TOUGHENED VS LAMINATED GLASS

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TOUGHENED VS LAMINATED GLASS
The classic image of glass is something that
shatters under the least amount of stress. As
they say, people who live in glass houses
shouldnt throw stones. But not if the house was
made out of a safer type of glass. We actually
encounter these safer glass surfaces everywhere
from windscreens to balustrades to windows to
coffee tables to the floors of raised walkways.
Even though its unnerving to step onto a glass
surface high above the ground, you can do so
these days. Glass can be very tough. There are
two general types of stronger glass Laminated
Glass and Toughened Glass (also called Tempered
Glass). They are both very useful, but they also
differ in big ways. How Laminated and Toughened
Glass are made Laminated glass is created by
bonding several sheets of regular glass with
sheets of plastic in between them. The effect is
that, if the glass breaks, it still stays
together, creating a web-like effect. You can
make a hole in the glass surface, but otherwise
it stays intact. One common example is a
windscreen
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If you think of what happens in a car accident.
The windscreen cracks, but the glass does not
shatter into the car. There are two normal
annealed panes of glass there could be multiple
with a Polyvinyl Butyral or EVA laminate in
between. When it does take an impact, the glass
breaks, but it sticks to the laminate virtually
in one piece. So there arent large shards of
glass that come off. But dont forget this is
still normal glass. Once that laminating comes
off, and it can over time, the glass can be as
dangerous as a regular pane. Toughened glass is
quite different. This is glass that was baked at
very high temperatures, making it incredibly
strong hardy enough that it cannot be shaped or
cut afterwards. Toughened glass is more flexible,
and can shatter, but creates many small pieces
that are unlikely to cause serious cuts. The
other windows on a car are typically toughened
glass. Thats very important to remember.
Neither should cut you, but one remains intact
and the other does not
The differences between Laminated and Toughened
Glass Other than how they are made, the
important differences between these two glasses
are in their uses. Toughened glass can be
installed without a frame, but laminated glass
requires a frame to protect it from de-lamination.
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As soon as laminated glass comes into contact
with water, it can start to delaminate. So you
use a frame to keep the edges protected. But
toughened works for framed and frameless
applications, such as glass balustrades or
stacking doors.
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Laminated glass wont shatter and is arguably a
bit stronger due to the extra layers. But it is
still normal (annealed) glass. Toughened glass
can be incredibly strong. Which to use depends
on several factors, including safety regulations.
If you want to ensure someone cant fall through
a pane of glass, such as a large window or
shower, laminated glass is often the choice.
Toughened glass may be stronger, but once it
breaks it leaves a hole, creating an ongoing
hazard. But if glass is freestanding, in other
words not supported completely by a frame, it
often has to be toughened. Toughened glass is
distinctive enough to have its own standards by
law each toughened panel must have a stamp on it,
identifying the company and other information
such as numbered codes. The same is true for
laminated glass. The acoustic properties of
Laminated and Toughened Glass If the glass is
tougher or incorporates layers of plastic, is it
better for managing sound as well? Can safety
glass also block noise? The place to start is the
frame
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Acoustics depends a lot on what happens around
the glass. So if you have an acoustic frame that
seals things, that will have a big impact on
acoustics overall. You can use acoustic glass,
but if its surrounded by a regular aluminum
frame, it wont do much. Acoustic management is a
system involving the glass and whats around it.
Glass is very complimentary to sound. It
resonates and vibrates at normal frequencies,
making it easy for sound to travel through. This
property does not change significantly if a glass
has been toughened or laminated, though there can
be a difference especially if more layers are
added. There are also other methods. You can
laminate two different thicknesses of glass
together, or create an air gap. This will change
the frequencies, which interfere with the sound
waves. Acoustic glass is usually treated with
acoustic vinyl, which like a laminate is applied
to the glass. So it is entirely possible to have
safety glass that also manages sound.