sejal architectural glass limited - Securities and Exchange Board of ...

Driven by changing lifestyles, strong income growth and favourable demographic patterns,
Indian retail is expanding at a rapid pace. The country may have 600 new shopping centres by
2010. Mall space, from a meager one million square feet in 2002, is expected to touch 40
million square feet by end-2007 and an estimated 60 million square feet by end-2008.
(Source: www.ibef.org)
About Glass
Glass is a transparent product chiefly made from sand (silicon dioxide), limestone and sodium
carbonate. It differs in color and density depending upon the addition of several other
elements and oxides.
Glass is used primarily in the construction sector and automobile sector. In the construction
sector, glass is used in exteriors and interiors in residential commercial and industrial buildings,
viz.
• Exteriors: Windows, doors, ventilators, lifts, skylights, curtain walling, structural glazing,
owning etc.
• Interiors: Cabinets, table tops, shower cubicles, partitions, doors, counter tops, wall
paneling etc. Mirrors are another major user of glass.
Types of Glass
Glass can be divided into two groups: oxide glass and non-oxide glass. Oxide glasses contain
chemical compounds that have oxygen. The oxides render strength to glass by way of hardness
and chemical resistance. They also help to add colour to glass. Nonoxide glasses are made from
compounds that contain no oxides, and often contain sulphides or metals. Oxide glasses are
much more widely used commercially. The most common types of oxide glasses are:
� Soda lime glass – Soda lime glass contains 60.75 per cent silicon dioxide, 12.18 per cent
sodium oxide and 5.12 per cent of calcium oxide. It is used for making flat glass,
containers, electric light bulbs and many other industrial and art objects. More than 90 per
cent of all glass is soda lime glass
� Soda lead glass – Commonly called crystal or lead glass, this type of glass is made by using
lead oxide instead of calcium oxide, and potassium oxide instead of sodium oxide. This
type of glass contains 54.65 per cent silicon dioxide, 18.38 per cent lead oxide and 13.15
per cent potash. Soda lead glass is easy to melt and the lead oxide improves its electrical
properties. It has beautiful optical properties and is more expensive than soda lime glass.
Soda lead glass has a high refractive index and relatively soft surface. It is used in fine
tableware and art objects.
� Borosilicate glass – This glass contains 7.13 per cent of boric oxide and 70.80 per cent
silica in its composition. The balance composition constitutes of four-eight per cent sodium
oxide and potassium oxide and two-seven per cent aluminium oxide. This type of glass is
heat and shock resistant and about three times as heat and shock resistant as soda lime
glass. It is used for chemical and electrical purposes and finds application in products such
as ovenware beakers, test tubes and other laboratory equipment.
� Aluminosilicate glass – It has aluminium oxide in its composition. It is similar to
borosilicate glass but has greater chemical durability and can withstand higher operating
temperatures.
� Ninety Six per cent silica glass – This type of glass is a borosilicate glass, melted and
formed by conventional means, then processed to remove almost all the non-silicate
elements from the piece. By reheating to 1200 degree celcius, the resulting pores are
consolidated. This glass is resistant to heat shock, up to 900 degrees.
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