Compare the temperatures at which sodalime, borosilicate, \(96 \%\) silica, and fused silica may be annealed.

Annealing temperature refers to the temperature at which a glass material is heated, and then slowly cooled, to remove internal stresses and improve its strength, durability, and other properties. This process is important for glass manufacturing as it prevents cracking, breakage, and other defects in the final product.

To compare the annealing temperatures of sodalime, borosilicate, 96% silica, and fused silica, we will list the typical annealing temperature range for each type of glass. 1. Sodalime glass: \(500^\circ C - 550^\circ C\) 2. Borosilicate glass: \(560^\circ C - 620^\circ C\) 3. \(96 \%\) Silica glass: \(890^\circ C - 950^\circ C\) 4. Fused silica glass: \(1050^\circ C - 1150^\circ C\)

By comparing these temperature ranges, we can see that: - Sodalime glass has the lowest annealing temperature, which makes it easier and less expensive to process. However, its lower annealing temperature also means that it has lower resistance to thermal shock and may not be suitable for applications that require high temperature resistance. - Borosilicate glass has a higher annealing temperature than sodalime glass, which gives it better thermal shock resistance and makes it suitable for applications like laboratory glassware and cookware. - \(96 \%\) Silica glass has a significantly higher annealing temperature than both sodalime and borosilicate glasses, which provides better thermal shock resistance and high temperature performance, making it suitable for applications in the semiconductor industry and other high-precision applications. - Fused silica glass has the highest annealing temperature among the four materials, providing it with excellent thermal properties and making it suitable for high-precision applications involving extreme temperature conditions, such as space and astronomy applications, and optical devices.