Lead Glass (IEC G-500) vs Soda-Lime Glass
Glass · grade comparison
Lead Glass (IEC G-500) and Soda-Lime Glass are both glass grades. Soda-Lime Glass is harder — 550 HV against 420 HV for Lead Glass (IEC G-500) — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Soda-Lime Glass is lighter (2.5 g/cm³ vs 3.1 g/cm³ for Lead Glass (IEC G-500)) and Soda-Lime Glass is stiffer (72 GPa vs 62 GPa). On the shop floor, Soda-Lime Glass sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Lead Glass (IEC G-500) (premium, $$$).
Lead Glass (IEC G-500)Choose it when the part sees heat.
Soda-Lime GlassChoose it when surface hardness matters, or when weight is the constraint.
Lead Glass (IEC G-500) vs Soda-Lime Glass: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all glass grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all glass grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Lead Glass (IEC G-500)Soda-Lime Glass
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Vickers
Hardness, Knoop
Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.22 · Tensile Strength (Ultimate) 45 MPa6.5 ksi · Elongation at Break 0% · Hardness, Mohs 5.5
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Refractive Index
Same in both: Light Transmission 90% · Porosity 0%
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Strength
Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)
Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)
Volume Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Same in both: Polishability 95 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every glass grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Lead Glass (IEC G-500) | Soda-Lime Glass |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Lead Glass (IEC G-500) vs Soda-Lime Glass — frequently asked
What is the difference between Lead Glass (IEC G-500) and Soda-Lime Glass?
Lead Glass (IEC G-500) and Soda-Lime Glass are both glass grades. Soda-Lime Glass is harder — 550 HV against 420 HV for Lead Glass (IEC G-500) — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Soda-Lime Glass is lighter (2.5 g/cm³ vs 3.1 g/cm³ for Lead Glass (IEC G-500)) and Soda-Lime Glass is stiffer (72 GPa vs 62 GPa).
Which is cheaper, Lead Glass (IEC G-500) or Soda-Lime Glass?
Soda-Lime Glass is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Lead Glass (IEC G-500) is premium ($$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, Lead Glass (IEC G-500) or Soda-Lime Glass?
Soda-Lime Glass, by a small margin. Both rate poor for machinability — 20/100 against 15/100 for Lead Glass (IEC G-500).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Lead Glass (IEC G-500) and Soda-Lime Glass side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.