Talk:Pyrex

message: There is currently a controversy in Jewish circles about the sanctity of using Pyrex instead of glass for the preparation of kosher food. Can someone please explain why that is? Is Pyrex actually more obsorbant than glass and could possibly "spiritually contaminate" foods, or is it simply because Pyrex was just never mentioned in the old Jewish laws? Kent Wang 06:52, 18 Feb 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: No, pyrex is not abosrbant at all...  Borosilicate is used for scientific apparatus becuase of its strength an non reactionary to anything... Indolering 7 Aug 2005
The question isn't whether Pyrex is kosher or not, but whether it's pareve, meaning it can be used for both dairy and meat. Most surfaces (e,g. metal, porcelain, etc.) are said to absorb the taste of the food cooked in it, and therefore can only be used for one or the other; glass traditionally is exempt from this requirement. For whatever reason, Pyrex is not considered so exempt. I do not know the reason. I have the feeling, though, that it's not the Pyrex per se that renders the cookware not Pareve, but the fact that it's used for cooking (heat exposure increases absorption of taste). As regular glass isn't suited for cooking in, the question never arose. (Disclaimer: I am not a rabbi and this is not a psak.) Shalom S. 14:02, 31 July 2007 (UTC)

text: Even though this is old, I want to correct a mistake here: "Pyrex is glass that is reinforced with other materials" is wrong. Glass is not defined by its composition, but its structure: "The standard definition of a glass (or vitreous solid) is a non-crystalline solid formed by rapid melt quenching." (so says Glass). Different types of glass have different composition, but they are all glass. If you argue that boron makes glass "impure", then quartz glass (containing SiO2 only) is the only "pure" glass and practically all glasses found, including lime-soda glass, which is what practically all glass items are made of, are impure. Calling borosilicate glass "glass reinforced with other materials" is like calling oakwood "wood reinfored by oak". 2001:7D0:8887:9B00:11D4:6206:1ED6:4187 (talk) 23:04, 13 January 2024 (UTC)
thread_title:  Pyrex Kosher 

message: Pyrex is to Borosilicate as Avian is to H2O.  It is a brand name for a chemical structure, and Corning is not the only producers of Borosilicate.  I'll edit this when my brain isn't so mushy. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Indolering (talk • contribs) 20:41, 9 May 2004
I just visited the article for the first time, and FYI, the discussion of borosilicate and soda-lime glass could do with a brief statement about the relative merits of the two materials. As it is, a casual reader is left puzzled (a) about the difference between the materials and (b) by the article's detailed discussion of borosilicate glass. 128.36.164.147 (talk) 01:10, 23 December 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Pyrex is not the only Borosilicate glass 

message: This article is way too small for such an important contribution to humanity. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.234.218.223 (talk • contribs) 11:18, 30 August 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: But... Pyrex is expansion-resistant! --Liface 02:45, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
replies: text:  (b~_^)b Wonderful! PrometheusX303 17:00, 27 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Article expansion 

message: I saw a segment about Pyrex on John Ratzenberger's Made in America, here is some more information.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.234.218.223 (talk • contribs) 12:15, 31 August 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Useful information 

message: Leave the information about Pyrex catatrophic failures in, please.  It is documented problem with Pyrex in particular. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.68.97.204 (talk • contribs) 06:48, 8 February 2006
The fact that Pyrex is now "tempered soda-lime glass" means that in it's normal state, at room temperature and pressure, it has enormous "built-in" stress. Consequently, when it fails it fails dramatically. Tempered glass failure can be initiated by even a single microscopic scratch, and normal household cleaning of cookware tends to scratch the surface. Borosilicate Pyrex glass cookware is normally not tempered.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.215.115.31 (talk) 20:31, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Catastrophic failures 

