All about Tempered Glass
Tempered Glass
At Precision Glass, the most commonly installed glass product is tempered or safety glass. Tempered Glass is used for custom shower enclosures, car windshields, glass table tops, and other applications where glass breakage safety is a concern.
Making Tempered Glass: From Raw Materials to Installation
The Very Beginning
The Very Beginning
The Very Beginning
The journey of tempered glass begins with basic raw materials: silica sand, soda ash, and limestone. These ingredients are carefully measured and mixed to create a uniform batch of glass. The quality of the raw materials significantly influences the final product's strength and clarity.
Melting & forming
The Very Beginning
The Very Beginning
The mixed raw materials are then melted in a furnace at extremely high temperatures, typically exceeding 1700 degrees Celsius (3092 degrees Fahrenheit). This molten glass is shaped into sheets using various techniques, such as the float glass process, where the molten glass floats on a bed of molten tin, resulting in a smooth and uniform surface.
Annealing
The Very Beginning
Cutting, Edging &Customization
After forming the glass sheets, they go through an annealing process. This involves slowly cooling the glass in a controlled environment to relieve internal stresses and enhance the glass's overall strength. Proper annealing is crucial for preventing breakage during subsequent processing and usage.
Cutting, Edging &Customization
Cutting, Edging &Customization
Cutting, Edging &Customization
Once the annealed glass sheets pass quality control, they can be customized for specific applications. In the case of glass shower enclosures, the sheets are cut and shaped according to the desired dimensions and specifications. Holes for handles, hinges, and other hardware are precisely drilled, ensuring a perfect fit during installation.
Tempering
Cutting, Edging &Customization
Installation
The defining step in the production of tempered glass is the tempering process. The glass is heated to a high temperature and then rapidly cooled using jets of air. This creates a state of compression on the surface of the glass, making it up to five times stronger than untreated glass. The tempering process also gives the glass its chara
The defining step in the production of tempered glass is the tempering process. The glass is heated to a high temperature and then rapidly cooled using jets of air. This creates a state of compression on the surface of the glass, making it up to five times stronger than untreated glass. The tempering process also gives the glass its characteristic shattering pattern, with small, relatively harmless pieces, instead of sharp, dangerous shards. Since the glass breaks in a safe manner it is often called safety glass.
Installation
Cutting, Edging &Customization
Installation
The final step involves installing the custom tempered glass into the designated shower enclosure. This is typically done by experienced professionals to ensure proper alignment, stability, and waterproofing. The result is a sleek and durable glass shower enclosure that enhances the aesthetics of the bathroom while providing a safe and fu
The final step involves installing the custom tempered glass into the designated shower enclosure. This is typically done by experienced professionals to ensure proper alignment, stability, and waterproofing. The result is a sleek and durable glass shower enclosure that enhances the aesthetics of the bathroom while providing a safe and functional space. Have a look at some of the recent Precision Glass installed custom shower enclosures on the Precision Glass blog, Instagram account, or Facebook page! In conclusion, the journey from raw materials to a custom glass shower enclosure involves a series of carefully orchestrated steps, each contributing to the strength, safety, and beauty of tempered glass. This versatile material has become a staple in modern architecture and design, offering both durability and aesthetic appeal.