Borosilicate Glass

Borosilicate glass is a high-quality glass type known for its exceptional thermal, chemical, and optical properties. It is widely used in both industrial and technical environments, ranging from laboratories and optical systems to machine enclosures and high-end projection or display applications.

What makes borosilicate glass unique is its ability to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations and chemical exposure without warping or cracking. In addition, it offers excellent optical clarity with minimal distortion or color shift, making it ideal for applications where light transmission and image quality are critical.

Borosilicate glass is commonly used for:

Protective windows and viewing panels in machinery and equipmentLaboratory and medical instruments
Lighting, optical components, and projection applications
Protective covers for sensors, cameras, and displays
Architectural applications requiring high thermal resistance

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Technical specification

Borosilicate glass has a unique composition based on silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and boron trioxide (B₂O₃). This combination results in an extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion of approximately 3.3 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, meaning the glass hardly expands or contracts under temperature changes. As a result, it is suitable for both cold and hot applications — even during sudden temperature shifts of up to 150 °C.

Key Properties:

High thermal shock resistance – withstands rapid temperature changes
Chemical durability – resistant to most acids, bases, and solvents
Optical purity – very high light transmission (> 92%) with minimal color deviation, even at greater thicknesses
Mechanical strength – stronger than standard float glass despite being thinner
Low thermal expansion – maintains shape and dimensional stability under extreme conditions

Optical Comparison with Standard Glass

While standard float glass often shows a green tint due to its iron content, borosilicate glass is virtually colorless and optically neutral. As a result, it transmits more visible light — a difference that becomes especially noticeable with thicker panels or in applications involving backlighting or projection.

Light transmission: borosilicate > 92% vs. float glass ± 89%
Refractive index: 1.474 (borosilicate) vs. 1.52 (float glass) – less optical distortion
Color rendering: neutral, without greenish hue
Optical homogeneity: highly consistent, ideal for optical and scientific applications

These properties make borosilicate glass exceptionally well-suited for applications where clarity, light distribution, and accurate image rendering are essential — such as in projection screens, optical lenses, displays, microscopes, or high-performance protective panels.

Availability at Macada Innovision

Macada Innovision supplies borosilicate glass in various thicknesses and sizes, cut to specification and, if desired, coated or custom-processed through drilling, grinding or polishing.
We work with Schott BOROFLOAT® 33, a globally recognized brand known for its consistent quality and optical precision.

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