Glasswork - the Scientia Review

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Lowered viscosity and working temperature rendered lead as an advantageous addition to glass; period technology could not provide high temperatures or function well with excessively hot material. George Ravenscroft revolutionized the glassmaking trade by using flint in large scale glass production. Eventually, his product utilized sand rather than flint and contained a significant concentration of lead oxide. The result was the clear lead crystal which now typifies leaded glass. He received several patents for his work, and provided an alternative to the shoddy material supplied by Italy. 19
Chemistry of Leaded Glass Lead oxide, as an additive in glass production, is highly effective because it causes the material to be more fluid when molten and lowers the temperature at which the material may be manipulated. Those qualities were highly advantageous historically because antique technology could not provide excessively high temperatures and because more viscous material required less effort to form. Lead is not added strictly as lead but rather as lead oxide. As an oxide, it prevents the deterioration of alkali structures within the glass and thus prevents the major cause of breakdown. 20
Page 1: The Art of Glasswork By CHRIS STARB
Page 13 and 14: All processes begin with an anneale
Page 15 and 16: Chemistry of Color Each chemical us
Page 17 and 18: Preservation The breakdown of glass
Page 19: History of Leaded Glass The use of
Page 23 and 24: About the Authors Chris Starbard is

Glasswork - the Scientia Review

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