Every person will have come across glass balls at some point in their life, whether or not they are aware of it. Matt, polished or rainbow glass balls were probably part of our childhood treasured memories.
The shape of a ball is basic structure of many objects surrounding us on Earth and in space. Whether we start with atoms and end up with planets - everything has a spherical shape.
We can find many glass beads and balls in our homes, used in games, decorations and ornaments but mostly they are hidden in everyday technical instruments and devices. These are technical balls which can be produced in different ways to varying degrees of quality and accuracy. Beads and balls are divided into pressed balls and precisely ground balls and beads. Technical balls can be found, for example, in perfume dispensers, washing machines and dishwashers. When shaking a paint spray before use you will hear the balls rattling inside the can. Similarly, patients who suffer with diabetes and need to inject insuline do so on a daily basis using 'pens' containg glass beads.
Outside of your home you will also find glass beads and balls surrounding you in your normal daily life. Glass beads are the basis of reflective layers used in roadmarkings and traffic signs.
We come across glass beads in our everyday of use of ink pens. Firstly beads are used for the milling of ink suspension in the manufacture of ink and, secondly, molded glass balls are used in ink cartridges (Tintenpatrone) as a valve cap mechanism.
Decorative balls we can see in shop windows, where they often use colored glass beads. Crystal glass beads we can see at tables as decoration, very often at the wedding banquet. Some women may have noticed the glass beads in their perfume, which works as impressive decoration, but can be found in bath binary emulsions, which we want to mix prior to use.
On childrens playgrounds you may see kids playing the game of marbles which is also serious competitive sport around the World. A former world marbles champion came from the Czech Republic.
We have a wide range of a 'rainbow' marbles which are requested by collectors and recommended by the the Czech Marble Federation (www.kulicky.com) for use in official tournaments.
The use of glass beads and balls in industry is widespread. They are used extensively in the manufacture of paint where milling by beads is required to reach the required suspension. Bead and balls are used as valves and bearings in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Glass beads are used underground as safety mechanism in diesel engine locomotives used in mining.
If reading all of this about glass beads has made you tired, you could even have an enjoyable and relaxing massage where they are commonly used in treatments.