What Is Tempered Glass?
When traditional sheets of glass break, they can become very dangerous. They break into large shards with razor-sharp edges which can easily cut or severely injure someone. And since these sheets of glass aren’t very strong, this can be a major safety concern for vehicle windows, slippery bathroom spaces, and high-rise buildings. Luckily, there is an answer. Tempered glass is stronger and breaks into smaller pieces, making it a safer option for all of the scenarios mentioned above.
What is tempered glass?
Tempered glass is a form of glass that is stronger than typical annealed glass and breaks into smaller pieces. Also known as safety glass, tempered glass is heated and cooled in specific ways to increase its strength and change its composition.
To truly understand tempered glass, it’s important to be familiar with annealed glass. Annealed glass, also known as standard float glass, is glass that has gone through a cooling treatment on a factory’s float line. After pouring and floating atop a tin bath, annealed glass is cooled very slowly to prevent internal stress.
Tempered glass is annealed glass that receives a heat treatment to harden and strengthen it, increasing its strength up to four times. Instead of breaking into large, dangerous shards, tempered glass “spider webs” when it breaks. The entire pane fractures into small pieces with smoother edges, meaning there is significantly less chance of causing an injury.
How is tempered glass made?
Glass manufacturers make tempered glass by heating and then cooling annealed glass. The process creates tension and compression in the glass that makes it stronger but also causes the glass to shatter into small, less-dangerous pieces.
The first step in making toughened glass via tempering is to start with a piece of annealed glass that is already cut to the exact size and shape necessary. Then, the manufacturer heats the annealed glass in a tempering oven until it reaches temperatures over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. At that point, the exterior of the glass is cooled rapidly with high-pressure air.
While the exterior surface of the glass is cooling quickly, the manufacturing process prevents the interior from cooling as quickly. The inside of the glass cools slower and begins to pull on the outer layers. This creates tension inside the glass while the outer surface experiences compression—opposing forces that increase the glass’s strength.
This tempering process also causes the glass to shatter into small, rounded pieces when broken. For this reason, it’s impossible to cut and snap sheets of tempered glass as they will shatter completely.
How is tempered glass used?
Due to its safer shattering nature, tempered glass has a lot of practical uses. Essentially, any large sheet of glass that could break and cause injury will typically be safety or tempered glass. Also, any piece of glass that must be strong enough to resist breaking due to impacts should also be tempered. It’s also used in high-heat situations.
- Electrionics. Tempered glass is widely used in hand-held electronic applications including screens on tablets and smartphones. These devices often fall, and users sometimes sit on them, requiring the glass screen to be much stronger and safer than typical annealed glass.
- Cars. There are also automotive uses for tempered glass. The side and rear windows on vehicles are designed to shatter into small pieces to prevent serious injuries in the event of an accident. The front glass is also tempered but features a laminated film to keep the glass together should something hit the windshield, preventing the item from falling on the vehicle occupants.
- Windows and skylights. Large windows on tall buildings where extreme winds or flying objects could send large shards of glass falling are typically tempered glass. These windows are stronger than ordinary annealed glass, and should they break, a shower of small chunks of glass is much less dangerous to pedestrians below. Due to their strength, these tempered windows also prevent the glass from breaking from the inside and folks falling out. The same concept applies to skylights. While these roof-mounted windows must be strong to resist forces, weather, and other hazards, they also need to shatter into small pieces to prevent injuries to building occupants.
- Glass doors. Glass doors on shower and tub enclosures are almost exclusively tempered glass. This prevents slips and falls from becoming life-or-death situations, as folks in the bathroom are much less likely to seriously hurt themselves if they slip and crash through the door.
Advantages of tempered glass
Tempered glass is up to four times stronger than traditional glass. The opposing forces created during the tempering process allow this glass to withstand impacts and weight better than float or plate glass. Manufacturers often laminate pieces of tempered glass together with a film between them to increase their strength even more.
When traditional sheets of glass break, they can become very dangerous. They break into large shards with razor-sharp edges which can easily cut or severely injure someone. And since these sheets of glass aren’t very strong, this can be a major safety concern for vehicle windows, slippery bathroom spaces, and high-rise buildings. Luckily, there is an answer. Tempered glass is stronger and breaks into smaller pieces, making it a safer option for all of the scenarios mentioned above.
What is tempered glass?
