Glass vs Acrylic

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Here is an article I did many years ago on the pro's and con's of acrylic and glass.

http://www.firstclassaquatics.com/articles/glass-acrylic.htm

 

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Here is an article I did many years ago on the pro's and con's of acrylic and glass.

http://www.firstclassaquatics.com/articles/glass-acrylic.htm

What about low iron glass on clarity? Cost have to much higher.

What the advantage of iron in the glass anyway? Or is it just a byproduct of the manufacturing or materials used?

Dave

 

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Starfire glass is low iron, so it is much more optically clear than standard glass. But like you said, the trade-off is a much higher price.

Fro what limited reading I have done, Iron (Fe) is added to the silica mixture for a couple of reasons. First is it helps lower the melting point thus improving the manufacturing process. Second, I believe it is added so the glass will reflect or block, UV rays. Most glass these days is only about 75% silica. The rest is additives to improve manufacturing.