What is borosilicate glass and why is it better? (2024)

What is borosilicate glass?

Most people don't realize that not all glass is the same. Borosilicate glass is a special type of glass that contains two chemicals in high concentrations: boron trioxide and silica. These safe and environmentally friendly chemicals make borosilicate glass more heat resistant than other forms of glass on the market.

What is borosilicate glass made of?

Borosilicate glass is made by combining boron trioxide with quartz sand, sodium carbonate and aluminum oxide. Due to the different melting points of the different components, it took a long time for manufacturers to figure out how to make the glass. Even today they use a variety of methods including casting, piping and floating.

What is the difference between borosilicate glass and soda lime glass?

Soda-lime glass is the most common glass type. You can find it in all kinds of applications, from windows to glass jars. Soda-lime glass accounts for about 90 percent of all glass produced in the world.

The main difference between soda-lime glass and borosilicate glass is the content of silicon dioxide and boron trioxide. Soda-lime glass typically contains 69 percent silica, compared to 80.6 percent for borosilicate glass. It also contains much less boron trioxide: only 1 percent compared to 13 percent in borosilicate.

Four factors distinguish borosilicate glass from its regular soda-lime counterpart. As discussed above, it is resistant to thermal shock, meaning you can pour boiling water into a borosilicate glass pitcher without it cracking. The borosilicate glass is harder than regular glass because it can be cast into more complex shapes. It is also more resistant to acid erosion (which is why it is often used in chemistry laboratories).

Is Borosilicate Glass Safe or Poisonous?

Like regular glass, borosilicate glass is completely non-toxic. Companies like Pyrex use it as a safe material to make heat-resistant glass jugs, glass bottles and cookware. Food and beverages from borosilicate packaging often taste better because the material does not leach out, as it does in plastic bottles and other BPA-containing packaging.

Is borosilicate glass BPA-free?

Borosilicate glass itself is BPA-free. However, some products that use borosilicate may contain other components made from BPA plastic. When choosing borosilicate products, pay attention to the chemical composition of plastic products. All pure borosilicate glass products (such as baking dishes) are 100 percent BPA-free.

Is borosilicate glass safe to drink from?

Borosilicate glass is safe to drink from, just like regular glass. Borosilicate glass helps you improve sustainability and keep plastic waste out of the landfill, which is good news for the environment. Plastic pollution is a big problem, so using a reusable jug or bottle made from borosilicate glass can help tremendously.

What is borosilicate glass used for?

Borosilicate glass is used for all kinds of things.

• Research and chemistry laboratories.Scientists and chemists love borosilicate glass for its ability to withstand both extreme acids and heat. Borosilicate glass will not crack or deteriorate when it comes into contact with the types of compounds you might encounter in a chemistry laboratory.
• Kitchen appliances.Pyrex is known for its use of borosilicate glass in cookware. Borosilicate glass does not crack at high temperatures in ovens. It is therefore ideal for stews.
• Water jugs/bottles.More durable than soda-lime glass, strong enough to compete with plastic.
• Wine glass.Some wine glasses are made of borosilicate glass. Manufacturers make them this way to increase strength and durability.
• Industrial applications.Borosilicate glass is much stronger than traditional soda-lime glass. Many industrial manufacturers prefer to use it for a range of heavy-duty applications, such as panels on consoles or for machinery display.

Is borosilicate glass sustainable?

Borosilicate glass is very durable. This is actually what makes it so famous and sought after.

Higher temperatures are required for the production of borosilicate glass than for ordinary soda-lime glass. The higher production temperatures ensure that it is heat resistant. You need more heat to change the chemical structure of the glass.

The higher production temperatures also make the glass much stronger.

Why is borosilicate glass better?

Borosilicate glass is better than regular glass for a number of reasons.

Firstborosilicate glass expands only half the amount of regular soda-lime glass when exposed to heat. Due to the low coefficient of thermal expansion, the chance of cracking is much smaller than with ordinary glass.

OtherBorosilicate glass is much harder and stronger than soda-lime glass. This feature makes it an ideal water container to take with you when traveling.

ThirdBorosilicate glass is much more malleable than regular glass, allowing you to create more complex shapes. Some manufacturers make vacuum-insulated containers from borosilicate glass that keep your drinks hot or cold. This property makes borosilicate glass the ideal material for making durable glass bottles as before. These bottles last a long time and do not contain BPA, which can be harmful to your health.

FourthBorosilicate glass is acid resistant, while soda-lime glass is much less so. Beer has an acidity on the pH scale of 3.3, which means it's probably better to put it in a borosilicate glass than in regular glass.

Should I switch to a borosilicate glass water pitcher/bottle?

The great thing about borosilicate is that it gives you all the benefits of glass, but without the disadvantages. From an environmental point of view, borosilicate is a godsend. It has enough strength to compete with plastic, but does not contain harmful toxins, such as phthalates or BPA.

Is it worth the money?

For the vast majority of people, borosilicate is worth the extra money. As mentioned, you get a lot of advantages, with some disadvantages. Ecobud is stylishGentoo glas vandfilterkandeThe housing is made of hand-blown borosilicate glass. It is very durable and will stand the test of time and prevent nasty chemicals from leaching into your crystal clear drinking water. It is reusable and recyclable.