Glassmaker's soap

Description

A common name for Pyrolusite, a Manganese dioxide ore, used as a decolorizer in the manufacture of glass. Manganese dioxide has been used as a glass decolorizers since about the 2nd century BCE. Small amounts, 0.5 - 1.0%, were often used in Roman glass.

Synonyms and Related Terms

manganese dioxide; pyrolusite

Resources and Citations

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 494

• Thomas B. Brill, Light Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities, Plenum Press, New York City, 1980

• CoOL DISTLIST entry by Stephen Koob 18 Sep 2002