message: Recent reports suggest that, notwithstanding the claims made for Pyrex, the glassware can shatter violently and unexpectedly, even when used in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Claims have been made of severe personal injury during these events. Some reports have suggested that older Pyrex was not as susceptible to these problems as currently produced Pyrex. It is unknown whether this has anything to do with the recent change in ownership and location of manufacture of the Pyrex brand.
I've pulled the above paragraph from the article until appropriate sources can be provided.  (Reliable sources are preferred over class action lawyers.) TenOfAllTrades(talk) 02:41, 9 May 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: It's true  71.132.144.78 22:39, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

text: Reports of this are gathering all over the place now.  See consumeraffairs.com: Consumer complaints about Pyrex Cookware and Reviews on Amazon.com for just two examples, but there are quite a bit more if you search for "pyrex ~explode" on Google. I'd like to see this paragraph put back into the article. -- Heptite (T) (C) (@) 06:53, 20 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I looked through the history and it looks like the first time this paragraph was added it was completely uncited, so I concluded I could put it back in with the consumeraffairs URL as a reference. -- Heptite (T) (C) (@) 13:37, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: (OR) I've seen a Pyrex dish detonate with extreme force.  This was in 1986 or so, too.  My own Pyrex casserole dish remains firmly undetonated. Vashti (talk) 11:58, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: A better source is needed, as forums such as the consumer affairs site does not qualify as a reliable source.  There has to be a news service someplace that would have picked this up by now. --- Barek (talk • contribs) - 20:39, 14 March 2008 (UTC)
replies: text:  Sounds like YOU work for World Kitchen! This very thing happened to me! I thought - No Way! This shouldn't be possible! - but it did, and its a huge safety risk so STFU! --66.223.168.45 (talk) 01:29, 19 May 2010 (UTC)

text: Why is this not on the main page?  Pyrex shatters.  Reports are all over the place.  Consumer reports January 2011 issue has the stories.  http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2011/january/home-garden/glass-cookware/glass-cookware/index.htm  I met a elderly woman in an outlet mall who showed me the damage an exploding pyrex dish did to her and decided to look it up. Sure enough, she was telling the truth and yet this was removed from the main page?    Just because it didnt happen to someone who has the ability to remove it from the main page doesnt mean it hasnt happened.  Please, dont be afraid of the truth people. This needs to be added back to the main page. I will be putting this on my web site and my facebook page.  MediaPlex (talk) 17:17, 17 August 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Unsourced claim 

message: The statement that the pyrex cookware is not pyrex is unsupported. The only mention in the "reference" was a line that world kitchen product is soda-lime. This was an legal filing. Lawyers are not accurate sources for technical information. The world kitchen website clearly states that their glass is the same product as pyrex made in the past. The line about how to use pyrex cookware is no support to the notion that pyrex is not pyrex as labware made from borosilicates is subject to similar restrictions except where physical form allows such uses subject to physical inspection and limited lifetime. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.255.236.127 (talk • contribs) 12:56, 30 July 2006
:Re this statement, I think looking at the sequence of 10-Ks filed is illuminating:
:The annual report for 1999 states that Pyrex-Registered Trademark- products are made of borosilicate and tempered soda lime glass and are available in a number of colors, shapes and sizes.
:The annual report for 2001 states that Pyrex products are made of tempered soda lime glass and are available in a number of colors, shapes and sizes for a variety of cooking functions.
:Finally, the annual report for 2003 states that Pyrex(R) glass products are made of soda lime glass and are available in a number of sizes, shapes and colors for a variety of cooking and storage functions.
:The World Kitchen website explains that Pyrex is an old, well-known brand name (which it is), but I see no statement about the current composition of Pyrex cookware.  Obviously, given that the cookware is no longer borosilicate glass, WKI has no reason to say so, and one would expect them to evade the point.  What I see on the website seems consistent with this. Spacepotato 21:59, 30 July 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Pyrex is Pyrex 

