Jonathan moved to Switzerland, for a little while, to learn how to use this technique
to play and create with glass. Then he moved back to his home town in Québec.
How he masters and play with the flame does move me.
(weekly challenge)
To know more about Jonathan's art and to contact him: http://www.pbase.com/ckoi7lumiere/lolipop
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Borosilicate glass was first developed by German glassmaker Otto Schott
in the late 19th century. Borosilicate glass has a very low thermal expansion coefficient,
about one-third that of ordinary glass.
This reduces material stresses caused by temperature gradients,
thus making it much more resistant to breaking than all other glass.
Borosilicate is also a material of choice for evacuated tube solar thermal technology,
because of its high strength and heat resistance.
The thermal insulation tiles on the Space Shuttle are coated with a borosilicate glass. Borosilicate is referred to as "hard glass"
and has a higher melting point than "soft glass"
which is used in glass blowing formed in large furnaces and large rods.
Borosilicate often has a more three dimensional
and exotic look than soft glass like Lalique,
Baccarat or Murano, with natural and multicolored tones to it.
There is no other glass in the world that is higher in quality
which in return means strength, clearness, flexibility and durability.