Soda Lime Glass

This type of glass accounts for 90% of commercially used glass. Its uses range from windows to even jars. It is typically made of (w/w) 70% silica ($Si{O}_2$), 10% lime ($CaO$) and 15% soda ($N{a}_{2}O$).

Silica is the network-former of the glass. Silica, is found in nature as quartz and its pure form is the ideal glass. Nevertheless, soda is added in order to reduce the temperature at which the glass is softened, thus making its production cheaper and better to work with. Since sodium cations are very soluble in water, lime is added in order to decrease the solubility of the glass.

Silica is obtained by sand and mixed with soda ash ($N{a}_{2}C{O}_3$) and limestone ($CaC{O}_3$). These materials are mixed together to get a powder called batch which is later combined with cullet (recycled glass pieces) in order for the glass to once again soften at even lower temperatures. The mix is heated into an oven at temperatures around $1000^{o}C$. Impurities that arise are removed and the melted mass is put into moulds to take its final shape. Annealing is also taking place at the end to ensure glass durability, which is the process of reheated the bottle and then slowly cooling it down in order to further stabilize the structure of the glass.

Soda lime glass is recyclable.