Tempered glass is a common material in everyday life. From the screen on your smartphone to your car’s windows and even your shower door, tempered glass plays a crucial role in modern design, safety, and convenience.
But what is tempered glass? In this blog, we’ll explore what it is, how it’s made, its benefits, its applications and more.
What Is It?
Tempered glass, also known as toughened glass, is a type of safety glass that has been specially heat treated to make it much stronger than normal glass. It’s engineered to handle more pressure, withstand higher temperatures, and, most importantly, break in a much safer way.
Unlike standard glass, which shatters into sharp pieces, this type of glass breaks into small blunt pieces that are far less likely to cause injury. This feature alone makes it a popular choice in homes, vehicles, public buildings, and electronic devices.
Glass Tempering Process
The key to tempered glass lies in its unique manufacturing process. The glass is taken through a series of controlled heating and cooling stages to dramatically change its structure and strength.
- The process begins with cutting the glass to its desired size and shape. This step is important because once the glass is tempered, it cannot be cut or altered without breaking. All drilling, polishing, and edging must be done before the actual tempering process begins.
- In the tempering process, the glass withstands intense heating in a furnace at extremely high temperatures. This makes the glass soft. Then, it is rapidly cooled using high-pressure air blasts. The outer surfaces of the glass cool and harden faster than the inner layers, creating internal stress.
- This rapid cooling creates a balance of forces, compressive stress on the outer surface and tensile stress in the centre, which is what gives this type of glass its strength and resilience. It also changes how the glass reacts to breakage. Instead of cracking in dangerous patterns, it shatters into small, harmless fragments.
Why Is Tempered Glass Stronger?
Tempered glass is roughly four to five times stronger than standard annealed glass. Such stresses created during the quenching process allows the glass to resist impact and pressure more effectively. It also performs much better under thermal stress, meaning it won’t crack as easily when exposed to extreme weather changes. This strength isn’t just useful, it’s essential in situations where glass needs to be durable and safe.
The Benefits
This type of glass comes with a long list of advantages, which is why it’s so commonly used in both residential and commercial settings.
Enhanced Safety
One of the main reasons it is considered a safety glass is due to how it breaks. If it does fracture, it doesn’t splinter into large, jagged shards. Instead, it breaks into small, relatively harmless shards that are far less likely to cause injury. This makes it ideal for use in homes, schools, hospitals, and public buildings.
Superior Strength
Tempered glass can withstand much higher forces than standard glass. It resists scratches better, holds up well under pressure, and doesn’t crack easily from minor impacts. This durability makes it perfect for high-traffic areas, commercial settings, and heavy-use products like phones and tablets.
Thermal Resistance
Regular glass can crack when exposed to rapid temperature changes. Tempered glass, on the other hand, can endure extreme shifts in heat and cold. This makes it ideal for use in environments like ovens, stovetops, fireplaces, and outdoor structures.
Common Uses
This type of glass is used in a wide variety of settings, thanks to its combination of strength, safety, and style. Some of the most common applications include:
Home and Interior
In residential settings, you’ll often find tempered glass in shower enclosures, glass shelves, coffee tables, patio doors, balcony railings, and even kitchen backsplashes. Its safety and aesthetic appeal make it a top choice for both practicality and design.
Automotive Industry
Vehicles use this type of glass for side and rear windows. In the event of an accident, the glass will shatter into small, dull pieces rather than dangerous shards, minimising the risk of injury.
Electronics
It is a key component in the electronics industry. From smartphone screen protectors to laptops, tablets, and TV screens, its durability and resistance to damage make it ideal for daily use.
Construction and Architecture
In commercial and public buildings, tempered glass is used for glass doors, curtain walls, office partitions, roof lights, and building facades. It’s strong enough to provide structural support while still allowing for a transparent, open design.
Appliances
Modern appliances also use tempered glass. You’ll find it in oven doors, refrigerator shelves, and microwave windows, where both heat resistance and durability are required.
Is Tempered Glass the Same as Laminated Glass?
Though both are types of safety glass, laminated and tempered glass are not the same. Tempered glass is made stronger through heating and rapid cooling, while laminated types of glass consists of two layers of glass with a plastic interlayer.
Laminated glass holds together even when cracked, making it ideal for windshields and areas where maintaining a barrier is important after breakage. Tempered glass, on the other hand, breaks apart safely and is better suited for impact resistance.
Can Tempered Glass Break?
Yes, it can break. It’s much stronger than traditional glass, but it’s not indestructible. While it can resist greater force, pressure on the edges or sharp impacts can still cause it to shatter. However, when it does break, it breaks safely.
High-Quality Custom Glass Solutions
Tempered glass is one of the most practical and reliable materials used in modern design and construction. Its strength, safety, and versatility make it an excellent choice for a wide range of applications.
By understanding what tempered glass is and how it works, you’ll be better equipped to make informed choices for your home. Here at UKO Glass, we offer tempered glass for many of our products including glass canopies and glass balustrades. If you are looking to improve your home or office with our toughened glass, get in contact with our team on 01422 861116, or drop us an email on theteam@ukoglass.co.uk.