A Brief Explanation of Chemically Strengthened Glass

Date: 24 September 2016
Copyright:
  • www.bentglassdesign.com
A Brief Explanation of Chemically Strengthened Glass
Photo source
www.bentglassdesign.com

Date: 24 September 2016

Have you ever wondered exactly what it means when people talk about things like strengthened and chemically treated glass?

The experts at Bent Glass Design are here today to set the record straight. And contrary to what you may have heard in the past, it’s not as complicated as you might think.

Chemically strengthened glass is glass that has been treated with a chemical process after it was manufactured to render it stronger. The chemical process in question is called an ion-exchange reaction.

During this process, glass is submerged in a bath of potassium salt or potassium nitrate at 300 degrees Celsius. The bath isn’t hot enough to melt the glass, but the relatively high temperature allows the potassium nitrate to react with the surface of the glass, causing ions to be exchanged and compacted, thereby strengthening the glass.

The glass sits in the bath for up to 30 hours in order for the chemical reaction to be complete, and then it is removed. The end result is called chemically strengthened glass.

Glass that has been chemically strengthened is usually about six to eight times the strength of float glass, which is another type of strengthened glass made from floating melted glass on molten metal, like tin.

This is the kind of glass you’d see on a modern building facade. Float glass is typically uniformly thick and smooth. It’s strong, but chemically strengthened glass is stronger.

Chemically treated glass will break differently than regular glass. Rather than shattering into many small pieces, it will break into larger shards that are not as sharp as untreated glass. Chemically treated glass is also far less prone to warping and distorting over time than other types of glass.

For more information on chemically treated glass, or to learn more about any of the other types of glass we work with here at Bent Glass Design, contact us today, or check out our gallery.

600450 A Brief Explanation of Chemically Strengthened Glass glassonweb.com

Others also read

A new study shows that adding green building requirements to contracts boosts energy performance and sustainability in hot climate zones.
As glass curtain walls become increasingly popular in modern architecture, understanding how much solar radiation escapes through these transparent facades is essential for accurate cooling load calculations and energy efficiency.
As modern buildings increasingly use glass for its aesthetic appeal, managing excessive sunlight has become a challenge—this study explores how innovative kinetic façades can optimize indoor daylight while enhancing energy efficiency and comfort.
Can we state if the Heat Soak Test (HST) was done according to EN14179-1:2005 or not?
This study examines prestressed glass specimens that are 0.5mm, 1.1mm, and 2.1mm thick in comparison to glass of the same thicknesses that have not been enhanced by the novel stiffening method.

FROM INDUSTRY

Polígono Industrial El Bayo, parcela I, 19
24492 Cubillos del Sil León
Spain

ARTICLES RELATED PRODUCTS

SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS
R.C.N. Solutions Srl
Glaston Corporation
Guardian Glass Europe
Guardian Glass Europe

Add new comment