glass,neat,corning,Prince Rupert,asplode Curious property of Prince Rupert's Drop glass

Curious property of Prince Rupert's Drop glass

published by philkar77

8 months 3 weeks ago • 2997 views

tags: glass, neat, corning, Prince Rupert, asplode

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If you drop molten glass into a bucket of water, it will solidify into what's called a "Prince Rupert's Drop." According to this Corning video, the surface of the drop is in a state of great compression, while the interior is in a state of great tension. You can squeeze the bulbous part of the drop with pliers or bang on it with a hammer to no avail. However, if you snap off the hair-thin tail at the end of the drop, it'll shatter into dust. ((Via forgetomori)via BoingBoing)

Comments

cool, similar to how tempered glass works in most car windshields, most small cracks will be closed back up by the surface (in compression) but if a large enough crack forms (someone breaks the glass) it shatters into thousands of pieces.

written by krumzy | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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another video here where we can see the "drop" when it shatters :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdy2_vi0FfM

written by bison_ravi | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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An excellent demonstration of the fluid like properties of glass. I didn't know about this.

written by Zor | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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I want ultra super slowmotion video of that happening, NOW!

written by cybrbeast

| 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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That was actually super intresting.

written by Napalm | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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"Can't be broken" - Them's fighting words.

written by AeroMechanical | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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^ yeah... more like can't be broken when gently tapped on. i don't know about anyone else, but when i use a hammer, i hold the base of the handle and swing it more than 10 degrees.

written by E_Nygma

| 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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That was fascinating, I didn't know such things at all.

written by spoco2

| 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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bison_ravi's link has some slow motion at the end.

Very interesting. Thanks.

>> ^cybrbeast:
I want ultra super slowmotion video of that happening, NOW!

written by curiousity

| 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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@krumzy - just wanted to mention that most windows in cars do use tempered class although the windshield does not. Windshields use laminated safety glass so that there is no shattering. A windshield is constructed by bonding exterior layers of annealed glass to a middle layer of plastic.

BTW - this is a demonstration that they perform every hour or so at the Corning Museum of Glass... a fascinating place to visit.

written by TerraKhan | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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I've seen these things hit about as hard as can be managed with a hammer. I'd be quite surprised to see anyone break one without resorting to far more drastic measures.

>> ^E_Nygma:
^ yeah... more like can't be broken when gently tapped on. i don't know about anyone else, but when i use a hammer, i hold the base of the handle and swing it more than 10 degrees.

written by xxovercastxx

| 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH

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