Powdered Glass and Its Many Uses

• EUMC1lb7
• September 5, 2024

Ben Caldwell Artists are made by crushing quenched glass and milling it down to a fine grit — typically less than 30 um – but they can also be custom-milled for specific sizes and distribution. These powders are used for many purposes by glass blowers, kiln-glass artists and lampworkers. They can be sifted onto sheet glass, mixed into glazes or pate de verre to create colors and textures, and used in liquid stringer and in the casting of sculptural shapes. The grittiness of the powder also makes it perfect for stenciling and other glass surface treatments.

Hiding glass powder in food is a common motif in murder mysteries and idle gossip as an effective method of poisoning. The theory is that the glass would be so finely ground that it couldn’t be detected in food, but when swallowed it would cause a horrible intestinal tract death that would baffle even the most experienced medical examiners.

The Art of Sculpting with Powdered Glass, Copper, and Intense Heat

The use of colorless powdered glass has been noted in a number of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century European paintings. For example, it is known that the painter of Music (NG 756) added some of the material to modify the working and drying properties of the oil paint.

Another use for glass powder is to add it to concrete, replacing some of the cement. This reduces the amount of waste glass that is sent to landfills, is a sustainable resource and improves the overall strength and durability of the concrete.