message: I think the last entry (which was quickly reverted, not surprisingly) regarding the use of Pyrex to make sexual aids is perfectly legitimate. For one thing, the dildo article itself also makes note of the use of Pyrex. Don't let your delicate sensibilities get the best of you, sexual aids are a huge industry, and the use of Pyrex is quite significant given its durability, ease of cleaning and inherent hypoallergenic nature. If the article can make note of the use of Pyrex for marijuana pipes and guitar slides, then its use in making dildos is perfectly acceptable and noteworthy. I am putting the entry back in the article. Chris 12:47, 10 August 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree.  Good call. PrometheusX303 12:55, 10 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: "Examples of usage"

message: Seeing as "Pyrex isn't pyrex" now apparently (heh) it would appear to make sense to move the general chemistry info to the generic article and make this more about the brand. Chris Cunningham 12:00, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Done. Chris Cunningham 10:51, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Moving borosilicate stuff to [[borosilicate glass]] 

message: There seems to be a contradiction in the article, where the first sentence initially states that "Pyrex is a brand name for heat-resistant glass introduced by Corning Glass Works in 1915.".
However, further down the article, we see the following statement: "Pyrex kitchen products produced by World Kitchen are no longer made from borosilicate glass, but from soda-lime glass. Their packaging indicates that they must never be used over a flame, on stove tops, under a broiler, or in a toaster oven.". This seems to contradict the first statement. Additionally, in my chemistry class at school we often use Pyrex brand glass (It has the name on it, of course...) kitchenware over a bunsen burner, and never has one of the piece cracked or broken yet. (Unlike the non-Pyrex kitchenware, which cracks as soon as you put it in the flame - even our science equipment does that, ie. test tubes and boiling tubes.) - Xander T. 01:20, 1 April 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: "No longer" refers to a 2004 statement. One assumes that your chemistry department is still using Corning Pyrex from before this date. Chris Cunningham 10:30, 1 April 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: That is not the point I am trying to make. Please read my statement again. Xander T. 05:42, 13 April 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  I'm not seeing it. "Pyrex is a trademark for heat-resistant glass" is still a true statement. The definition of "heat-resistant" has changed a little with the change in material, but soda-lime glass is still heat-resistant. If I'm missing your point please elaborate. Chris Cunningham 07:38, 13 April 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Yes, it does say that, but then it goes on later to say "Their packaging indicates that they must never be used over a flame, on stove tops, under a broiler, or in a toaster oven.". This implies that they are in fact NOT heat resistant, thus contradicting itself. Or, at least, it is not as heat resistant as it used to be. However, heat resistant glasses should not crack when exposed to rapid temperature changes above the normal rate at which plain soda-lime glass breaks - this is not mentioned. Xander T. 10:20, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: The Pyrex *brand name* is now being used on metal bakeware from World Kitchen. It is in World Kitchen's financial best interest (and their obligation to their shareholders) to make the distinction between borosilicate and tempered soda-lime products as wiggly as possible so that they can exploit the brand name to fullest effect. Note that "heat resistant" is pretty ambiguous... Styrene is heat-resistant compared to wax. Watch for Pyrex brand men's briefs in the near future.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.215.115.31 (talk) 14:55, 21 April 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Self-contradiction 

message: This is more of an academic question, since I think the picture should stay just because it's informative, but shouldn't this photo be qualified as an editor's own work and thus an invalid entry for the encyclopedia?  Especially since, given the context, it takes a side in a two-sided debate.  <spetz>  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.120.85.210 (talk) 20:20, 25 October 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: For sure. Even the caption "exploded" is misleading. There is a distinction made between "exploding" and "breaking". There is no internal pressure that causes pyrex to break. You might say that it exploded in the same sense as The vase exploded into tiny pieces when it hit the floor. But that's a bit of a stretch. 216.16.228.6 (talk) 16:42, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

text: Sadly the photo is no longer in the article so we can't see the size and shape of the fragments.  Where is the photo ?   Does tempered glass usually break into sub-centimetre cubical fragments (like toughened automobile windows) ?  My white pyrex plate (Labelled PYREX ENGLAND) shattered into long curved VERY sharp shards. - Rod57 (talk) 18:57, 30 October 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  The photo of the broken Pyrex chips bowl 

