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There are many different kinds of glass bottles in which you can store and preserve everything from beverages and drugs to perfume and cosmetics. The possibilities are limitless. The following information will help you choose which is the most appropriate for your needs.
Colors of Glass
The beautiful colors glass come in often have a specific purpose.
Amber
Amber glass is capable of absorbing radiation wavelengths which are no longer that 450mm which. This provides great protection from ultraviolet rays and makes them ideal for containing medicines. Remember this can when you need to take medications with you when traveling. Additionally, amber bottles are used to protect beverages such as beer from damage from the sun.
Green
Green color in glass is achieved by adding oxidized iron chromate to the molten mixture while it is in liquid form. Green glass bottles are popular for beer, wine and soft drinks because of its capability to reduce light and heat that can make your drink stale. If you bottle your own beer or spirits, green bottles are appropriate. If you are storing beverages in larger quantities, green glass jugs are also available.
Frosted
Another popular type of bottle are those with frosted glass. They have a different feel and texture and are a popular choice for cosmetics manufacturers. Often they come with roll-ons and pumps and are a good choice for keeping your favorite essences.
Clear
The most common color of glass in no color. Its simplicity has made it the common choice for homeowners. Clear glass bottles can be used as vessels for condiments, drinks or even become a decorative item for display. They allow the natural color of whatever they are containing to be highlighted. Clear glass bottles come in a wide array of shapes; certainly, you will find a set that blends well with the theme of your home or your personal style.
Shapes and Caps
Bottles are available in different shapes such as round, oval and square. If you do not have plenty of storage space, you can choose square bottles. Square bottles do not roll thus they offer additional safety. There are also different caps to choose from such as cork stoppers, ribbed lined caps and orifice reducers. For special purposes, bottles with droppers and sprayers are available. You may also choose different materials such as wood, metal and plastic.
Types of Glass
Knowing a little bit about the types of glass bottles are made from may help you choose one that is more appropriate for the use you have in mind. The three most popular types of bottles are soda lime, borosilicate and lead.
Soda lime is the most common form of glass. Its contents are silica, lime and calcium which are natural and non-toxic, making it perfect for drinking and table ware. We can see a lot of silica lime glass around the house and stores.
Borosilicate glass is known for its low expansion coefficient which makes it resistant to abrupt changes in temperature. Because of its durability, borosilicate glass is used as cookware and laboratory equipment. Borosilicate glass was invented by Otto Schott in 1887.
Lead glass is a softer type of glass and is primarily used for decorative purposes. This type of glass is prone to breaking when temperature suddenly changes. But because it is soft, it can be molded into unusual shapes, making it ideal for creating glass displays and figurines.
A Brief History
Bottles are one of the oldest forms of packaging. It is estimated that glass has been around for 5000 years and it is believed that it has been discovered by accident. Experts say that early men may have found the glass after a volcanic eruption ensued by rapid cooling. Four thousand years ago in Mesopotamia, around the time when the wheel is being invented, people worked hard to produce it by imitating the natural process.
Egyptians were also fascinated with glass. In fact they created a variety of during their time using soda lime which is similar to the materials used in making modern glass. Egyptians were also known to have created the first glass bottles that were used as vessels for precious essences, cosmetics and perfume.
The first colorless glasses were created by Romans in AD 100 by adding manganese dioxide to the glass mixture. Since then, additives were used to produce glasses in different colors. The first glass windows appeared in England on 1180, which eventually led to the art of stained glass that flourished in the Middle Ages. One of the finest in this art can be found in La Sainte Chapelle in Paris.
Why choose Glass Bottles
Glass is made up of benign, natural materials that are good for the environment and your health. It can be 100% recycled indefinitely. It respects you and nature and it even stimulates your senses.
Glass is inert and so doesn’t chemically react with or alter the taste or aroma of whatever liquid you choose to store in it. It’s not an accident that fine wine and beer are packaged in glass bottles. Perfumers prefer glass because it is the only material that is able to keep the scents pure in their very essence.
In the end, for most people glass bottles simply look and feel as natural as they in fact are. Even when manufactured they look hand made. There is solidity and warmth to them that plastic can’t begin to match.
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