Tempered glass is a form of glass that is stronger than typical annealed glass and breaks into smaller pieces. Also known as safety glass, tempered glass is heated and cooled in specific ways to increase its strength and change its composition.
To truly understand tempered glass, it’s important to be familiar with annealed glass. Annealed glass, also known as standard float glass, is glass that has gone through a cooling treatment on a factory’s float line. After pouring and floating atop a tin bath, annealed glass is cooled very slowly to prevent internal stress.
Tempered glass is annealed glass that receives a heat treatment to harden and strengthen it, increasing its strength up to four times. Instead of breaking into large, dangerous shards, tempered glass “spider webs” when it breaks. The entire pane fractures into small pieces with smoother edges, meaning there is significantly less chance of causing an injury.
How is tempered glass made?
Glass manufacturers make tempered glass by heating and then cooling annealed glass. The process creates tension and compression in the glass that makes it stronger but also causes the glass to shatter into small, less-dangerous pieces.
The first step in making toughened glass via tempering is to start with a piece of annealed glass that is already cut to the exact size and shape necessary. Then, the manufacturer heats the annealed glass in a tempering oven until it reaches temperatures over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. At that point, the exterior of the glass is cooled rapidly with high-pressure air.
While the exterior surface of the glass is cooling quickly, the manufacturing process prevents the interior from cooling as quickly. The inside of the glass cools slower and begins to pull on the outer layers. This creates tension inside the glass while the outer surface experiences compression—opposing forces that increase the glass’s strength.
This tempering process also causes the glass to shatter into small, rounded pieces when broken. For this reason, it’s impossible to cut and snap sheets of tempered glass as they will shatter completely.
How is tempered glass used?
Due to its safer shattering nature, tempered glass has a lot of practical uses. Essentially, any large sheet of glass that could break and cause injury will typically be safety or tempered glass. Also, any piece of glass that must be strong enough to resist breaking due to impacts should also be tempered. It’s also used in high-heat situations.
- Electrionics. Tempered glass is widely used in hand-held electronic applications including screens on tablets and smartphones. These devices often fall, and users sometimes sit on them, requiring the glass screen to be much stronger and safer than typical annealed glass.
- Cars. There are also automotive uses for tempered glass. The side and rear windows on vehicles are designed to shatter into small pieces to prevent serious injuries in the event of an accident. The front glass is also tempered but features a laminated film to keep the glass together should something hit the windshield, preventing the item from falling on the vehicle occupants.
- Windows and skylights. Large windows on tall buildings where extreme winds or flying objects could send large shards of glass falling are typically tempered glass. These windows are stronger than ordinary annealed glass, and should they break, a shower of small chunks of glass is much less dangerous to pedestrians below. Due to their strength, these tempered windows also prevent the glass from breaking from the inside and folks falling out. The same concept applies to skylights. While these roof-mounted windows must be strong to resist forces, weather, and other hazards, they also need to shatter into small pieces to prevent injuries to building occupants.
- Glass doors. Glass doors on shower and tub enclosures are almost exclusively tempered glass. This prevents slips and falls from becoming life-or-death situations, as folks in the bathroom are much less likely to seriously hurt themselves if they slip and crash through the door.
Advantages of tempered glass
Tempered glass is up to four times stronger than traditional glass. The opposing forces created during the tempering process allow this glass to withstand impacts and weight better than float or plate glass. Manufacturers often laminate pieces of tempered glass together with a film between them to increase their strength even more.
The way tempered glass breaks is a major advantage in regard to safety. Rather than large, heavy shards of glass that could easily cause serious injury, tempered glass breaks into very small pieces. These pieces can still cut someone, but the injuries are typically far less severe.
Disadvantages of tempered glass
The nature of tempered glass to shatter upon sufficient impact is also a disadvantage of tempered glass. It cannot be cut or drilled without shattering. Also, installers have to be very careful when moving sheets of tempered glass as a very slight impact on the edge could cause the entire sheet to shatter.
Another disadvantage of tempered glass is the complete lack of customizability once the sheet is formed. The glass sheets must be cut by the manufacturer prior to tempering, and any modifications such as drilling or shaping must also occur ahead of time. This makes on-site adjustments difficult for installers as any modification will typically shatter the pane.
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Why it’s worth buying a tempered glass for your Smartphone?