message: In reference (1) in the pyrex article it is stated: "Pyrex(R) glass products are made of soda lime glass and are available in a number of sizes, shapes and colors for a variety of cooking and storage functions." However, I do not believe that the person who wrote this up (what is his/her name actually?) really knows what he is talking about. If bakeware really would be made of soda-lime glass it would shatter quite often during baking or when exposing it to cold air afterwards, and the product would not sell any longer. I would like to propose replacing reference (1) with one in a well reviewed technical book or journal, and correcting the statement in the article accordingly.--Afluegel (talk) 10:07, 26 January 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Pyrex made from soda-lime glass 

message: See Wikipedia:Conflict of interest/Noticeboard, where a company spokesman has expressed his concerns with some of the safety claims in this article. Anyone who has an opinion is welcome to join the COI discussion.
Looking at the article myself, I don't see any reliable sources to back up the Safety Issues paragraph. There is a site called consumeraffairs.com, which apparently publishes complaints sent in by individuals with no further vetting or any attempt to reproduce the described failures. There is also a 10K statement from some company, a legal document that is considered a primary source under our rules, and probably not an adequate source for any negative claims.  I believe that the privately-made photograph should also be removed.
If anyone believes that the 'Safety Issues' paragraph should remain in the article, please comment at WP:COIN. Since keeping it in the article could pose legal issues, it has some of the same potential troubles as a violation of Wikipedia:Biography of living persons policy would have, though the target of the negative claim is a company rather than a person.  EdJohnston (talk) 16:58, 17 March 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: Yeah, I agree about the safety section - pending a reliable source, I've removed it.  Full link to section is Wikipedia:Conflict of interest/Noticeboard#Pyrex.  WLU (talk) 18:36, 17 March 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: Update: The COIN link has been archived, view archived thread here. --TexasDex ★ 07:36, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  [[Pyrex]] is being discussed at the [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest/Noticeboard]] 

message: From WP:COIN#Pyrex, possible sources.  WLU (talk) 11:18, 20 March 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Possible sources 

message: soda lime glass can be manufactured as tempered glass, and the pyrex website says as much, so added references to the webpage. I also removed the implication that the change from borosilicate to tempered glass is related to the corporate change. This may be so, but it certainly requires a citation, so I edited the sentence (and others that have words like 'still' that refer to this change in glass composition). The issue of when Pyrex kitchenware changed composition is certainly an interesting one, and deserves further research.Jerry guru (talk) 04:30, 24 May 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  It's tempered glass 

message: I just created the entry for Reagent bottle. If you have more useful and knowledgeable information, please do add it. Radical Mallard (talk) 16:56, 6 July 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  "Reagent Bottle" Entry Created - Please Add! 

message: The article doesn't really explain why Corning started using soda-lime glass in the US and not elsewhere. The explanation for the US adoption is said to be greater resistance to accidental breakage, but any such advantage would seem to be very marginal to me. Presumably either borosilicate or soda-lime is best for bakeware overall. If so, why isn't one or the other used universally? --Ef80 (talk) 12:30, 21 June 2011 (UTC)
replies: text: That's an interesting link, but even if it's completely correct (it's only a forum after all) the WP article still doesn't cover this borosilicate / soda lime split well, even in a US context. It seems to have been bogged down by 'exploding Pyrex' stories which I hadn't heard of before coming here (I don't think this has ever been an issue in the UK). We need an expert editor to sort this out. I'm neither an expert nor a collector, and have never had glass bakeware of any type shatter through heat stress. --Ef80 (talk) 12:17, 5 August 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  *Why* the borosilicate / soda-lime split in different markets? 

