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Kinds of Glassware That Have Stress Points

Glassware typically refers to tumblers, goblets, and other drinking glasses used at the dining table. Science laboratories also use glassware in the forms of test tubes, beakers and other measuring devices. Ceramic cookware and decorative pieces are another form of glassware found in most homes. No matter what the glassware's purpose, all glass has a stress point, which makes it susceptible to breakage.

Stress Point
- During the manufacturing process, stress or strain develops in the glassware. This occurs while the glass forms, heats and cools during its formation causing it to expand. The intensity of the heat applied to form the glass can be a factor in the amount of stress as well as the glassware's thickness. After the forming process, glass goes through a process called annealing, where the glass heats to a temperature ranging from above 500 degrees Celsius to over 1,000 degrees, depending on the material and type of glass needed.
Everyday glassware
- Everyday glassware refers to drinking glasses most everyone's kitchens and restaurants. Most of these consist of a soda and lime composition along with amounts of silica. Although soda-lime glasses are the most commonly used, they will shatter if exposed to extreme variations of temperature. Pouring hot liquid into these glasses at room temperature can cause it to reach its stress point and break. In addition, pouring liquid into heated glassware should be avoided until it has time to cool.
Glass Cookware
- Most forms of glass baking dishes consist of silica and boric oxide, which increases its durability. The boric oxide element allows more resistance to temperature changes. Although it can still reach a stress point, glassware made of this material will be less likely to shatter than glasses made of the soda-lime composition.
Laboratory Equipment
- Science laboratories use glass materials made of the boric oxide compound for their experiments. As with the cookware, the glass they use must endure extreme variations in temperature. The higher stress points also allows for better accuracy in measurement because the glass does not react to the heating and cooling process in experiments.
Crystal Glassware
- While quite valuable and expensive, crystal glassware requires the most caution to handle. Fine crystal glassware primarily consists of the material lead. Lead added to the composition gives the crystal a glimmer and elegance, yet does not protect it from stress. Crystal's consistency causes it to be extremely breakable. As with regular glassware, pouring heated liquid into a crystal glass can cause it to explode. In addition, hanging crystal upside down by the stem puts stress on the glass and can result in it separating. Even touching another glass can cause fine crystal to shatter.

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