Каква е разликата между стъкло и кристал?
If you're planning a full course meal for an elegant event or looking to add a sophisticated touch to a romantic dinner, you may find yourself headed to the china cabinet to pull out the good crystal. Crystal glass has long been associated with high-end dining, but why is it considered more luxurious than standard glass? Below we'll clarify the difference between crystal and glass to help you set the table for your next event.
Кристал срещу стъкло
When comparing glass vs crystal, crystal is a type of glass that contains strengthening minerals like lead-oxide, potassium carbonate, and silica to make the material durable. The added strength allows the crystal to be molded into thin, delicate shapes. Standard glass is usually made with sand, soda ash, and limestone, making it durable but unable to be molded as thin as crystal. Crystal is also able to refract light while glass will typically lack that ability, making crystal more sought out for formal table settings and more expensive than glass.
Какво е стъкло?
Стъклото е прозрачен материал, който може да бъде разтопен и формован в твърди форми. Той е направен от пясък, калцинирана сода и варовик, но могат да се добавят и други минерали като силициев диоксид и барий, за да се манипулира неговият цвят, издръжливост и дебелина.
Glass with a low mineral count is non-porous, which makes glass dishwasher safe and heat-resistant. Some popular types of glass used in public settings are borosilicate glass, commonly used for glass food storage containers, and fuzed quartz glass used for camera lenses and lab equipment.
Какво е Кристал?
Кристалното стъкло е прозрачен материал, направен от същите съставки като стъклото, но с добавен оловен-оксид или метален-оксид. Допълнителните съставки карат кристала да запази целостта си дори когато е нарязан или издухан. Добавените съставки в кристалното стъкло правят материала леко порест, придавайки му способността да пречупва светлината брилянтно. Това обаче също означава, че материалът не може да се мие в съдомиялна машина.
Crystal is produced by companies around the globe and can be made with varying levels of lead-oxide. Unlike the name suggests, crystal glass does not actually contain a crystalline structure in its material compound. The name is derived from the Italian term "Cristallo", which was used for high-end hand-blown glass in Murano, Italy. Its association with sophistication makes crystal desirable and higher in price than glass.
Разликите между стъкло и кристал
Стъклото и кристалът се правят чрез нагряване в пещ до разтопяване. След това те се издухват от стъклодухачка и се оформят в желаните дизайни. Въпреки това, двата материала имат различни разлики, от техния химичен състав и тегло до начина, по който пречупват светлината и отразяват звука. Разглеждаме отблизо техните разлики по-долу, за да изясним защо кристалът се предлага с по-висока цена.
Разлики във външния вид
Glass: Glass is often slightly foggy in appearance and can typically feature a tint based on the ingredients in its composition. It can have a green tint if made with iron or a blue tint if made with soda-lime.
Crystal: Crystal boasts incredible clarity, which makes it a desirable choice for high-end glassware and decorations.
Разлики в теглото
Glass: Glass is lighter in weight in comparison to crystal pieces of the same design.
Crystal: Because crystal contains lead or other metals, it tends to be heavier in weight than standard glass of the same design.
Разлики в дебелината
Glass: Due to the soda-lime in its chemical composition, glass requires a high working temperature and hardens rather quickly after being heated, which results in a thick rim. The material is more fragile than crystal so most cup rims will be reinforced for added strength.
Crystal: Crystal can be heated at lower temperatures than glass because of the lead and potassium carbonate in the composition. This allows for the glassblower to more easily work the material and make it thin. The additional chemicals also help the material to remain strong while being stretched further than glass.
Изрежете разликите
Glass: Since glass hardens more quickly than crystal, it offers little time to be cut by hand. The material is generally too hot to manage with gloves so glass is typically bent into shape while hot or blown into a mold. Any cuts on the surface are usually sharp, rigid, and brittle.
Crystal: Since crystal is strengthened by its minerals, it is soft enough to add smooth hand-cut details to its surface without compromising its durability. The material is more malleable than glass, allowing the artist to add intricate patterns. The cuts can then be buffed and polished without fear of shattering the structure.
Разлики в пречупването
Glass: Glass has very little metal content, which means that light will pass through like a windowpane without refracting. The soda-lime in glass lacks retracting abilities.
Crystal: Because of the lead and metal content in crystal, the material can refract light that passes through it in the right position. Light disperses from crystal in a rainbow hue, making the material desirable for decorations and tableware.
Звукови разлики
Glass: Glass provides a dull chime when tapped or flicked. The sound is usually short in length and subtle.
Crystal: When tapped, crystal creates a satisfying bell-like ringing sound. The lead content in the material allows the sounds to be slightly prolonged.
Ползи
Glass: Glass tableware is a great option for everyday use because it is made thick and durable. It can be put in the dishwasher for easy cleanup and has a reinforced rim to prevent chips and cracks.
Crystal: Crystal glass refracts light beautifully, glinting light into rainbows. This makes it an excellent choice for cups, bowls, vases, champagne flutes, chandeliers, and ornaments. It can also be molded thin, which means that wine glasses can have a thin rim, providing an uninterrupted flow of wine. Crystal is also popular at weddings because of the ringing noise it makes when glasses are clinked.
