The Society of Glass Technology is holding a conference on raw materials for glassmaking in Cambridge, UK on 1-4 September 2019. It will feature dedicated sessions on particular glass ingredients, as well as the batch as a whole. There will be keynote speakers on the four main ingredients: Sand, soda ash, limestone/dolomite and cullet, with contributions by major suppliers and glassmakers. Particular focus will be given to sands and the batch, what is required in terms of composition and the merits of dry or wet sand.

Getting the most from cullet supplies means using the smallest sizes, while fines may be used in pelletising. Professor Paul Bingham of Sheffield Hallam University will discuss the latest work in this area.

The raw materials conference will run in parallel with other sessions on glass science and technology, heritage and history as part of the SGT annual meeting.