message: In the "Consumer Uses" section there are two links to a shopping website I won't even name, since that will only drive up his search ranking. Do I even need to ask permission to erase the links when I see something like this? Company has generic name- Chronicles is part of it-- this site is a shopping cart augmented with a bunch of stolen editorial content. If you erase the shopping cart links feel free to erase this comment. If I don't see it I will know I should have just zapped the camouflaged advertisement the minute I saw it.
Paul Rako (talk) 01:20, 24 June 2011 (UTC)
replies: text: I just removed the entire section as unsourced trivia.  In the future, I wouldn't worry too much about removing that sort of thing, it's pretty much just advertising.  WLU (t) (c) Wikipedia's rules:simple/complex 00:51, 28 June 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Link to commercial site in body text 

message: It's confusing to see the compositions of the two different types of pyrex given in different ways. One lists the elements with oxygen given separately, the other gives a list of oxides making it impossible to compare them directly. Could someone 'normalise' the data and make them comparable? I could have a go, but I fear introducing a mistake because of my rusty chemistry... Stub Mandrel (talk) 17:38, 7 November 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  Composition 

message: User:PaulFini, I accede to your apparent knowledge about Schott 8830 vs 8330 glass, but must point out that the article's Wikipedia reference says otherwise. If the discrepancy is due to a typographic error in the referred source, it should be explained in an auxiliary reference note (see Template:refn). Also, it would be helpful if other additional references could be added, attesting to the correct numbering. Reify-tech (talk) 16:25, 8 April 2016 (UTC)
thread_title: Schott glass

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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: Here is the database of reports to the Consumer Products Safety Commission for Pyrex. 
http://www.saferproducts.gov/Search/Result.aspx?dm=0&q=pyrex&srt=0
It's not a WP:RS but it might address some claims made in the Talk page. 
It has 407 results. They do explode. There were some injuries, some minor, some leading to emergency room treatment. 
For example: 
http://www.saferproducts.gov/ViewIncident/1606829
I prepared stuffed peppers and put them in the baking dish. I used the " America's Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook" recipe. I placed the prepared dish into a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. As I put my hand on the oven door to remove the peppers I heard a loud BOOM. I looked through the window on the oven door and saw glass & stuffed peppers all over. It took FIVE HOURS to clean this mess. 
--Nbauman (talk) 04:56, 16 December 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  Consumer Products Safety Commission reports 

message: As per the edit made by  and per the source they and I presumably heard about it from (this video here), the Pyrex company source used on the statement  fails verification. Does anyone have an alternative reliable source to back up this claim or should the statement be removed? SilverserenC 17:58, 21 July 2023 (UTC)
replies: text: Pinging  since I believe they added the material. Closhund (talk) 04:14, 22 July 2023 (UTC)

text: For what it's worth, I would agree with removing that sentence until a source can be found. The user who added it isn't very active. Though I would be surprised if the pyrex/PYREX branding were an accurate determiner of glass-type, I've never heard evidence to the contrary, and I can't find a source for it. Closhund (talk) 03:50, 27 July 2023 (UTC)
replies: text: I would be surprised as well, but especially because of the recent prominence and discussion of the claim, it really needs to be properly sourced before we're stating it here as fact. So I've gone ahead and removed it for now. SilverserenC 04:04, 27 July 2023 (UTC)
replies: text: I don't have a reference off hand but I will look. In the meantime, here's some info that may help if someone wants to go digging before I do or has an idea how to solve the issue. As noted and sourced in the page: 1) The lowercase logo wasn't introduced until 1975, but... 2) Corning began using their Charleroi, PA plant in the 1930s to produce Pyrex opal ware bowls and bakeware made of tempered soda–lime glass. This is the most common type of Pyrex coveted by collectors and it does indeed use the all uppercase logo even though it's soda lime glass. Jtfolden (talk) 19:10, 29 July 2023 (UTC)

text: I've added a new edit on this topic. It doesn't suggest the logos were used interchangeably but it does point out that Corning began using Soda-lime glass for Pyrex approx 30 years prior to the all lowercase logo being introduced. Jtfolden (talk) 21:35, 26 August 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  Source for interchangable logo usage on different types of glass?