Re: [ATM] Pyrex Quality Suffering

["Richard Schwartz" <richas@earthlink.net>]

I have attempted recently to obtain low expansion glass from China in hopes
that it would be more affordable than Pyrex, Duran, or Borofloat.   I would
like to hear from anybody who has had luck with the Chinese.   Their way of
doing business is very, very alien.   They won't quote a price.  They won't
sell less than twenty tons.  They won't publish specifications (like
thermal expansion coefficient).  It looks like they don't want our
business.   I'm going to try India next!

. . . Richard


> [Original Message]
> From: Woodchuck <djv@bedford.net>
> To: <artbianconi@blast.net>
> Cc: <atm@atmlist.net>
> Date: 3/20/2004 10:30:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [ATM] Pyrex Quality Suffering
>
> On Sun, 21 Mar 2004 artbianconi@blast.net wrote:
>
> > I went on a 3 day weekend with some bikers last year to Wellsboro,
> > PA. (just 20 miles east of Cherry Springs State Park.)
> >
> > There aren't many jobs to be had out there and the nearest employer
> > of an consequence, Corning Glass works (2 hours north), was rumored
> > to have laid off 3000 employees.
> >
> > This year, Steve Swazie again supported the DelMarva groups Mirror
> > Making  event in Delaware. I heard him share his opinion that the
> > quality of Pyrex has suffered ever since Corning shut down it's New
> > York operation and moved it to England.
> >
> > The name "Pyrex" is a copyrighted trademark for Corning's brand of
> > tempered glass. They are far from being the only supplier of such
> > glass and I have noticed many call their glass Pyrex, even when there
> > is reason to suspect that it may be someone elses glass.
> >
> > What I know about glass I can put into a shot glass and still have
> > room for a gallon of Pepsi. One thing is clear however (sic!), the
> > times they are a changin'.
> >
> > The assumptions we are used to making about the quality and
> > predictable behavior of tempered glass, Pyrex especially, may no
> > longer be justified. I am not sure if we should be concerned about
> > this or not.
> >
> > Art Bianconi
>
> Ages ago, 1970's, some suppliers took the Corning blanks and re-annealed
> them for the telescope trade.  (If my memory serves me).  Perhaps this
> will start up again.
>
> Hmmm.  Dunno about a Corning layoff north of Wellsboro, but there
> was a big hit in Altoona, (about 2+ hrs south) at a works that made
> television picture tubes.  Shut the plant, sold the machinery to
> the Chinese.  *poof*
>
> Nit-pick -- Pyrex isn't tempered, it just has a low thermal expansion
> coefficient, so it can, in sections somewhat thicker than regular
> soda glass, take thermal shock without cracking.  I believe Pyrex
> is a "borosilicate" glass.
>
> Dave
>
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