B. L. KHERUKA MEMORIAL LECTURE Stronger glass products: expanded horizons

This paper is dedicated to the memory of B. L. Kheruka who was the Executive Chairman of Borosil Glass in India. Borosil marketed neutral glass pharmaceutical vials in India. In addition to this pioneering effort, Kheruka pursued newer glass products for the Indian market. His spirit is carried in this paper where we discuss newer, stronger yet lighter weight glass products and the technologies that could make them possible. Lightweight glass containers and laminated windows present market appeal in view of their contribution to sustainability. Among the technologies that could lead these markets are the thin glass thermal tempering, faster chemical strengthening, overlay glazing technologies, and superhard coatings. A whole new possibility is presented by the development of LionGlass™ under the guidance of one of the authors (JCM), which is a low melting glass system having chemical durability and mechanical properties at least as good as that of the traditional soda lime silicate glass.