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What does the polarimeter test imply if neither of the described results happens? The glassware in my house doesn't seem to have any noticeable effect on the po
by fenomas 8y ago
What does the polarimeter test imply if neither of the described results happens? The glassware in my house doesn't seem to have any noticeable effect on the polarized light; it doesn't get more visible or have any particular pattern.
- colanderman 8y agoI am far from an expert, so take everything I say with a grain of salt. But my understanding is that what makes light visible in the polarimeter test is stress due to tempering. E.g. my soda-lime (Pyrex) bakeware shows up very clearly in this test, but my soda-lime drinking glasses do not cause any light to appear in the test (except at their bottom). I unfortunately don't own borosilicate bakeware, so my above description of the effect comes from my linked source. The only borosilicate samples I do have are a microwave dish and a candy thermometer. The microwave dish (which has a rough texture) does show some light, but in a hazy pattern, and much less than soda-lime bakeware. The candy thermometer (which is test-tube sized) shows no light in the test. So if you're looking at bakeware, it's probable that it's either borosilicate or some other type (such as aluminosilicate used in Pyrex Flameware… again just guessing here). If you're looking at drinking glasses, then they're probably just untempered soda glass or crystalware (lead glass).
- fenomas 8y agoThanks! For what it's worth I was looking at glass bakeware that advertises itself as heat resistant and microwaveable, from a company called Iwaki glass. Googling suggests they make a lot of borosilicate scientific stuff but I couldn't find any info about their consumer products.