German researchers make liquid glass

On the surface, liquid glass doesn’t seem like a major advance. After all, during the standard glass-making process, the silica mixture is molten. In its molten state, the glass mixture is about 2,700° F. Molten glass is shaped, and then cooled to achieve its hardened structure.

Liquid glass hybrid reduces to solid glass

German researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a free-flowing glass-plastic hybrid material that can be formed at room temperature. Once formed, the material can be cured using light. The cured solid can be heated and compressed to remove the plastic. The remaining object is chemically and structurally identical to commercial glass.

Soft molds can be made of any object using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The molds can then be used to shape the liquid glass. Engineers can use this process to make rapid prototypes of objects from glass. The process isn’t limited to making large objects. Scientists can also make complex objects measured in micrometers using this glass prototyping process.

The nanostructure of glass is what allows specially engineered coatings like Glassprimer™ glass paint to work. Glassprimer™ glass paint is designed to alter the nanosurface of glass, creating a permanent bond with the glass structure. As a glass coating, Glassprimer™ is highly UV-resistant, which means it won’t fade or delaminate, even in direct sunlight.

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Photo Credit: Dave, via Flickr.com