What is the difference between BOROFLOAT® 33 and soda-lime float glass?
The difference is the chemical composition: BOROFLOAT® 33 is a borosilicate float glass with boric acid (B2O3 > 8%) as its main component in addition to quartz sand. It does not contain any alkaline earths (CaO + MgO). Soda-lime float glass (i.e. conventional float glass or modern window glass) is a member of the alkali-alkaline-earth-silicate glass family. This glass does not contain any boron compounds. Instead it has a 12 – 16 % alkaline earth content and contains a higher proportion of alkalis (approx. 15% Na2O) than BOROFLOAT® 33. More detailed information on the chemical composition can be found here. Compared with soda-lime glass BOROFLOAT® 33 has • a lower specific weight • a higher thermal load capacity and • a higher chemical resistance plus • excellent transmission (= transmission of radiation, e.g. light). BOROFLOAT® is, therefore, frequently used in special applications with extreme thermal and/or chemical demands, which conventional soda-lime float glasses are not suitabl
