Strength In Glass

Theoretically, it is known that glass can be made stronger than steel—so strong that a semi-truck could hang from one single glass fiber. When the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly the U.S. National Bureau of Standards) measured the strength of glass drawn to fibers in vacuum, all measured in the range of two million psi, or 14 Gigapascals (GP), nearly independent of composition.

Commercial glass used today as common materials for architectural insulation and glazing, beverage containers, and automotive glasses exhibits only five-tenths of a percent (0.5%), or one two-hundredth (1/200^th), of its theoretical strength as proven in the lab. In optical fibers, glass exhibits five percent (100,000 psi or 700 Megapascals) of its theoretical strength. How much more could glass serve society, particularly to conserve energy, if 50 percent—even 10 to 25 percent—of its intrinsic strength were to be tapped?

Over the years, a number of approaches have been developed that strengthen glass in one way or another: thermal tempering, lamination, SolGel, coatings (polymers, others), nano-technologies and ion exchange. Multiples of 2 to 5 times strength have been achieved, but they all fall far short of theoretical possibilities!

Work on achieving theoretical limits is not a high priority today. What could be accomplished if it became a higher priority?

In 2004 the “Innovative Uses of Glass” Committee voted to take on “Glass Strength” as a primary challenge. They developed a two-part approach:

1. Student Contest - Increase the motivation to find solutions: They designed a contest to be open to university students challenging them to submit papers in pursuit of cash prizes identifying applications and products that would be possible if glass were available (in any sector: flat, container, fiber or specialty) at 50 times today’s strength! The first contest, of one month duration, was designed, announced and concluded in early 2005. It yielded 21 proposals and students were awarded several cash prizes. Its dual purpose was to stimulate the creation of the papers and to interest university students in considering glass a career choice. (papers available for download – see below)

The second contest, concluded in July 2007, was global, and ran from June 2006 through May 1, 2007. It attracted 47 papers from 26 universities and 5 countries. First and second place prizes were awarded at the July 2007 International Congress on Glass in Strasbourg France. Contest Press Release. (These papers are also available for download)

A third contest is being considered for 2008-2009.

2. Technical Contest - Given the interest in the concept of stronger glass that would develop from the student contests, the committee then proposed a contest to challenge the world’s researchers to seek the answers that would permit these theoretical applications and products to become a reality: solve the strength challenge. An “X-Prize in Glass” contest has been proposed and is being developed to reward the individual or group demonstrating 50X stronger glass with a monetary prize of $10,000,000, similar to the Ansari Prize won in 2005 by Burt Rutan for flying into space twice in two weeks in a privately designed and built space ship. This contest is being structured, and discussed. See the “White Paper” that provides the broad outlines for the contest.

Our thanks to the corporations and individual prize sponsors who have made it possible for the generous prizes to be offered to the winners.

Sponsors, by category of donation: