Chemistry of Colored Glass
Chemistry of Colored Glass
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Soda Lime Glass is the most common glass type, making up an estimated 90% of all
manufactured glass. Its uses include containers, windows, bottles and drinking glasses.
The below percentages are a general composition only; other compounds are also present
in smaller amount.
Glass is colored in three main ways. It can have a transition or rare earth metal ions
added; it can be due to colloidal particles formed in the glass, or it can be due particles
which are colored themselves.
There are several ways to impart color into glass. Most color is created by mixing a specific
oxide into the batch and allowing it to react with the other constituents during the melting
process. The results depend on a good number of variables, some of which you have
control over and some of which you don’t. It is not surprising that only a small percentage
of glassworkers make their own colors. Batching and melting color takes time, money,
space, and extensive knowledge of glass chemistry. There are some serious health risks to
think about as well.
Cobalt (CoCO3) – a very small addition of cobalt carbonate will turn your melt a deep
dark blue, thus creating the all-time best selling color for glass blowers, cobalt blue. Other
blues can be achieved with copper.
Chromium (Cr2O3) – adding this to the melt will yield an emerald green color
Copper (CuCO3) – Copper is one of those freaky chemicals that react quite differently
with the other constituents of the melt. It is also highly susceptible to the atmospheric
conditions of the melting chamber. So, depending on how you melt it, and with what, you
can obtain: blues, greens, and even some tasty ruby reds (or if you’re off by a fraction, a
nauseous liver-brown).
Manganese (MnO2) – chemists refer to this as a fugitive colorant. It gives rise to:
purples, blue/violets, and some browns. Can also be affected by sunlight and U/V.
Silver (AgNO3) – can yield a variety of colors, from yellows to blues, and a wild mix of
others depending on how you introduce it to the melt.
Gold (AuCl3) – the most beautiful ruby-red you may ever see. (a.k.a “granny-grabber
pink” for its inherent ability to attract a certain member of our society) Gold must be
introduced in a chloride form, and it too is very tricky to melt.
Iron (Fe2O3) – greens and browns Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) – oranges, also a challenging
color to melt.
Cadmium selenium (CdSe) – deep ruby reds. Another tricky color to melt, in that the
right temperature and atmosphere must be present in the furnace otherwise it will turn
livery/brown.
Below is a graphic from compound interest shows some of the typical chemical elements
that are used to color glass.
o Iron (Fe2+)
o Iron-Sulfur (Fe-S)
o Copper (Cu2+)
o Chromium (Cr3+)
o Nickel (Ni2+)
o Gold (Au)
o Copper-Tin (Cu-Sn)
o Manganese (Mn3+)
o Cobalt (Co2+)
o Uranium (U4+/5+/6+)
o Neodymium (Nd3+)
o Erbium (Er3+)
o Selenium-Cadmium (Se-Cd)
o Cadmium (as CdS)
These are typical colors, and can be affected by the type of glass, as well as the
concentration of the colorant. Combination with other elements and compounds can also
have an effect on the final coloration of the glass.