2 ms·

optical here means microscopes/glasses and the like where you need very fine IOR control, not a flat piece of glass on top of a solar pannel.

defrost 2y ago
Who said anything about rare earths being used in solar panel glass? I stated as a fact that rare earths had an application in glass technology. You're the one that seemed to think the only type of glass was borosilicate, in addition to utterly blanking on the importance of trace elements and doping in glass properties. As mentioned, you might benefit from a better reading in materials science. For example, not just microscopes, there's also: https://www.fiberoptics4sale.com/blogs/archive-posts/95044294-what-are-rare-earth-doped-fibers https://www.fiberoptics4sale.com/blogs/archive-posts/9504429... I heard a rumour that these "optical fibres" get used a lot, but hey, you're the expert.
- phs318u 2y ago
  Comparinging by volume produced/consumed, I think it's reasonable to pretty much ignore all non-borosilicate glass for the purpose of this discussion. And the snark doesn't add to the discussion.
  - defrost 2y ago
    > Comparinging by volume produced/consumed, I think it's reasonable to pretty much ignore all non-borosilicate glass Soda–lime glass accounts for about 90% of manufactured glass. ~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soda%E2%80%93lime_glass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soda%E2%80%93lime_glass The implication being that borosilicate glass accounts for at most 10% of global production. It's the dominant type for thermal | bakeware where expansion factors matter, but overall not the most common glass type in production. > And the snark doesn't add to the discussion. Please advise the user that stated "Pretty sure your source is shit given .. {false statement}"
    - phs318u 2y ago
      Apologies for getting my facts wrong. You are of course correct. Re: snark - the point of HN is that we are better than that. If someone is snarky, then we shouldn't respond in kind. But I get it. It's easier to say than to do.
      - defrost 2y ago
        Consider this, I've responded to an ill considered disrespectful one liner with a wealth of information about glass. At no point did I claim that rare earth in glass was a bottleneck to solar panel manufacture, glass only arose as doping glass for specific properties is one of the many reasons why we process rare earth materials at all.

defrost 2y ago

Who said anything about rare earths being used in solar panel glass? I stated as a fact that rare earths had an application in glass technology. You're the one that seemed to think the only type of glass was borosilicate, in addition to utterly blanking on the importance of trace elements and doping in glass properties. As mentioned, you might benefit from a better reading in materials science. For example, not just microscopes, there's also: https://www.fiberoptics4sale.com/blogs/archive-posts/95044294-what-are-rare-earth-doped-fibers https://www.fiberoptics4sale.com/blogs/archive-posts/9504429... I heard a rumour that these "optical fibres" get used a lot, but hey, you're the expert.

phs318u 2y ago
Comparinging by volume produced/consumed, I think it's reasonable to pretty much ignore all non-borosilicate glass for the purpose of this discussion. And the snark doesn't add to the discussion.
- defrost 2y ago
  > Comparinging by volume produced/consumed, I think it's reasonable to pretty much ignore all non-borosilicate glass Soda–lime glass accounts for about 90% of manufactured glass. ~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soda%E2%80%93lime_glass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soda%E2%80%93lime_glass The implication being that borosilicate glass accounts for at most 10% of global production. It's the dominant type for thermal | bakeware where expansion factors matter, but overall not the most common glass type in production. > And the snark doesn't add to the discussion. Please advise the user that stated "Pretty sure your source is shit given .. {false statement}"
  - phs318u 2y ago
    Apologies for getting my facts wrong. You are of course correct. Re: snark - the point of HN is that we are better than that. If someone is snarky, then we shouldn't respond in kind. But I get it. It's easier to say than to do.
    - defrost 2y ago
      Consider this, I've responded to an ill considered disrespectful one liner with a wealth of information about glass. At no point did I claim that rare earth in glass was a bottleneck to solar panel manufacture, glass only arose as doping glass for specific properties is one of the many reasons why we process rare earth materials at all.