Glass tempering
Glass toughening is a process involving heating the glass to an appropriate temperature and cooling it down rapidly. Although toughening does not change the external appearance of the glass in any way, its internal structure is strengthened and hardened. Toughened glass is commonly called “safety glass” because after breaking the glass, it breaks into small, blurred pieces, which significantly reduces the risk of injury to a person.
How is tempered glass different from non-tempered glass ?:
- has increased resistance to various types of mechanical external stress – it is assumed that toughened glass is up to 7 times more durable than ordinary glass
- it is more thermally resistant – while ordinary glass can withstand temperature differences of up to 30 ° C, the value for toughened glass is 200 ° C.
Tempered glass is used in many industries. The main one is construction, because due to the safety of use, this material is used both in external glazing and in the production of composite or laminated glass. Balconies, balustrades, stairs, doors and partitions are also made of safety glass, which allows them to give a fashionable and modern style to any interior. Many architects and interior designers treat toughened glass as a typical decorative element, smuggling it into their projects in the form of modern household appliances or futuristic glass furniture.
The quality requirements for toughened glass are described in the PN-EN 12150-1 standard entitled: Glass in construction. Thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass. Part 1: Definitions and description.
All manufacturers of toughened glass are also obliged to obtain certificates of conformity of the quality of the glass production with the PN-EN 12150-1 standard on a continuous basis.
- glass dimension (max.): 1600 x 2600mm
- glass dimension (min.): 40 x 270 mm
- glass thickness: 3-12 mm
