Borosillicate glass is also called pyrex glass, why?

1 Answer
Jun 20, 2018

Because that is (or was) the trademark....

Explanation:

Borosilicates are known for having very LOW coefficients of thermal expansion...and thus they can be cooled or heated rapidly, i.e. they are VERY resistant to thermal shock. The name #"Pyrex"# was trademarked by Corning in 1908 ... it is probably well out of trademark, mind you I am no trademark attorney. There are several other brand-names that attempt to associate with the original mark, #"Simax"#, #"Duran"#, #"Schott 8330"#.

This is a very important issue because GLASS is the premier material for scientific instruments.. Not only can you see thru the walls of the container, you can blow the glass to whatever shape is required for the experiment. I have read that the use of clear glassware in the Western hemisphere, for instance for vessels of wine and beer, is possibly responsible for the technological and artistic revolution that occurred in Europe in the 15th-18th centuries. Contrast this with the East, where tea was the preferred drink, and was usually served in fine porcelain vessels.

Now porcelain might be a superior material from which to make tea-services, but it is OPAQUE, and certainly not a superior material from which to make scientific instruments: telescopes; microscopes; burettes; pipettes...etc. And thus the skill and techniques acquired making glass vessels could be applied to the manufacture of scientific instruments.

If you work in a chemistry or physics laboratory in a department that still has scientific glassblowers, it is well worth making their acquaintance and getting them on side. They are usually very friendly and approachable, and in some departments they give lessons. Your research and experiments will depend on the glass vessels they make for you. And if you can get a bit of practical experience in glass-blowing, this is a highly valuable and useful skill to have.