Saying something is "stronger" is generally a sign that you haven't actually looked at the real-world materials properties. Glass has a very low "toughness"--it's a refractory material, and pressure will cause it to break. Modern plate glass *is* quite strong, relatively speaking, but it isn't tough like steel and has different properties.
I did say it was stronger...
compartively speaking. It makes me wonder if you missed the context in which I said that (emphasis added here):
Pound for pound, modern quality glass is stronger than steel.
I'm saying it's stronger
by weight. More specifically, with two pieces of equal mass,
some types of glass can have more
tensile strength than steel. I was feeling too lazy to look up a reference, but there are sources which say as much. And there are a lot of different types of glass, with new varieties still being formulated.
As you said, glass has different properties from steel and there are different methods by which to gauge strength or toughness. Glass is obviously inferior in terms of impact testing, maleability, and ductility. Depending on how tempered, glass does have a small amount of spring. But it usually can't bend very far unless we're talking about hair-like fibers. Then again, consider
THESE articles:
bensozia >
Super GlassTFOT >
On Wings of GlassThanks to scientists at the University of Bristol, it may become possible to build airplanes with wings of glass.
No, you can't make arrows out of glass (or stone for that matter) If you do, the kinetic energy going into the arrow will probably snap the shaft and you'll get a nice armful/faceful of those razor sharp glass/stone bits you were talking about.
If they're shaped like an ordinary arrow, with a narrow shaft, you're probably right. But I was primarily thinking of two different applications: A crossbow bolt and the tip of an arrow. At least we agree that glass would make for a good arrow tip. But I would also say glass would work just fine for crossbow bolts, considering bolts (esp. ancient types) are shorter and broader than arrows. Consider
these authentic medieval crossbow bolts with forged tips. Also, consider
this modern quarrel, or bolt (see photo at top of page, or
here). But then, since neither of us have tried making glass bolts or arrows (nor find a reference to someone who has), I guess we can't say for certain.
Damaged arrows are immediately removed from use to prevent injuries...
Of course. But as I said, a glass bolt (or arrow) would only have to hold together for one shot. In DF, bolts and arrows are lost after one shot, whether they hit or not.
...so i am just gonna say what i thought when i read the title... MORROWIND FTW
This topic reminded me of The Elder Scrolls as well. I was going to post the following, but it did not seem relevant enough. But since you brought it up:
I am reminded of how ebony is considered a material superior to even mithril and adamantium in The Elder Scrolls series of games. Ebony is shiny, black and described as a very special type of volcanic glass and it's easy to see the correlation to obsidian. In the TES universe about the only materials superior to ebony are orcish (yes, made by orcs) and the ultra-rare daedric (made by the minions of daedric princes, or gods). Morrowind also introduced green glass armor, though it's not entirely made of glass and the material is considered inferior to ebony.