Scientists at Alfred University, US, have developed a process for making super-strong glass that is nearly unbreakable, even when dropped from 10 feet high onto a concrete floor.
The process allows the production of "unbreakable" glassware such as wine glasses, canning jars, bottles, tumblers, goblets and mugs at a cost that allows the products to be competitive with normal, un-strengthened glassware.
Dr. William LacCourse, a professor of Glass Science at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and president of the company, located in the Ceramics Corridor Innovation Center in Alfred, has researched processes for strengthening glasses for more than 30 years.
"No glass is unbreakable, but our process produces the highest strength glassware available today, and at price that makes it affordable," said LaCourse.
"It has the potential to save restaurants, catering services and families up to 80 percent, and perhaps more, on their glassware costs. We have dropped glass bottles from 10 feet high onto a concrete floor, and the glass simply bounces," he added.
The glassware will be processed in Alfred Station, NY at the Sugar Hill Industrial Park, and will be marketed nationally.
"We are working with a couple of distributors for some specialty products, but will do the majority of consumer marketing through gift shops and the Internet," said LaCourse.
"We are also contacting various food service companies where we believe the products can save them thousands of dollars per year due to reduced breakage and lower inventory costs," he added.
