Since ancient times, people have wanted to strengthen a fragile yet useful material: glass. And as more vaccines are created for the coronavirus pandemic, this is becoming more important. Many medicine vials crack while they are being filled or during transit, and this can ruin a whole batch. Currently, standard medicine vials are made of borosilicate - a mix of boron and silicon. However, a new company called Corning in upstate New York is making a new, stronger type of glass. Valor Glass uses aluminum instead of boron. The vials are put into a tub of molten salt, which causes potassium to switch with sodium atoms, increasing surface tension and strength. It is then coated with a polymer to prevent degradation on filling lines.
Even though companies like Corning are working around the clock to churn out these new vials and old-fashioned vials, many still worry that there may not be enough. Billions of doses need to be sent around the world, and hopefully, glass vial manufacturers will be able to keep up with the vaccine makers.
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