Lead glass, commonly called “crystal”, is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of a typical potash glass. Lead glass contains typically 18–40 weight% lead(II) oxide (PbO), while modern lead crystal, historically also known as flint glass due to the original silica source, contains a minimum of 24% PbO. Lead glass is desirable owing to its decorative properties.
Lead Glass
Originally discovered by Englishman George Ravenscroft in 1674, the technique of adding lead oxide (in quantities of between 10 and 30%) improved the appearance of the glass and made it easier to melt using sea-coal as a furnace fuel. This technique also increased “working period” making the glass easier to manipulate.
The term lead crystal is, by technicality, not an accurate term to describe lead glass, as glass, an amorphous solid, lacks a crystalline structure. The use of the term lead crystal remains popular for historical and commercial reasons. It is retained from the Venetian word cristallo to describe the rock crystal imitated by Murano glass makers. This naming convention has been maintained to the present day to describe decorative hollow-ware.
Lead crystal glassware was formerly used to store and serve drinks, but due to the potential health risks of lead, this is rare nowadays. One alternative material is crystal glass, in which barium oxide, zinc oxide, or potassium oxide are employed instead of lead oxide. Lead-free crystal has a similar refractive index to lead crystal, but it is lighter and it has less dispersive power.
In the European Union, labeling of crystal products is regulated by Council Directive 69/493/EEC, which defines four categories, depending on the chemical composition and properties of the material. Only glass products containing at least 24% of lead oxide may be referred to as “lead crystal“. Products with less lead oxide, or glass products with other metal oxides used in place of lead oxide, must be labeled “crystallin” or “crystal glass”.
Lead Crystal Awards
Creative Crystal Awards manufacturing high quality lead glass awards, crystal awards and art glass trophies perfectly designed for employee recognition awards, corporate gifts, sports awards. If you are looking for custom hand-blown lead free crystal products then contact us with our sales representative. We have 500+ custom crystal trophies, crystal awards, glass trophies and art glass awards in our crystal products line.
Creative Crystal Awards is the leading Crystal Awards manufacturer in USA. Over 45 years we are supplying fine quality Engraved Crystal Awards, Crystal Trophies, Engraved glass awards, Glass Trophies, Art Glass Products and Corporate Gifts for small business organizations to Fortune 500 companies and shipping around the word. Now, we are the America’s leading Crystal Awards manufacturer and supplier, producing high quality crystal awards, fast turn around time and 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed.
Whether you are looking for Custom Crystal Awards or Corporate Crystal Trophies, our brilliant and professional corporate award designers will produce quality awards in our own glass factory. In our online corporate awards shopping store you will find huge range of stunning unique crystal awards, custom crystal awards, lead crystal awards, crystal corporate awards, crystal sports awards, crystal acrylic awards, crystal recognition awards, Glassware, Art glass Products, Hard-grave Crystal Award, Glass Trophy and promotional gifts which are suitable for your corporate award events, employee recognition awards and corporate promotional gifts. CreativeCrystalAwards.com top supplier of corporate awards at very low price and offering FREE Setup, FREE Engraving and FREE Shipping for your award events.
We have 2000+ fine Awards, Trophies and Gifts in our product line. You can simply request for our latest FREE Awards Catalog or you can contact with one of our specialists for any of your custom awards inquiry.