UNBREAKABLE GLASS

Evening Star, Issue 19660, 13 September 1927, Page 2

UNBREAKABLE GLASS

WILL IT REPLACE STEEL? From the Stone Age downwards we have had a series of “ages” when some product has been in vogue. At the moment steel is all-triumphant, but scientists are of the opinion that this will soon be ousted from its premier position by’what h as hitherto been regarded as the most fragile of substances —glass. in Sheffield University (says ‘Answers’) exhaustive inquiries aro being conducted into the possibilities of this material, and some tho results of these experiments have now been made public for tho first time. One of the products obtained is a glass that is unrivalled for heat-resist-ing powers. Teapots made of this are already being manufactured, and have appeared in some of _the stores. They enable water for making tea to be •boiled in the pot over a gas ring, thus doing away with the necessity for a kettle. Tho water is simply heated in ■the glass pot, and the tea put in when it reaches the required temperature. What do you think of glass that can be hit as hard as you like with a hammer without breaking? This also has been produced at Sheffield University under the direction of Professor W. E. S. 'turner, head of the glass technology uepartment. Then there is another variety which can be plunged alternately into cold and boiling water as many times as you like without the slightest sign of a crack appearing. _ It is all a matter of varying composition in the make up of the glass, and the experimenters are hopeful that in time they will be able to substitute glass for steel in thousands of different ways. Glass is so easily kept clean and so, low in price that the'widening of its scope would be welcomed by the commercial man the housewife alike*"