. Furthermore, these mica discs enhance the
of your borosilicate sight glasses.
Protection against corrosion and heat To minimize the influence of aggressive media and high temperatures on the glass disc, all smooth-surfaced glasses can be equipped with a mica disc. This almost completely eliminates glass surface erosion.
Surface erosion mm/month without mica plate
We only supply high-quality Muscovite natural mica for use in sight glasses for steam and condensate systems.
Mica is a clear, transparent mineral resistant to temperatures of a constant 550 °C and a melting point of about 1200 °C. Moreover, mica is virtually resistant to all media, such as bases, acids, or alkalis.
Mica plates protect the sight glass against high pressures, temperatures, and the associated surface erosion (see the erosion chart), thus increasing the lifespan of the sight glass.
Our mica discs are made from natural Muscovite mica (clear quality) and have virtually no effect on the display of your production process.
Glass in a sight glass is also subject to wear.
Wear in borosilicate glass Many are aware that glass wears. But how much, and when should the glass in a sight glass be replaced?
Below is the answer to that question:
Let's consider the most commonly used tempered borosilicate glass. The diagram illustrates how many millimeters per month this glass wears on the medium side at a certain temperature and pH value. For example, a sight glass equipped with borosilicate glass used in an application where the medium is at 170°C and has a pH value of 10 will wear by 0.2 mm per month. That may not seem like much, but it adds up to 2.4 mm over a year. At 200°C, this is already 8.4 mm per year. Quite concerning!
In general, it can be said that glass is more prone to deterioration at pH values above 7 (alkaline). Glass is not resistant to alkalis but is more resistant to acids.
In broad terms, we recommend at Ebora, in consultation with the manufacturer, replacing sight glasses used under extreme conditions every 6 months. Under normal conditions, a glass that has been in service for two years also needs replacement.
How can you extend the lifespan?
Certainly, you can't change much about the process and the medium. So how can we extend the lifespan of glass to reduce the frequency of replacement?
In many cases, this can be achieved by using Mica or mica. For steam and corrosive media, we recommend a mica disc to protect the glass!
This is a mineral found in volcanic rock. It has extremely high temperature resistance and is very wear-resistant. Just a very thin sheet of mica, a few tenths of a millimeter thick, with the same circumference as the borosilicate glass can extend the lifespan sometimes up to three times.
Certainly worth considering from a cost perspective!
Tip: Order your spare glass when purchasing the sight glass
You save order and transportation costs for a single spare glass when you order it with the purchase of the sight glass. You can store the glass in the packaging on the shelf until you need it. This also prevents any unforeseen delivery times and problems with maintenance planning.
