Super-strong glass

2 April 2009

An Alfred University researcher claims to have developed a process for making super-strong glass that is almost unbreakable.

An Alfred University researcher claims to have developed a process for making super-strong glass that is nearly unbreakable.

Glassware based on the new glass is to be produced by Santanoni Glass and Ceramics of Alfred Station, New York, as a result of a royalty agreement signed between the two parties.

The deal will allow Santanoni to produce 'unbreakable' glassware such as wine glasses, canning jars, bottles, tumblers, goblets and mugs at a cost competitive with normal, unstrengthened glassware.

Dr William LacCourse, a professor of glass science at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and the founder of Santanoni, has researched processes for strengthening glass for more than 30 years.

He said: 'No glass is unbreakable, but our process produces the highest-strength glassware available today, and at price that makes it affordable.

'It has the potential to save restaurants, catering services and families up to 80 per cent, and perhaps more, on their glassware costs. We have dropped glass bottles from 10ft high onto a concrete floor, and the glass simply bounces.'

Over the years, the research was partially funded by Alfred’s Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology (CACT), as well as Santanoni.

Santanoni’s so-called Ultra-HS glass products are now available in limited quantities as the company prepares to ramp-up production levels.