Don’t look at a tempered glass as an extra cost. It’s an investment you need to make to ensure your precious smartphone display is protected from devastating drops and scratches. The Corning Gorilla Glass, which is the common display glass used for devices these days, may be a tough glass to break or scratched, but adding an additional protection to your screen won’t hurt either. If a tempered glass screen protector breaks, it’s far easier to replace, not to mention way cheaper to replace than your phone’s screen itself.
What exactly is a Tempered Glass screen protector
To appreciate a tempered glass is to understand what it’s made of. The strength of a tempered glass comes from the controlled chemical and thermal treatments it undergoes. These treatments involve rapid heating and cooling that’s why a tempered glass is up to 5 times stronger, and breaks differently, than normal glass. It’s multi-layered protection is usually composed of a bottom layer of absorbent silicon, PET film and an optically clear adhesive tempered glass and oleophobic coating.
Still not convinced? Here are more reasons why you should buy a tempered glass:
1. It’s more durable compared to a plastic screen protector.
A tempered glass screen protector is really your first defence against severe drops or falls. It can resist scratches from pointed sharp objects in your bag or pocket, and can absorb shock from falls, protecting your display and keeping it intact. Glass protectors are generally around 0.3–0.5 mm in thickness while plastic protectors are around 0.1 mm.
2. It has a better feel.
When you add a plastic protector, you can feel the difference when you use your phone; especially in terms of how smoothly your finger glides unlike a tempered glass protector which feels more like the original screen.
3. It easier to clean and resistant to smudges.
Due to its specialised coating, it is no doubt much easier to get rid of fingerprint grease or dirt in a tempered glass protector. No need to buy cleaning solutions. All you need is a clean cloth.
4. No problem with outdoor visibility.
While other screen protectors noticeably affects outdoor visibility of your device, a tempered glass won’t enhance glare of any sort if installed properly.
5. It doesn’t affect sharpness of clarity of your screen display.
Good quality tempered glass won’t affect colours, image quality and sharpness of your phone display at all! Unlike plastic screen protectors which can obscure light transmitting from your display thus affecting colour gamut on your device and can be irritable to the eye. So if you spend a lot of time browsing images and watching videos on your phone, a tempered glass is the one you should choose.
Although a tempered glass screen protector may cost a little more than other screen protectors, the benefits you get from it far outweighs its price. Once you use a good quality tempered glass, it will be hard to get back to conventional plastic screen protectors.
Because not all tempered glass are created equal, make sure to buy only the good quality from a trusted brand. At Technology Traders, you can rest assured that we only sell high quality tempered glass screen protectors for your smartphones and tablets.
Visit any of our nearest store or call us directly on 07 3245 1801 to enquire about tempered glass screen protectors for your device or any specific accessory.
What is Tempered Glass and What It’s Used For?
Much of the glass that’s used for residential and commercial applications is tempered safety glass. In short, tempered glass is heat-treated, making it about 4x stronger than regular, annealed glass. By design, when broken, tempered glass disintegrates into small pieces and is much less likely to do harm.
When shattered, tempered glass windows can help protect a building’s occupants and equipment from the hazards of large shards of fragmented glass debris.
Below, we discuss what makes tempered glass different from standard glass and its key benefits and potential downfalls.
What is Tempered Glass?
Manufactured through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling, tempered glass is much harder than standard glass. Regular, annealed glass undergoes a thermal tempering process that increases its strength and changes its composition to shatters differently.
The glass is heated in a furnace to over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and then quickly cooled using high-pressure air blasts. This cools the outer layers of the glass much more quickly than the internal layers, so when the inside cools, it pulls away from the outer layers. As a result, the inside remains in a state of tension, while the outside goes into a state of compression. These competing forces are what make tempered glass so much stronger than annealed glass.
Due to the tempering process, when this type of glass is broken, it breaks into small, rounded chunks instead of sharp, jagged shards. Regular, untreated glass is known to shatter into sharp pieces called spall, which are a significant cause of injury in the cases of extreme weather or attacks like bomb blasts. Tempered glass is often referred to as “safety glass” for its ability to prevent spall and keep building occupants safe.
What is Tempered Glass Used for?
Also known as “safety glass”, tempered glass is often used in car windows, shower doors, glass tables, and other installations where increased safety standards are necessary. While the manufacturing process does make tempered glass more resistant to force, it is not shatterproof glass or unbreakable in any way. For this reason, it shouldn’t be used to prevent intruders, but it will stand up to more force than regular glass.
The tempering process also makes tempered glass more resistant to damage from higher temperatures. That’s why you may see tempered glass used in situations where high temperatures are likely to cause glass to break like in fireplace doors or kitchen appliances.
