Process For Making ‘Unbreakable’ Glass Developed

Wine glasses that don’t shatter? Baby bottles that don’t break? Coffee mugs that last generations?

All are possible with a new process for strengthening glass and ceramics developed by an Alfred University researcher.

Alfred University has signed a royalty agreement with Santanoni Glass and Ceramics, Inc., of Alfred Station, NY, for proprietary technology related to the strengthening of glass.

The process allows Santanoni to produce “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.”

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