The glass tube boasts various uses of considerable importance, so much so that it is considered one of the fundamental products of glass production.
The glass tube and rod are necessary products for the manufacture of a very wide range of industrial items.
From the tube are obtained:
- containers (vials, vials, syringes) used by the pharmaceutical industry to package liquid or solid products;
- various laboratory equipment (graduated cylinders, pipettes, burettes, refrigerants ...)
- fever and industrial thermometers;
- other control instruments such as hydrometers, alcohol meters, etc.
With the glass tube are also manufactured:
- fluorescent and neon lamps;
- the bulbs of some types of incandescent electric lamps (for example small car bulbs);
Pipes that have a larger diameter can be used to build ducts for the chemical industry (exploiting the characteristics of resistance to chemical attack of glass).
From small glass tubes are obtained, for subsequent processing, the beads or conterie, used in large quantities for the production of necklaces and the like. (Typical of Murano)
Given the wide range of uses of the tube, it is evident that the chemical-physical characteristics of the glass used are very different.
Starting from the most important uses, the types of glass transformed into tubes can be grouped into five categories:
- Neutral borosilicate glasses: mainly used to produce pharmaceutical containers, syringes for injections and also laboratory equipment.
- Soda-lime glasses: used to manufacture laboratory equipment, thermometers, fluorescent lamps, density meters ...
- Lead glass: used to make filament sockets for incandescent light bulbs and neon tubes.
- Pyrex-type borosilicate glass: for special laboratory equipment that requires high chemical resistance and resistance to thermal shocks.
- Silica or Quartz glass: used to build special equipment that requires very high resistance to sudden changes in temperature.
Source: wikipedia.it
