Glass concerns

The solutions must be carefully prepared so as to be free of dust particles and other extraneous scatterers. Filtration through sintered glass or centrifugation is widely used to clarify solutions of particles which would compete with polymeric solutes. This concern for cleanliness also extends to glassware, especially scattering cells. A fingerprint on the viewing window is disastrous ... 

To erase information by the transition amorphous — crystalline, the amorphous phase of the selected area must be crystallized by annealing. This is effected by illumination with a low power laser beam (6—15 mW, compared to 15—50 mW for writing/melting), thus crystallizing the area. This crystallization temperature is above the glass-transition point, but below the melting point of the material concerned (Eig. 15, Erase). 

Most laminated glass appHcations are concerned with impact strength, and minimum performance levels are required by specification. The impact strength of two pHes of laminated, aimealed glass and various PVB thicknesses are available (4). Aircraft laminates may utilise electrical resistance heating as deicing for vision enhancement. 

Some cuUet contaminants continue to be melting concerns. Pyrocerams, especially certain clear glass-like cookingware articles, are difficult to identify... 

In the past few years many changes have occurred in the packaging materials utilized for distilled spirits. Traditionally, distilled spirits have been packed primarily in glass containers of approved ATF sizes. Over the last 5—10 years, plastic containers, primarily poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), have been utilized by increasing numbers of distillers. Because of environmental concerns, the last two years have seen a change back to glass on some of these package sizes. However, the 50 mL miniature bottie continues to be primarily packed in PET plastic containers. 

Chlorosulfuric acid attacks brass, bronze, lead, and most other nonferrous metals. From a corrosion standpoint, carbon steel and cast Hon are acceptable below 35°C provided color and Hon content is not a concern. Stainless steels (300-series) and certain aluminum alloys are acceptable materials of constmction, as is HasteUoy. Glass, glass-lined steel, or Teflon-lined piping and equipment are the preferred materials at elevated temperatures and/or high velocities or where trace Hon contamination is a problem, such as in the synthetic detergent industry. 

The forecasts made in 1985 (77) of 8—8.5% worldwide aimual growth have not materialized. The 2 x lOg + /yr engineering plastic production reported for 1985—1986 has remained fairly constant. Whereas some resins such as PET, nylon-6, and nylon-6,6 have continued to experience growth, other resins such as poly(phenylene oxide) have experienced downturns. This is due to successhil inroads from traditional materials (wood, glass, ceramics, and metals) which are experiencing a rebound in appHcations driven by new technology and antiplastics environmental concerns. Also, recycling is likely to impact production of all plastics. 

The optimum material is CFRP. The next best is polyurethane foam. Wood is obviously impractical, but beryllium is good. Glass is better than steel, aluminium or concrete (that is why most mirrors are made of glass), but a lot less good ihan beryllium, which is used for mirrors when cost is not a concern. 

Low-grade ceramics - stone, and certain refractories - are simply mined and shaped. We are concerned here not with these, but with the production and shaping of high-performance engineering ceramics, clay products and glasses. Cement and concrete are discussed separately in Chapter 20. We start with engineering ceramics. 

---