shishe

Shishe (Persian: شیشه) is the Persian word for glass. In Persian-language contexts, shishe refers to the transparent material as well as to glassware and windows made from it.

Glass is an amorphous solid typically composed mainly of silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is usually manufactured by melting silica with additives such as soda ash (sodium carbonate) and limestone, then shaping the molten material before it cools into a rigid, transparent solid. The resulting product can vary in composition to achieve different properties and uses.

Common types include soda-lime glass, the most widely used form for bottles and windows; borosilicate glass, which offers greater thermal resistance and chemical durability; and lead glass, used for decorative crystal. The float glass process produces flat sheets by floating molten glass on a bath of molten tin, enabling high clarity and uniform thickness for architectural glazing.

Key properties of glass include high hardness, chemical inertness, good optical clarity, and excellent electrical insulation, but brittleness and relatively low tensile strength. Thermal expansion varies by formulation, and some glasses are prone to thermal shock if exposed to rapid temperature changes.

Applications are broad, ranging from architectural glazing and beverage containers to laboratory glassware, cookware, and fiber-optic components. Glass is highly recyclable; cullet (crushed glass) can reduce energy use in production and improve melting efficiency when reintroduced into furnaces.