What pressure can borosilicate lab glass handle? - Technical - Knowledgebase (2024)

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What pressure can borosilicate lab glass handle? - Technical - Knowledgebase? ›

Answer. The real pressure ratings depend on the wall thickness of the piece and the temperature as well. Most standard lab glass products, at room temperature, can take pressure up to 25-30 PSI.

The resistance of glass to breakage on deflection is known as its tensile strength. Glass typically has a tensile strength of 7 megapascals or 1000psi. But, theoretically, glass can have a tensile strength of around 17 gigapascals or 2,500,000 psi.

High material strength

Compared to similar glassware, borosilicate glass can withstand blunt force impact better. It has a Shear modulus of 26.5 – 27 GPa and Knoop hardness of 400 – 480 at 20°C.

Glass typically has a tensile strength of 7 megapascals (1,000 psi). However, the theoretical upper bound on its strength is orders of magnitude higher: 17 gigapascals (2,500,000 psi). This high value is due to the strong chemical Si–O bonds of silicon dioxide.

What is borosilicate glass used for? Because of its durability and resistance to chemical changes, borosilicate glass has traditionally been used in chemistry labs and industrial settings, as well as for kitchenware and premium wine glasses.

Pressure ratings range from 90 psi to 600 psi depending on end finish, diameter, and length required. Borosilicate glass used to manufacture these products has excellent chemical and thermal resistance.

The real pressure ratings depend on the wall thickness of the piece and the temperature as well. Most standard lab glass products, at room temperature, can take pressure up to 25-30 PSI. Also, be sure there are no scratches in the glass, as they will weaken the piece, which could cause it to break under pressure.

The advantages of borosilicate glass include its durability, chemical resistance, and thermal stability, while the limitations and disadvantages include its brittleness and higher cost compared to other types of glass.

The dynamic compression strength of the borosilicate glass is 1.7 ± 0.1 GPa, irrespective of the specimen orientation, whether the specimens were etched or not, or if a strain gage was mounted to the surface or not.

While borosilicate glass is resistant to many chemicals, it can still react with strong alkalis and hydrofluoric acid. This reactivity can limit its use in certain chemical applications where these substances are prevalent.

What glass can withstand high pressure? ›

High performance tempered glass provides an excellent alternative to ensure both durability and safety in environments where extreme pressure changes are common.

Strength of Glass

Annealed glass typically breaks around 6,000 pounds per square inch or psi. Federal specifications dictate that tempered glass must have a surface compression of at least 10,000 psi. It will usually break around 24,000 psi.

Annealed glass will break at 6,000 pounds per square inch (psi). Tempered glass, according to federal specifications, must have a surface compression of 10,000 psi or more; it generally breaks at approximately 24,000 psi.

Pyrex used to be made of the more heat-resistant borosilicate glass, which is more resistant to breakage when subjected to extreme shifts in temperature. Pyrex eventually switched to tempered glass most likely because boron is toxic and expensive to dispose of.

Most objects made from borosilicate glass can survive a knock or two without chipping, cracking, or shattering. 2) Heat Resistance – As we've mentioned above, borosilicate glass is prized for its ability to withstand incredibly high temperatures without cracking or melting.

Directly related to the large temperature differential comes the benefit of low thermal expansion. Because borosilicate glass doesn't expand like ordinary glass, there is a smoother transition between temperatures as well as the ability to withstand different temperatures at the same time.

Unfortunately, the acceptable working stresses for annealed silicate glass lie between 500 and 1500 PSI, and those for tempered glass lie between 1500 and 4000 PSI. These are maximum values with no safety margin, and depend on aging history.

For standard residential glass windows, a pressure washer with around 2000 PSI can be used, but with a wide-angle nozzle and from a safe distance. If the windows are older or more delicate, it's best to use a lower PSI (between 1300 and 1600 PSI) to prevent damage.

Glass is capable of supporting tremendous pressures (stress), and it is often used as an engineering material. However, most types of glass cannot withstand deformation (a change in shape: strain) without failing. As long as deformation is limited, it's good!