Glass is one of the most widely used materials. It is used in a wide range of consumer goods, from glasses and food or beverage packaging to TVs, computer screens and mobile phone displays, to window fillings and insulation materials in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

For the glass sector, it is essential that the feedstock, silica sand, is free of impurities. Lime products are used for cleaning, which remove unwanted impurities, especially sulphur compounds, from the silica sand.

In addition to silica sand, soda ash, potash (potassium carbonate) and limestone are also used to make glass. Limestone oxides improve the chemical and physical properties of the glass not only during production but also in the final product.

They reduce the viscosity of the melt during production, making the liquid glass easier to handle. They also serve as a hardener, giving the glass its density and hardness.

Limestone also contributes to lowering the temperature of the melt mixture, which means that the overall glass manufacturing process is less energy intensive. This reduces the cost of production and increases the sustainability of the production of this widespread material. It takes between 200 and 350 kilograms of limestone to produce one tonne of glass.

Lime is also a key ingredient for the production of fibreglass and ceramics. 

Cemix is a trusted partner for customers in the glass industry because it guarantees flexibility and reliability in the supply of lime products to ensure the continuous operation of glass furnaces.