Did you know that there is one item that may be found in every home – glassware? Either in drinking cups or dinnerware.
Glassware comes in a variety of materials, including soda lime glass, crystal, ordinary or natural glass, borosilicate glass, milk glass, tempered glass, and fused silica glass, to name a few.
However, not every glass has the same material constituents, thus we shall explain the distinction between Borosilicate glass vs glass.
Are they the same thing? Which is better, particularly in terms of cost and culinary capabilities?
We must know this since it will supply you with the necessary knowledge to know which of the glass materials are safe for use for a specific purpose.
Furthermore, we will also examine the distinction between Borosilicate glass and tempered glass, the difference between brands like Pyrex vs Simax, Borosil vs Kyrex, and even soda lime glass vs Borosilicate glass.
Finally, we will discuss how to select the appropriate glass material for your family and special event to avoid mishaps at home and in the kitchen.
BOROSILICATE GLASS VS TEMPERED GLASS
To begin, while borosilicate and tempered glass share some similarities, such as thermal strength and durability, some distinctive features distinguish them, which we must explore.
See the 5 major differences between Borosilicate glass and tempered glass below:
The first difference between Borosilicate glass and tempered glass lies in its composition:
Tempered glass is simply natural glass heated at a high temperature and then cooled quickly but Borosilicate glass aside from undergoing a high temperature contains boric oxide a key element not inside tempered glass.
Borosilicate glass has a higher thermal shock resistance and a lower thermal expansion factor than tempered glass.
Borosilicate glass is thinner in design than tempered glass (* although the glassware brand design can affect this feature).
Borosilicate glass is mostly used in the manufacturing of optical instruments, laboratory glassware, cookware, dinnerware, and drinking vessels while tempered glass is commonly used in automobiles, bathroom doors, tableware, and indoor wall separators.
When tempered glass breaks, it breaks into small tiny shreds that can’t cause injury but when Borosilicate glass breaks, it breaks into big sharp shreds which may lead to injury when exposed to it.
Borosilicate glass is more suitable for high-temperature applications than tempered glass.
Final verdict: The key differences between Borosilicate and tempered glass lie in their thermal properties and the manufacturing processes used to achieve specific qualities.
BOROSILICATE GLASS VS GLASS
See below the difference between Borosilicate glass and regular or ordinary glass:
Borosilicate glass is made up of Silica and boron dioxide while regular glass is primarily composed of silica, soda ash, and limestone.
Borosilicate glass has a higher chemical resistance and durability than normal glass which is why they are suitable for applications where the glass comes in contact with various chemicals.
Borosilicate glass does not contain lead and does not leach harmful toxins but most regular glass might contain lead or be susceptible to leaching depending on the manufacturer and its process.
Borosilicate glass has a higher thermal shock or resistance, higher melting point, and lower thermal expansion than regular glass that’s why they are capable of withstanding rapid temperature changes than normal glassware.
Borosilicate glass excels in specialized applications requiring resistance to extreme temperatures and chemicals, while regular glass is a more affordable option for common household and industrial uses.
Borosilicate glass is suitable for oven, dishwasher, and microwave but not all regular glasses can go in the dishwasher, microwave, and oven they must be labeled.
Borosilicate glass is suitable for use over direct flame but normal glass cannot be used over direct flame.
BOROSILICATE GLASS VS GLASS WHICH IS BETTER?
Based on the differences discussed above, we can confidently state that Borosilicate glass is superior to regular glass because it can be used for more specialized high-end industrial and laboratory products with high precision due to its higher thermal resistance, break resistance, and chemical resistance.
BOROSILICATE GLASS VS GLASS FOR COOKING
Borosilicate glass outperforms all other glass kinds in terms of direct heat resistance and quick temperature changes.
As a result, while ordinary glassware is not suitable for cooking, Borosilicate glass is completely capable.
Finally, stainless steel is a suitable alternative for cooking better than regular glass even Borosilicate glass, and we have thoroughly outlined the fundamental differences between Borosilicate glass and stainless steel in another article; please read it!
BOROSILICATE GLASS VS GLASS PRICE
In terms of price, ordinary glassware is less expensive than Borosilicate glass.
BOROSILICATE GLASS VS SODA LIME GLASS
Find below the difference between Borosilicate glass and soda lime glass:
Borosilicate glass is made up of silica and boron dioxide while soda lime glass contains silica, sodium dioxide, and calcium oxide.
When it comes to the manufacturing of specialized laboratory apparatus, Borosilicate glass is a preferred choice to soda lime glass because of their huge difference in material composition.
Borosilicate glass is more versatile and durable than soda lime glass.
Borosilicate glass is less prone to breaking compared to soda lime glass because it includes 80% of silica, whereas soda lime glass contains 69%.
Compared to soda lime glass, borosilicate glass offers higher thermal resistance, lower thermal expansion, and greater chemical and mechanical resistance.
Compared to soda lime glass, borosilicate glass is easier to transfer from the freezer to the oven to the table without shattering.
Borosilicate glass is more scratch-resistant than soda lime glass.
The density of Borosilicate glass is higher than that of soda lime glass.
Finally, borosilicate glass is more resistant to acids and alkaline solutions than soda lime glass.
SODA-LIME GLASS VS TEMPERED GLASS
See below the difference between soda lime glass and tempered glass:
Soda lime glass is a standard glass type, while tempered glass undergoes a special heat treatment for increased strength.
Tempered glass is more resistant to breakage and, if it does break, it shatters into small, less dangerous fragments.
It’s commonly used in applications where safety is crucial, like car windows and Smartphone screens.
PYREX VS KIMAX
Pyrex and Kimax are both brands known for manufacturing laboratory glassware. First, Pyrex is owned by Instant Brands same makers of Corelle dinnerware while Kimax is owned by Kimble Chase.
The primary difference between the two is that some Pyrex glassware products are made with soda lime glass while others are made with Borosilicate glass but Kimax glass is predominantly made with Borosilicate glass.
On a final note, while both brands use borosilicate glass, there may be variations in specific formulations and manufacturing standards.
SIMAX VS PYREX
Simax and Pyrex are both brands known for producing borosilicate and soda lime glassware.
The main difference lies in their manufacturing locations and specific formulations. Simax is a Czech brand, while Pyrex originated in the United States but has been produced by different companies over the years.
Pyrex in the U.S. transitioned from borosilicate glass to tempered soda-lime glass, which has led to some differences in thermal properties compared to traditional borosilicate glass.
To learn more, kindly check the difference between Simax and Pyrex glassware brands.
VIDEO OF BOROSILICATE AND SODA LIME GLASS STRENGTH TEST
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