At Springfield Glass Company, our glass experts offer a wide selection of glass for your commercial and residential project needs, including tempered glass. Many properties of tempered glass make it an excellent choice for a variety of projects.
Below, we’ll go into more detail so you can determine whether it’s a good fit for your project or not. Our glass experts are also available to help you choose the best type of glass for your needs.
How Is Glass Manufactured?
To help you understand the qualities of tempered glass, let’s first discuss how glass originates.
Primarily, glass consists of sand, soda ash, and lime. These ingredients are blended and heated at very high temperatures, poured into a shape, and allowed to cool. The cooling process is called annealing, and it will enable the glass to cool slowly to relieve internal pressure and stress while it hardens.
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Why Is Tempered Glass Stronger Than Standard Glass?
Tempered glass is more robust than standard glass because it is processed differently. But what does that mean exactly? Here’s a quick explanation from the experts at Springfield Glass Company.
The annealing process (or cooling process) of standard glass is a rapid one. However, due to the fast cooling process, ordinary glass is also much more fragile, and it breaks apart into large irregular-shaped shards, which can be very dangerous. Additionally, standard glass can only withstand temperatures up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit.
On the other hand, tempered glass originates using special heated furnaces, heating it to about 1,292 degrees Fahrenheit after it is immediately cooled. Tempered glass is cooled more slowly than standard glass to produce a more potent finished product.
Sometimes, it’s also chemically treated with potassium nitrate to strengthen it. The glass sits in a hot bath of potassium nitrate (at over 752 degrees Fahrenheit!) for up to 30 hours. The potassium nitrate reacts with the surface of the glass to produce an ion exchange, which results in the more robust, more durable glass.
Overall, tempered glass is four times stronger than standard glass, and it’s also impact and scratch-resistant. When it breaks, it shatters into many small pieces with fewer sharp edges. That’s why it’s often called “safety glass.” It can withstand constant temperatures of up to 470 degrees Fahrenheit (standard glass can withstand up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit), creating slices from ⅛” thick to ¾” thick.
Need Custom Tempered Glass For Your Residential or Commercial Project?
Tempered glass is safer than standard glass if it breaks, so it’s an excellent option for shower doors, coffee tables, bookshelves, jewelry cases, and much more. If you need custom glass for your residential or commercial property, contact Springfield Glass Company online or call (417) 883-6555 to speak with a glass expert about our custom glass options.