Understanding glass types
Phoenix Fenestration & Glass explains different glass types and sheds some light on how they can enhance the design of your home and office.
At Phoenix Fenestration & Glass (Pty) Ltd, it has always been our view that glass is the most sophisticated and technologically advanced building material capable of transforming a dwelling or a building aesthetically, while being able to enhance security, privacy, comfort levels and energy efficiency if required.
There is multitude of different value-added glass products available, each with specific properties, but which originate from float or annealed glass, which is ultimately the primary basis of all processed glass.
Practically speaking, float glass is produced by floating molten glass on top of tin at approximately 1 200˚C to thicknesses of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15 and 19mm thick. The annealing occurs while cooling the float glass on one side, which we refer to as the base substance of every other performance glass product. Our advanced manufacturing facility categorises four core strengths of glass.
Float/annealed glass
This basic glass is used in low-cost housing, for mirrors and for patterned glass. It has no security or safety features attached to it. Float glass can be manufactured in various tints or low-e coatings, which is achieved during the manufacturing process.
Toughened safety glass
Annealed glass is cut, processed and heated to approximately 700 ˚C , and cooled rapidly, which enhances the strength of the glass by four to five times. This results in increased mechanical resistance in bolt-on applications, and, when broken, it disintegrates into small ‘cubes’ less likely to cause serious injury. Float/annealed glass can be toughened.
Heat-strengthened glass
The manufacturing process for heat-strengthened glass is similar to that for toughened safety glass, but the glass is cooled at a slower rate. The strength of the glass is enhanced by approximately two times. Heat strengthened glass tends not to be popular in South Africa.
Laminated safety glass
Any of the above types of glass can be laminated, which is achieved by bonding two or more pieces of glass in an autoclave using 0.38mm PVB, PU and/or EVA interlayers (or multiple layers in order to enhance safety and impact resistance). We are able to produce nearly any colour of the spectrum by using different coloured PVB Interlayers. Laminated glass offers many advantages, particularly safety and security because the laminated panels are held together by the interlayer. The standard Phoenix BulletBlok range is also manufactured using varying thickness of float glass laminated by means of 0.38/0.76mm PVB interlayers.
Rather than being seen as seen as only being a decorative architectural element, glass demands a special status as an integral building material that helps to define the unique architectural aesthetics of a structure.
If you are curious about the numerous benefits of glass in construction, give us a call because we are obsessed with natural light, sound insulation, thermal insulation, safety and energy efficiency.
www.phoenixglass.co.za
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