilkington Activ - the world's first self-cleaning glass is one of their greatest products and is an ideal material in glass architecture.