Glass plays a critical role in modern medicine and is used in everything from lab equipment and diagnostic instruments to advanced surgical devices and optical tools. However, not all glass is suitable for every application, and the wrong choice can compromise performance, safety, and durability.
As a trusted expert in precision glass fabrication for the medical industry, Swift Glass partners with vetted and experienced manufacturers to source and supply specialty glass materials for the medical industry. This guide explains the key properties of medical glass materials, common types, and important fabrication considerations for choosing the right glass for your application.
Key Criteria for Choosing Medical Glass
In patient care, surgery, and treatment centers, tools and equipment must be able to withstand routine use and regular sterilization. Many are also exposed to intense light, heat, radiation, or chemicals that can cause damage or impact performance.
Consider the following when selecting medical glass material for your specific application:
- Optical Clarity & Transmissivity. A clear, distortion-free view is essential for diagnostics, monitoring, and visibility-based equipment like scopes and magnifiers.
- Thermal Stability & Heat Resistance. Certain glass types have a low coefficient of thermal expansion to resist thermal shock. As a result, they are compatible with high-heat sterilization and autoclaving processes without compromising their structural integrity.
- Chemical Purity & Stability. Resistance to acids, alkalis, and other chemicals is essential to maintain clarity and avoid scratches or breakage.
- Durability & Mechanical Strength. It’s important to match the specific hardness and strength of different types of glass to each application to prevent cracking, breaking, and defects during fabrication and use.
- Radiation Resistance. Some types of glass resist darkening and deterioration from high-energy radiation in x-ray and other applications.
Common Medical Grade Glass Materials
At Swift Glass, we stock a broad range of specialized glass that are suitable for medical industry use cases. Understanding the thermal, chemical, and physical properties of different glass materials can simplify the selection process. The most widely-used medical-grade glass materials offer a variety of features for superior performance and durability.
Borosilicate
Prized for its excellent thermal stability, chemical resistance, clarity, and affordability, borosilicate is the most common type of medical glass. It’s used in applications including general laboratory ware, diagnostic instruments, and pharmaceutical processing. Swift works with some of the most well-known borosilicate producers in the industry, such as CORNING® EAGLE 2000®, SCHOTT BOROFLOAT® 33, etc.
Quartz and Fused Silica
Chosen for environments that require superior optical and thermal properties, quartz and fused silica are high-purity materials compatible with high working and melting temperatures. Swift Glass supplies a variety of brands of both quartz and fused silica. Top quartz brands we work with include GE® 124 and Hereaus TSC-3®. Fused silica brands include CORNING® HPFS® 7980 Industrial Grade and CORNING® HPFS® 7980 UV Grade.
Soda-Lime Glass
Soda-lime glass is a common glass type, typically chosen for its affordability in comparison to other medical-grade glass materials. While it lacks the thermal and chemical resistance of borosilicate, it’s often used for disposable and single-use items such as syringes and pipettes where the ability to withstand repeated sterilization or harsh chemical exposure isn’t necessary.
Contact Swift Glass: Your Trusted Glass Fabrication Partner
Choosing the right medical glass depends on how physical and chemical properties of different materials compare to the operating conditions and requirements of the application. Partnering with an experienced fabricator is just as important as the material you choose. Swift Glass works with leading glass manufacturers and stocks many materials for fast turnaround. Our precision capabilities include surface lapping, polishing, waterjet cutting, and CNC machining.
With nearly a century of experience in custom glass fabrication and access to cutting-edge technologies, we excel at meeting the specifications and regulations of the medical industry.
We are an ISO-certified and ITAR-registered company, committed to providing our customers top-quality, inspected and validated products that meet their requirements.
Contact us to learn more about our products and services or to start your next medical glass project.
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