#26: Protective Glass
Safety glass is an essential protective barrier in various settings, including laboratories, homes, and businesses. This type of glass is engineered to be less prone to breakage or to minimize harm when broken. The most commonly found types of toughened, laminated, and wire mesh safety glass. These variations are designed to enhance safety across multiple environments, safeguarding individuals from potential injuries caused by shattered glass.
The invention of laminated safety glass traces back to a fortuitous discovery by French scientist Edouard Benedictus in 1903. During an experiment, Benedictus accidentally dropped a flask coated with cellulose nitrate, observing that the substance prevented the glass from completely shattering. Inspired by this incident, he endeavored to refine this concept, laying the groundwork for laminated safety glass, a safety and materials science breakthrough.