Soda-Lime
also Float Glass, Window Glass
Soda-Lime is the standard commercial silicate glass based on an SiO₂–Na₂O–CaO composition and formed continuously by the float process, accounting for the majority of architectural and container glass output.
Reference datasheet — Soda-Lime 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 Annealed Glass condition
Soda-Lime tempers and conditions
Soda-Lime is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed Glass is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed GlassDefault as-produced float glass, slowly cooled (stress-free) | Default choice when the part must still be cut, drilled, ground or edge-worked, and strength/safety demands are low. | 40 | 0 | 550 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
Heat-strengthened | Pick when you need roughly double the annealed strength and large-shard breakage (spandrel, laminate plies) rather than full safety fragmentation. | 70 | 0 | 550 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
fully thermally toughened safety glass (EN 12150 / ANSI Z97.1) | Pick for safety-critical or thermally cycled glazing: ~4× annealed strength and dicing fragmentation, but all cutting/drilling must be done before tempering. | 150 | 0 | 550 HV | 1 W/m·K |
What is Soda-Lime?
Soda-Lime is the standard commercial silicate glass based on an SiO₂–Na₂O–CaO composition and formed continuously by the float process, accounting for the majority of architectural and container glass output. It is chosen for very low cost, high visible transmission of about 90 %, good optical uniformity and easy cutting and drilling, and is available annealed, heat-strengthened (HS) and tempered. Limits are a high thermal expansion of about 9 µm/m·K with weak thermal shock resistance, annealed bending strength of only 40–50 MPa (tensile 40 MPa), a maximum service temperature of 110 °C, and no resistance to hydrofluoric acid or hot alkali; it is unsuitable above 550 °C or where low dielectric loss is required. Borosilicate such as Borofloat 33 is the obvious step up for thermal duty. Soda-Lime has a density of 2.5 g/cm³ (0.0903 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of glass grades. It melts at 726°C (1,339 °F). Soda-Lime has a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi), weaker than 65% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 72 GPa (10.4 Msi).
What is Soda-Lime used for?
- Window panes
- Bottles
- Mirrors
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 96% 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 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Soda-Lime-Annealed Glass; bars are the position among glass grades.
Physical5
Soda-Lime has a density of 2.5 g/cm³ (0.0903 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of glass grades. It melts at 726°C (1,339 °F).
Mechanical13
Soda-Lime has a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi), weaker than 65% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 72 GPa (10.4 Msi).
Thermal5
Soda-Lime 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 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 13 kV/mm (330.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), better than 58% of glass grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Soda-Lime takes about 15 MJ of energy and emits 1.3 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of glass grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability3
Soda-Lime's machinability is not recommended (12/100, worse than 68% 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 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Soda-Lime
Is Soda-Lime easy to machine?
Score-and-snap or waterjet for cutting; drilling and edge work with diamond tooling and flood coolant only — never machine after tempering.
Can Soda-Lime be welded?
Not weldable in the metal sense; joined by flame/laser fusion sealing, frit sealing or adhesive/structural silicone bonding.
Can Soda-Lime be formed, bent or molded?
Formed from the melt by the float process; secondary shaping by slumping/bending at 600–700 °C, then annealed or tempered.
Soda-Lime 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Na2Oflux | 12 – 16 | 13.5 |
| CaOstabilizer | 5 – 12 | 8.5 |
| MgOtypical in float glass | 0 – 5 | 4 |
| Al2O3durability | 0 – 3 | 1 |
| K2O | 0 – 1 | 0.3 |
| SO3refining agent residue | 0 – 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Fe2O3iron content sets green tint; low-iron grades <0.02 | 0.02 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| SiO2network former | ≥ 69 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Soda-Lime?
Options include acid-etch or sandblast frosting, cerium-oxide optical polishing, screen-printed ceramic frit, and sputtered low-E/AR or hydrophobic coatings.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Soda-Lime in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Float GlassWindow Glass
How much does Soda-Lime cost?
Soda-Lime is a standard-cost glass ($$), cheaper than about 60% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Soda-Lime — frequently asked
What is Soda-Lime used for?
Soda-Lime is typically used for window panes, bottles and mirrors. In short: standard architectural glass.
What is the tensile strength of Soda-Lime?
Soda-Lime has a typical tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 65% of glass grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Soda-Lime easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (12/100, worse than 68% of glass grades). Score-and-snap or waterjet for cutting; drilling and edge work with diamond tooling and flood coolant only — never machine after tempering.
Can Soda-Lime be welded?
Not weldable in the metal sense; joined by flame/laser fusion sealing, frit sealing or adhesive/structural silicone bonding.
What surface finishes work on Soda-Lime?
Options include acid-etch or sandblast frosting, cerium-oxide optical polishing, screen-printed ceramic frit, and sputtered low-E/AR or hydrophobic coatings.
Can Soda-Lime be formed, bent or molded?
Formed from the melt by the float process; secondary shaping by slumping/bending at 600–700 °C, then annealed or tempered.
What is the maximum service temperature of Soda-Lime?
Soda-Lime is rated for continuous use to about 110°C (230 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Soda-Lime cost?
Soda-Lime is a standard-cost glass ($$), cheaper than about 60% 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
- EN 572-1 Glass in building — Basic soda lime silicate glass products: definitions and general properties — CEN (2016)
- ASTM C1036 Standard Specification for Flat Glass — ASTM (2021)
- EN 12150-1 Thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass — CEN (2019)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4 — Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Float glass / soda-lime substrate property sheets — Schott, Corning, Saint-Gobain (2023)
- Float glass EPD (embodied energy and carbon) — Glass for Europe (2022)
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.