Toughened glass is a type of safety glass that has been strengthened through controlled heat treatment. Toughened glass, also known as tempered glass, is created from annealed glass that has been heated to a very high temperature and then rapidly cooled, making it up to five times stronger than regular glass. Moreover, if the glass does indeed break, it will break into small, blunt, cube-shaped pieces due to stress patterns within the glass. In a nutshell, nobody gets hurt.
What is Toughened Glass?
It is a safety glass that has undergone special processing to make it stronger and more impact-resistant than conventional glass. It has different applications where durability and safety are essential.
Compared to conventional glass of the same thickness, toughened glass is up to five times stronger. It has superior resistance to weights and impacts, which lowers the chance of breaking.
It considerably lowers the chance of harm by shattering into little, spherical fragments rather than sharp shards when it breaks. It is excellent for applications where thermal stress may be a problem, such as glass cookware and oven doors because it can tolerate higher temperatures than conventional glass.
Due to their enhanced safety properties, they have various applications, including:
- Windows and doors: Especially in areas where safety is a concern, like shower doors, glass railings, etc.
- Tabletops and shelves: To minimize the risk of injury in case of breakage.
- Building facades: To improve the structural integrity and safety of large glass panels in commercial buildings.
- Automobiles: As side and rear windows/sidelites, to reduce injuries in case of accidents.
It is important to understand that when the glass toughened. It cannot be cut or altered without losing strength. As a result, any shaping or customization should be done before the tempering procedure.
Toughened glass and conventional glass differ significantly in their properties. The differences are:
Breakage Behavior
One critical safety feature of toughened glass is its breakage behaviour. When it breaks, it shatters into granular pieces with blunt edges, reducing the risk of injury to occupants and users. These pieces are less likely to cause severe cuts and wounds compared to the sharp pieces of conventional glass.
When conventional glass breaks, it forms large, sharp chunks that can cause serious injuries if not handled properly, making it less safe for applications where human contact or safety is a concern.
Manufacturing Process
It undergoes a special thermal or chemical tempering process during manufacturing. The glass is heated to high temperatures and then rapidly cooled to create the internal stress distribution that increases its strength.
Conventional glass is the simplest type of glass and is made by cooling molten glass at a controlled rate to relieve internal stress.
How is Toughened Glass Made?
There are mainly two ways to toughen glass–
- Tempering Glass with Heat and Cold
Most toughened glass or safety glass is made by tempering, a process in which ordinary glass is heated up to a temperature of around 620°C for some time, followed by abrupt cooling using jets of cold air. As a result of this process, the outside of the glass is forced into compression while the inside remains free to float for some time (creating tension on the inside). The higher the thermal expansion of the glass and the lower its thermal conductivity, the higher the level of residue stresses, and as a result of this, the result is stronger glass.
Types of Toughened Glass
There are mainly five different types of toughened glass in existence. They are –
- Clear toughened glass
- Laminated toughened glass
- Reflective toughened glass
- Tinted toughened glass
- Frosted toughened glass
Advantages of Toughened Glass
Tempering of glass has a lot of benefits –
- Toughened glass is about 6 times stronger than normal float glass. Moreover, tempering does not affect any other properties of the glass. Hence, with the same visible light transmission as normal float glass comes simply greater strength.
- It can withstand massive differences in temperature (of up to 250°C) whereas normal float glass can handle only up to 40°C.
- Tempering of glass renders it difficult to break and even when it does, for whatever reason, it will fall apart into very small, blunt, cube-like pieces that do not cause fatal injuries.
- It is highly resistant to electric and thermal shock.
- Its high durability makes frequent replacement redundant. Hence, the glass can easily be used for a long, long time.
Application/Uses of Toughened Glass
Toughened glass has a host of uses:
- Since toughened glass is 5 times stronger than ordinary glass it is mostly used in many skyscrapers, high-rise buildings, standalone glass walls, etc. Furthermore, it doesn’t shatters, even if it fails as a result of exposure to extremely hard conditions. People standing nearby risk serious injury when ordinary glass shatters into sharp pieces. Even bulletproof glass is created by fusing laminated glass and toughened glass.
- Heat tempering is a process used to create toughened glass, which can withstand extremely warm and humid conditions. It makes perfect sense to use them in your bathrooms because of this.
- Toughened glass is incredibly strong and can endure severe temperatures, so it may be moulded in a variety of creative ways. It has been altered into everything from kitchenware to office towers. Other applications for glass include table tops, phone screens, lab equipment, and frameless glass doors.
- Toughened glass resists damage from daily wear and tear. It resists damage well and keeps it smooth and polished for many years. It is perfect for glass dividers, home and business windows, and doors.
Toughened Safety Glass Demands Very Little Maintenance
Toughened safety glass is known for its low maintenance requirements due to its unique properties and enhanced durability. Here are some reasons why toughened safety glass demands very little maintenance:
Resistant to breakage
Since toughened glass is substantially stronger than conventional glass, it is less likely to break due to external pressures or unintentional collisions. As a result, it lessens the need for replacements or repairs because of minor accidents.
Scratch resistance
The tempering process makes the toughened glass more resistant to scratches compared to standard glass. This property helps maintain its clarity and appearance over time, reducing the need for frequent cleaning or polishing to remove scratches.
Heat and thermal stress resistance
Toughened laminated glass is suitable for applications where temperature changes may occur since it can tolerate higher temperatures than conventional glass. Due to temperature-related problems, this feature minimizes the need for replacements and lowers the risk of thermal damage.
Easy to clean
Given their smoothness and lack of pores, toughened glass surfaces are simpler to maintain. It usually only takes a damp cloth or a moderate cleaning solution to remove dust, debris, and smudges.
Long-lasting
Toughened safety glass can resist the test of time and preserve its integrity and appearance for a considerable time, thanks to its strength and durability. Reduced replacement or repair frequency results in fewer maintenance needs.
Regular cleaning and inspections ensure that the glass remains in good condition and continues to provide the necessary safety and durability benefits.
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