Author: AIS

Glass is essential to modern design, but it can be dangerous when it breaks. That’s where tempered glass comes in. It’s a safe and reliable solution that offers natural light and views without compromising safety. Here, we’ll explore everything you need to know about tempered glass – from its impact resistance and types to its manufacturing process. 

An Overview of Tempered Glass 

Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is treated with a special heating and cooling process to make it more resistant to breaking than regular glass. When it does break, it shatters into small, dull pieces rather than large, sharp shards that can easily cause injury. Building codes frequently require tempered glass to be used in locations where broken glass presents a significant hazard. The tempering makes the glass much tougher, so it is less likely to cause harm when it breaks. 

How is Tempered Glass Made? 

Here is the complete process of making tempered glass: 

I. Glass Preparation 

Normal glass sheets are first cut to the needed size, ensuring the glass is pristine before tempering to prevent breakage. 

II. Extreme Heating 

The prepared glass sheets are then heated in a special oven, where the temperatures reach over 1100°F. 

III. Rapid Cooling 

The red-hot glass then undergoes forced, intense blasts of cold air. This quenching causes the outer layer of glass to solidify much faster than the inside. 

IV. Compression and Tension 

As the inside of the tempered glass cools, it contracts and pulls on the already hardened, solid outer layer. This tugging force creates areas of compression and tension between the outside and inside of the glass pane. The balancing forces between the compressed outer surface and the stretched inner core give tempered glass its hallmark durability and strength. 

V. Safety and Protection 

The heating and rapid cooling transform delicate glass into a super protective solid material. 

Types of Tempered Glass 

There are five major variants of tempered safety glass:  

1. Clear Tempered Glass 

This glass goes through a heating and rapid cooling process to increase its strength but retains the same transparent and colourless look of normal glass. It provides safety without altering visibility. 

2. Tinted Tempered Glass 

While undergoing standard tempering for added durability, tinting elements, such as grey, bronze, or green tints, are also added to this glass to provide colouration. The tinting offers style and privacy, while the tempering maintains safety. 

3. Laminated Tempered Glass 

This glass combines a laminate between two layers of tempered glass to offer the benefits of laminated safety glass and strengthened tempered glass. The lamination holds glass fragments together in the event of breakage. 

4. Reflective Tempered Glass 

A reflective coating is applied to tempered glass panels to create a mirrored surface on one side, which provides an aesthetic effect and one-way privacy while retaining the strength of tempering. 

5. Frosted Tempered Glass 

The process used to give normal glass a frosted, obscured look is applied to tempered glass. This allows light to pass through while obscuring vision entirely for privacy and boosting safety. 

Conclusion 

Transform ordinary spaces into bright, stylish, and secure environments with bespoke tempered glass products. Our world-class tempered glass solutions are personalised for your home or office, ensuring maximum safety without compromising aesthetics. To toughen up your décor while preventing injuries, contact AIS Glass – India’s leading integrated glass company. Here are tips to choose Tempered Glass. 

You’ve likely seen those tiny fragments scattered across the floor after a glass breaks. Tempered glass is designed to shatter into small pieces for safety. Beyond its recognizable break pattern, there is much more to discover about this engineered glass that keeps us safe.

From how it gets its strength to why it explodes, tempered glass has some fascinating science and stories behind its widespread use. Read on to uncover seven interesting tempered glass facts you must know.

Why Should You Use Toughened Glass Windows?

Toughened glass, also known as tempered glass, is an excellent choice for windows because it is much stronger and safer than regular glass. The toughened glass’s tempering process causes it to be 4-5 times stronger than regular annealed glass. This makes it very resistant to impacts and temperature changes. If toughened glass does happen to break, it shatters into small, granular chunks rather than dangerous sharp shards like untampered glass. This helps prevent serious injuries.

Toughened glass also withstands higher wind loads without flexing or breaking. All these enhanced strength and safety features make toughened glass an ideal and recommended material for windows in homes and offices.

Facts About Tempered Glass

Below are the tempered glass facts:

• Cannot be Cut Once Tempered

  Tempered glass goes through a special heat treatment process, heated to extremely high temperatures, up to 700°C, and then rapidly cooled. This creates solid glass by packing the surface with compressive stresses. However, it also makes the glass nearly impossible to cut or drill after tempering because it will shatter if you try to cut into the compressed surface. Any holes or edge cuts must be made before tempering.

• Scratchproof

  The tempering process makes tempered glass around 4-5 times stronger than regular annealed float glass. This vast increase in strength comes from the surface compression packed into the glass through rapid heating and cooling. The dense surface compression makes tempered glass durable and highly scratch-resistant for everyday use. Keys or other metals typically won’t scratch the surface.

• Surface Strain Patterns

  Tempered glass develops faintly visible strain patterns on the surface as the glass expands and contracts rapidly during the tempering process. If you observe the glass surface under the right lighting conditions, you may notice these strain patterns, which look like distorted reflections. They are a natural result of the treatment and help identify the tempered glass.

• Compressive Surface Stress

  The core of tempered glass remains in tension, while the surface is packed with compressive stress after tempering. This compression gives the glass incredible strength to endure blows or blunt impacts. When struck, the compressed surface wants to spring back rather than chip or crack immediately like annealed glass. This makes it safer.

• Heat and Thermal Stress Resistance

  Because tempered glass is designed to withstand the intense thermal stresses of rapid heating and cooling during the tempering process, it handles thermal stress much better than regular glass. Sudden temperature changes do not crack or break tempered glass easily. This makes it suitable for applications like oven doors.

• Long Lasting

  The special tempering process creates glass 4-5 times stronger than annealed glass. When it eventually breaks, it shatters into small, relatively harmless diced pieces rather than dangerous jagged shards. This makes tempered glass last through decades of heavy use and abuse before needing replacement.

• Easy to Clean

  The durable, scratch-resistant surface of tempered glass allows it to be frequently cleaned without worry of damage. You can use regular household glass cleaners and cleaning tools without fear of scratching or disrupting the surface compression. It simplifies maintenance.

The Bottom Line

Tempered glass is an engineered wonder, taking safety and durability to new heights through extreme heat treatment. Its compressed surface endures decades of heavy impacts. When it does rarely shatter, it breaks safely into cubes. For all your tempered glass needs, rely on the experts at AIS Glass.