MSE Seminar: Timeless Material, Continual Challenge: Reflections Form an Industrial Glass Materials Scientist

Details

Abstract

Glass is the heart of our modern lives. Today’s buildings, smartphones, telecommunications, and automobiles would not be possible without abundant, cost-effective glass.

Glass factories are vital to the US economy, producing about 12 million tons of glass per year in the US alone. The melting furnace is at the core of the factory, a marvel of engineering that continuously melts glass at about 1,400°C over 10+ years.

An overview of industrial glass melting will be given with special attention to how glass is made at large scale into everyday products such as bottles, windows, and fiberglass insulation. Real-world examples will highlight the ways that materials science impacts the process of glassmaking and how advanced tools such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be used to solve practical manufacturing problems. The glass industry’s transition to a low-carbon future will also be addressed, with a specific focus on the role of new melting technologies.

Bio

Scott Cooper, Ph.D.

Technical Director
CelSian Glass USA

Dr. Scott Cooper is the US Technical Director of CelSian, a think-tank for the glass industry whose mission is to “be a partner in future-proof glass”. A vocal advocate supporting the transformation of industry to a sustainable future, Scott believes that a vibrant glass industry is vital to a well-functioning society. Scott was an NSF Fellow in UF’s materials science department and graduated with his PhD in 2011 advised by Dr. Anthony Brennan. After graduation, he began his career as a research scientist at O-I, the world’s largest manufacturer of glass containers. His work focused on novel approaches to melting and manufacturing glass, for which he earned 13 US patents. He later led the Global Glass & Materials Science group at O-I with responsibility for laboratories, glass formulation, melting R&D, and manufacturing worldwide. Scott has been a board member of the Glass Manufacturing Industry Council since 2019 and is currently serving a second term as the trade association’s president. Today, When Scott and his wife are not raising two boys, he enjoys travelling and collaborating with glass artists.