Which chemical compounds are used to make soda-lime-silica glass?

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Soda-lime-silica glass is primarily composed of three main raw materials that provide the necessary chemical oxides for production:

  • Silica: Obtained from sand (silicon dioxide, SiO2), this is the primary structural component of the glass.12
  • Soda: Derived from sodium carbonate (soda ash) or sodium hydroxide, this acts as a flux to significantly lower the melting temperature of the silica.132
  • Lime: Supplied by limestone (calcium carbonate, CaCO3) or dolomite, this provides calcium oxide (CaO), which acts as a stabilizer to render the glass insoluble in water.132

In industrial manufacturing, additional compounds may be included to modify properties or assist in processing. For instance, magnesia and alumina are sometimes added for specific applications like sheet or bottle glass. Furthermore, fining agents and decolourizers—such as sodium nitrate, sodium chloride, selenium, and cobalt oxide—are used to remove bubbles and neutralize unwanted tints caused by impurities.23