The lightest glasses available in shops are made up of various materials depending on brand and style. This is a great solution for people who have worn glasses for a long time because of the toll that heavy eyeglass frames cause their wearers. But new technology comes at a price. The lightest glasses can be very expensive. Listed below are the materials that make up these glasses. Also, you can prefer Titanium Alloys which is one of the best materials for any equipment.
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Types of Frame Materials Used on the Lightest Glasses
Plastic Glass Frames
One of the cheapest and lightest materials that make up glass frames is plastic. The materials used on these glasses are propionate and zyl. The good thing about these materials is that they can easily be colored and laminated. They can also be molded and shaped to any particular shape.
The problem with plastic glass frames is that adjustments with these materials are restricted. You have to make sure that they fit perfectly fit.
Magnesium Frames
If you prefer metal as the main material of your glass frame, you may choose magnesium, an abundant element that is available on earth. It is often recovered from minerals on land and in the ocean. This is the reason why magnesium frames are very costly. They are actually more expensive than aluminum.
Magnesium is lightweight just like any of the materials listed here. The difference lies in its durability and strength. Another feature that makes this material stand out is its hypoallergenic properties. Most people who are sensitive to other materials opt for magnesium frames for their eyeglasses.
Beryllium Frames
Beryllium is a white metal that has a low density and is quite soft. Oftentimes, this material is combined with other metals to produce various structures including glass frames. Beryllium comes from minerals such as beryllium aluminum silicate and bertrandite.
The quality of beryllium that makes it a useful material for glass frames includes its corrosion resistance. This is very helpful for people whose skin is acidic. Beryllium also extends the life of the frame even if the users work near the seas where corrosion is prevalent.
Beryllium also is good in areas with very high temperatures.
You can find a lot of available colors for beryllium frames.
Stainless Steel Frames
Stainless steel frames are not as lightweight as the other materials in this list but they sure are heavy-duty. This combination of iron and carbon steel is also resistant to corrosion just like beryllium. It is also durable and can last a long time.
Stainless steel frames are best known for their stylish appearance. Since these materials can be shaped into thin frames, they are very flexible and comfortable for the users.
Stainless steel is also hypoallergenic. Anyone who has sensitive skin can choose stainless steel frames for their next glasses.
Titanium Frames
Titanium is another abundant element that can be retrieved from minerals on earth. Because of its durability and light weight, eyeglass manufacturers have chosen this material to be used on their products.
Titanium is more expensive than other metals because of the process involved in getting it. Pure titanium is bonded with other elements. This makes the separation more costly as well.
Some characteristics of titanium that makes it one of the most used eyeglasses today are its resistance to corrosion, its strength, its hypoallergenic properties, and its unique colorations.
Nickel Titanium Frames
A variation of the titanium frames is the combination of nickel and titanium. It is an alloy that is specifically made to be more flexible than steel and to be lighter than other metals. This type of material is one of the lightest glasses available on the market and is usually used by people who expect durability in their eyewear.
The main problem with nickel-titanium frames is that some may be allergic to this type of alloy.
Ticral Frames
Another alloy of titanium is ticral. This does not have a nickel base compared to nickel-titanium. Ticral glass frames are also hypoallergenic like steel and pure titanium which makes them very popular with people who have high sensitivity to glass frame materials. You can find many available color variants for ticral frames.
Aluminum Frames
Another stylish frame that is well-liked by eyeglass wearers is aluminum glasses. Pure aluminum is actually quite soft. To make it more durable, manufacturers combine aluminum with alloys.
The problem with aluminum is that it responds negatively over lower temperatures which causes it to be quite inflexible.
Conclusion
When it comes to the lightest glasses available on the market, you have to have a compromise between price and weight. Some of the lightest eyeglass frames can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Others, though, not the lightest, still weigh less than conventional eyeglasses. These glasses cost less and are relatively more affordable compared to other frames on the list. Weigh your options and purchase light eyeglass frames for your comfort and convenience.