Glass toughening

Have you ever wondered what toughened glass is? Why would toughened glass be used for? Well, you are at the right place. Here, we will talk about toughened glass, its different applications and its benefits. Happy reading!

First things first, what actually is toughened glass? As known as ‘tempered glass’ or ‘safety glass’ , it is simply a stronger version of the glass that is used in most windows in homes or in areas where this extra strength is needed for safety. 

Not sure where toughened glass would be needed? Think of any places where if you were to trip or fall down, making contact with that area could cause injury if standard ( float) glass was used. Standard glass breaks into large, sharp pieces. Clearly, there is a serious risk of injury if you were to fall against it. To reduce this risk, standard glass goes through a toughening process. This process changes the structure of the glass so that if it breaks, it shatters into lots of small pieces instead. These small pieces are very small. Maybe about the size of your fingernail, let’s say. Obviously, that is a lot better than a few large sharp pieces. 

Let’s move on onto the science between toughened glass. Toughened glass is made from standard glass that goes through a process of heat treatment. This process is known as thermal tempering. Then, the glass is passed through a furnace on a roller table and heated to very high temperatures, all the way to around 650°C. As a result, it takes it past its transition temperature and the glass begins to soften. After, the surface is then rapidly cooled. Meanwhile, the glass remains hot internally. This process creates what is known as centre tension in the glass. This is what changes its physical properties, resulting in a sheet of glass which can withstand much higher pressures than standard glass.

Now, you know what toughened glass is and how it is made. As you probably thought, toughened glass comes with a lot of benefits. Let’s go over some of them together.

 One of its benefits is its increased strength. Toughened glass is known as a type of safety glass for a reason. It is five times stronger than regular glass of the same size and thickness. This means it can withstand a much harder hit without breaking. Therefore, it is less likely to shatter.

Tempered glass is up to five times more heat resistant than standard glass. It can withstand temperatures up to a sweltering 250 degrees. In the event of a fire, it is a much safer option. This is why most high-rise apartments, government buildings, schools and offices have toughened glass windows.

As we mentioned earlier, Toughened glass is stronger than standard glass. Having said that, it isn’t just stronger – it’s also much more impact resistant and protective compared to ordinary glass. This makes it suitable for safety applications in numerous situations, such as reinforced windows for high-rise offices and apartment buildings and glass shower screens

Often, toughened glass is used for glass homeware, as it is more durable and less prone to breakage than standard glass. Glass dining tables, splashbacks, shower screens and tables are all toughened as it is vital that your homeware is safe to use. Frameless glass doors and other structurally loaded applications of glass should always be toughened using a thermal tempering process.

Little quick fact. Tempered glass absorbs 65% of UV rays, giving it an SPF of around 16. Useful, isn’t it?

We hope this was helpful in becoming more knowledgeable about toughened glass. If you would like to discuss your requirements about toughened glass, contact us and we’ll sort you out. We would love to offer our expert advice and fantastic service to you today.