Disadvantages of Tempered Glass
One of the main advantages of tempered glass, its ability to shatter into tiny pebbles, can also be seen as a disadvantage. Since the glass is designed to shatter entirely upon impact, it can pose a security risk. Motivated intruders may find it easier to gain entry because a single force can cause the entire window to fall apart.
Additionally, it’s impossible to re-size, re-cut, or re-shape tempered glass once it has undergone the tempering process. All sizing must occur before the annealed glass is treated because once it is tempered, it is too susceptible to breakage to be cut or adjusted. Damage to any part of it will cause the entire glass sheet to shatter, so precision and custom installments are key to using tempered glass.
If these disadvantages sound like they may be a deal-breaker for you, know that there are other window treatments that provide a sound alternative to tempered glass.
Tempered Glass vs Film
One of the main alternatives to tempered glass is window film. In the tempered glass window film debate, window film tends to win out for a number of reasons. These multi-layer films significantly improve glass windows and doors’ protective capabilities, making them harder to penetrate, whether by forced entry or flying debris. They’re an unobtrusive and affordable way to hold glass shards together when the window is damaged, preventing the glass from harming those inside and slowing entry.
Safety & Security Window Films allow you to upgrade your glass to code for a fraction of the cost of a full glass replacement. Building codes may specify that glass near certain hazardous locations, such as wet surfaces, doors, floors, ramps, and stairs, meet certain safety glazing requirements. 3M Safety Window Films can help you quickly and easily meet safety glazing impact requirements for far less than the cost of replacement windows.
Window Film Depot is a certified installer of 3M Safety & Security Window Films. When you contact us , we’ll get a better understanding of your needs, schedule an onsite consultation, recommend the best products for you and discuss installation logistics.
There are many options to enhance window and door safety in both residential and commercial installations, so the decision comes down to what will best suit your needs. If you’re unsure, contact Window Film Depot and our representatives will do everything we can to guide you to the right product for you.
Tempered Glass vs. Regular Glass: What’s the Difference and Why Does it Matter?
When it comes to glass, there are many different types available, each with its own unique properties and uses. Two of the most common types of glass are tempered glass and regular glass. While they may look similar, they have very different properties that make them suitable for different applications. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between tempered glass and regular glass, and why it matters.
What is Tempered Glass?
Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is designed to be stronger and more durable than regular glass. It is created by heating regular glass to a high temperature and then cooling it quickly, which creates a surface compression that makes the glass much stronger than regular glass. Tempered glass is also designed to shatter into small, round pieces rather than sharp, jagged shards, which makes it safer in the event of breakage.
What is Regular Glass?
Regular glass, also known as annealed glass, is the most common type of glass used in windows, doors, and other applications. It is created by heating glass to a high temperature and then slowly cooling it, which makes it stronger than raw glass but not as strong as tempered glass. Regular glass is also more likely to shatter into sharp, jagged shards when broken, which can be dangerous.
Differences between Tempered Glass and Regular Glass:
The main differences between tempered glass and regular glass are their strength and safety properties. Tempered glass is much stronger than regular glass and is designed to shatter into small, round pieces rather than sharp, jagged shards. This makes it safer in the event of breakage, as there is less risk of injury from flying glass. Regular glass, on the other hand, is not as strong as tempered glass and is more likely to shatter into sharp, jagged shards when broken, which can be dangerous.
Uses of Tempered Glass:
Tempered glass is commonly used in applications where safety is a concern, such as in car windows, shower doors, and glass table tops. It is also used in commercial buildings, such as storefronts and office buildings, to provide added security and safety.
Uses of Regular Glass:
Regular glass is used in a wide range of applications, including windows, doors, mirrors, and picture frames. It is also used in the construction of buildings, such as in skylights and glass facades.
Why Does it Matter?
Understanding the difference between tempered glass and regular glass is important because it can help you choose the right type of glass for your specific needs. If safety is a concern, such as in the case of car windows or shower doors, tempered glass is the better choice. If you simply need glass for a window or picture frame, regular glass may be sufficient.
Tempered glass and regular glass may look similar, but they have very different properties that make them suitable for different applications. Tempered glass is stronger and safer than regular glass, while regular glass is more commonly used in everyday applications. By understanding the differences between these two types of glass, you can make an informed decision when choosing the right type of glass for your needs.