Soda-Lime Glass
ASTM C1036 · EN 572 · GB 11614
Soda-Lime Glass is the highest-volume commercial silicate glass, melted from silica, soda ash and lime and supplied to specifications such as C1036, 572 and 11614.
Reference datasheet — Soda-Lime Glass is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the ANN condition
Soda-Lime Glass tempers and conditions
Soda-Lime Glass is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard as-drawn/float annealed glass — pick when the part must still be cut, drilled, edged or ground after supply. | 45 | 0 | 550 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
Heat-strengthened | Roughly double annealed strength with low residual stress; chosen where flatness and non-dicing fracture pattern matter more than impact safety rating. | 85 | 0 | 550 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
Fully tempered / toughened | Air-quenched safety glass with ≥69 MPa surface compression — pick for impact/thermal-shock duty and safety glazing; all cutting and drilling must be finished before tempering. | 150 | 0 | 550 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
Chemically strengthened | K⁺-for-Na⁺ ion exchange in molten KNO₃ gives a thin very high compression layer — used for thin (<3 mm) covers and instrument glass where thermal tempering is impossible. | 250 | 0 | 590 HV | 1 W/m·K |
What is Soda-Lime Glass?
Soda-Lime Glass is the highest-volume commercial silicate glass, melted from silica, soda ash and lime and supplied to specifications such as C1036, 572 and 11614. Engineers select it for low cost and easy forming into float sheet, containers, tubing and pressed shapes, in annealed (ANN), heat-strengthened (HS), fully tempered (FT) and chemically strengthened (CS) conditions. Limits are a 110 °C maximum service temperature, thermal conductivity near 1 W/m·K, poor thermal shock resistance and an annealed tensile strength of only about 45 MPa at 72 GPa modulus; borosilicate is the usual step up. Soda-Lime Glass has a density of 2.5 g/cm³ (0.0903 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of glass grades. Soda-Lime Glass has a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi), weaker than 56% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 72 GPa (10.4 Msi).
What is Soda-Lime Glass used for?
- window/architectural glazing
- bottles and jars
- automotive glass
- mirrors
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 99% of glass grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 110°C (230 °F), worse than 96% of glass grades
- Poor heat conductor — 1 W/m·K (0.578 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of glass grades
Soda-Lime Glass properties
Typical room-temperature values for Soda-Lime Glass-ANN; bars are the position among glass grades.
Physical4
Soda-Lime Glass has a density of 2.5 g/cm³ (0.0903 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of glass grades.
Mechanical12
Soda-Lime Glass has a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi), weaker than 56% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 72 GPa (10.4 Msi).
Thermal5
Soda-Lime Glass is rated for continuous service to 110°C (230 °F). It conducts heat at 1 W/m·K (0.578 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of glass grades. Thermal expansion is 9 µm/m·K (5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Soda-Lime Glass is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 12 kV/mm (304.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁰ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 65% of glass grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Soda-Lime Glass takes about 15 MJ of energy and emits 1.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of glass grades. Typical recycled content is 22%.
Manufacturability2
Soda-Lime Glass's machinability is poor (20/100, better than 56% of glass grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the glass family
Yield strength against density for every glass grade FabDigit runs. Soda-Lime Glass is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Soda-Lime Glass
Is Soda-Lime Glass easy to machine?
Score-and-snap with a carbide/diamond wheel; holes and edges need diamond core drills and wet grinding, and all machining must precede tempering.
Can Soda-Lime Glass be welded?
Not weldable in the metallic sense — joined by flame/laser fusion sealing to matched-CTE glass, glass frit, or adhesive/gasket bonding.
Can Soda-Lime Glass be formed, bent or molded?
Formed above the softening point (~720 °C) by float, press, blow or slumping; anneal through 545–505 °C to remove residual stress.
Soda-Lime Glass chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Na2Ofrom soda ash, flux | 12 – 16 | 13.8 |
| CaOfrom limestone, stabiliser | 5 – 12 | 8.8 |
| MgOfrom dolomite | 0 – 5 | 3.9 |
| Al2O3improves durability | 0.3 – 2.5 | 1 |
| K2O | 0 – 1 | 0.3 |
| SO3refining residue | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Fe2O3≤0.02 % for low-iron/extra-clear grades | 0.02 – 0.15 | 0.08 |
| SiO2network former | ≥ 69 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Soda-Lime Glass?
Ground and cerium-oxide polished edges, acid-etch or sandblast for satin finish, and magnetron-sputtered low-E, mirror or AR coatings adhere well.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Soda-Lime Glass in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- C1036
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 572
- GB (China)
- 11614
- Also called
- Alkali-Lime-Silica Glass
How much does Soda-Lime Glass cost?
Soda-Lime Glass is a budget-cost glass ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Soda-Lime Glass — frequently asked
What is Soda-Lime Glass used for?
Soda-Lime Glass is typically used for window/architectural glazing, bottles and jars, automotive glass and mirrors. In short: lowest-cost silicate glass; highest-volume flat glass; temperable and chemically strengthenable.
What is the tensile strength of Soda-Lime Glass?
Soda-Lime Glass has a typical tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — weaker than 56% of glass grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Soda-Lime Glass easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (20/100, better than 56% of glass grades). Score-and-snap with a carbide/diamond wheel; holes and edges need diamond core drills and wet grinding, and all machining must precede tempering.
Can Soda-Lime Glass be welded?
Not weldable in the metallic sense — joined by flame/laser fusion sealing to matched-CTE glass, glass frit, or adhesive/gasket bonding.
What surface finishes work on Soda-Lime Glass?
Ground and cerium-oxide polished edges, acid-etch or sandblast for satin finish, and magnetron-sputtered low-E, mirror or AR coatings adhere well.
Can Soda-Lime Glass be formed, bent or molded?
Formed above the softening point (~720 °C) by float, press, blow or slumping; anneal through 545–505 °C to remove residual stress.
What is the maximum service temperature of Soda-Lime Glass?
Soda-Lime Glass is rated for continuous use to about 110°C (230 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Soda-Lime Glass cost?
Soda-Lime Glass is a budget-cost glass ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM C1036 — Standard Specification for Flat Glass — ASTM International (2021)
- ASTM C1048 — Heat-Strengthened and Fully Tempered Flat Glass — ASTM International (2018)
- EN 572-1 — Glass in building: basic soda lime silicate glass products, definitions and general properties — CEN (2012)
- IEC 60672-3 — Ceramic and glass insulating materials, Part 3: Specifications for individual materials (Types G-110/G-120) — IEC (1997)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Float glass technical data (clear soda-lime, 3–19 mm) — Schott / Saint-Gobain / (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.