Glass is one of the most versatile materials in use today, found in applications ranging from art and architecture to medicine and advanced technology. Yet, as Professor Dušan Galusek explains, its recycling potential remains largely untapped.
Dušan is Professor of Material Science at the University of Trenčín and Director of FunGlass, a centre of excellence in glass research based in Slovakia. His fascination with the material stems from its combination of transparency, strength, and versatility, together with the many unexplored compositions still awaiting investigation.
A gap in the recycling system
According to Dušan , current recycling practices cover only a fraction of the glass produced. Soda lime silicate glass, the type used in windows, containers, and bottles, is widely recycled. However, many other glass types are not processed at all. A notable example is pharmaceutical borosilicate glass, used in items such as syringes and vials, which is typically landfilled rather than recovered.
The challenge lies in the properties of the material itself. Pharmaceutical glass melts at a temperature distinct from that of container glass. Combining the two during processing results in unmelted fragments, which act as defects within the finished product.
Applying selective laser melting to glass
Within the EVERGLASS project, Galusek and his team examine products manufactured in Vigo using glass laser morphing, much like 3D printing glass. Their work involves testing these materials for chemical homogeneity, the presence of defects, changes in chemical composition and physical properties, and hydrolytic resistance.
Much of this analysis takes place through microscopy, allowing researchers to observe how process parameters influence the formation of defects and bubbles. Examining the surface of a sample indicates how well the process has been refined and how close the material is to meeting the required specifications.
Where the technology could add value
Conventional glass manufacturing follows an established process: a blob of glass is formed, then pressed or press-blown within a steel die to create the desired shape. This method is efficient, but not suited to every application.
Glass laser morphing, by contrast, enables products that cannot be produced through conventional means, such as glass filters with extremely fine openings designed to filter water or other substances. For such applications, this manufacturing approach may prove particularly well suited.
Watch the full video to get an inside look at Dušan work.