Glass

The transparent nature of glass means that it is an indispensable material in a wide range of applications. There are many different types of glass, but this review focuses on flat glass and glass fibre, major types used as components in more technically demanding applications.

As an overview, the most common uses of glass in major volumes are container glass, such as bottles and jars, and flat glass found in buildings and vehicles. Glass fibre used for reinforcement, insulation, and fibre optics is also produced in significant volumes. In minor volumes, glass has a very wide range of applications. These include scientific hollow glass, like tubing and vials, and domestic glassware such as tumblers, jugs, and vases. Glass beads are also used heavily in reflective paint, wet and dry blast cleaning methods, and water filtration systems.