Clear Glass

Regular annealed glass isn't that durable on its own. To make it stronger and safer, it has to go through a toughening process like tempering, chemical strengthening, or thermal processing. Just like any other regular glass; it can break easily and needs to be properly handled to avoid damage. Unlike tempered or toughened glass, when regular glass breaks, it shatters into sharp pieces.

Also referred to as annealed or standard glass, is the type commonly found in windows and commercial doors. It stands out as one of the most prevalent commercial glass varieties. Annealed glass, considered a basic glass, is frequently utilized for windows and doors due to its transparency, allowing ample natural light to enter. This type of glass can come in a clear form, providing flexibility in design choices for various applications.

Also referred to as annealed, is manufactured through a meticulous chemical process involving a combination of raw materials such as Silica, Soda, and Lime. These ingredients are subjected to high temperatures, undergoing a fusion until they melt into a liquid form. Next is the cooling process, wherein the molten glass is placed on a mold, usually over a bed of molten metal, commonly tin. This floating process allows the glass to spread evenly, forming a smooth and clear surface as it cools and solidifies. This kind of practice is usually done by commercial producers.

The strength of clear annealed glass depends on a few factors: glass thickness controls the glass strength and as expected, thicker glass is stronger than thinner glass. Depending on the application an upgrade to thicker glass may be necessary. Another factor impacting the strength of the glass is whether it has been tampered with or not. Raw glass that has been through a tempering process is generally 5x stronger and sometimes referred to as toughened glass.

Certainly! Tempering is a specific heat treatment process used to strengthen glass. The transformation involves a carefully controlled tempering process. In this process, the annealed glass is first heated to a high temperature and then rapidly cooled using forced air. The rapid cooling, typically achieved through quenching, induces surface compression and internal tension in the glass, enhancing its strength and making it more resistant to breakage. Tempered glass is commonly used in applications where safety is a priority, as it shatters into small, less harmful pieces upon breaking. This quality makes it a popular material for use in dining room tables.

In its raw format is also called annealed and is not the same as tempered glass. It can go through a tempering process that would make it approximately 5x stronger than annealed glass. The increased strength enables tempered glass to withstand significantly more pressure before shattering. Learn more about tempered glass by visiting our blog at this link.