Toughened Glass
Glass toughening is the thermal process of heating the glass to 700-740 C˚ and rapidly cooling it down to room temperature – making the material 5 times harder without losing its elasticity.
- QualitiesAn important quality of tempered glass is its behavior when broken. Compared to normal glass, tempered glass breaks into small pieces rather than large, sharp pieces.
- ApplicationsTempered glass is used when resistance to mechanical shock, thermal resistance, and protection against the risk of breakage are desired.
A key element in reducing the likelihood of the glass breaking during the securing process is the careful machining of the glass edges. It is recognized that defective processing of the edge of the glass to be toughened affects both the quality and the mechanical properties of the finished product.
Tempered glass is used in glass walls, double glazing or laminated windows, etc. – especially for applications requiring the following:
- Better resistance to mechanical shocks (glass doors, glass panels fixed at points such as glass balustrades, etc.).
- Better resistance to thermal stress (glass subjected to intense sunlight or mounted near heat sources such as stained glass cladding, etc.).
- Better protection against the risk of burglary and reduced risk of injury.
The HEAT-SOAK Treatment for thermally toughened glass
However, there is still a risk with tempered glass, namely the risk of accidental or spontaneous breakage of the glass without external shock.
This risk can be eliminated by a test called HEAT-SOAK TREATMENT. The nickel sulphide inclusions normally contained in any glass increase in volume at high temperatures. The balance of stresses inside the tempered glass changes in these places and so-called spontaneous breakage occurs.
To minimize this risk, it is recommended – in the case of glazing with applications with a high potential danger to humans – to additionally treat with the heat soak test.
Thus, after securing the bottle, it is placed in the oven and kept at a constant average temperature of approx. 290 degrees C for 4-8 hours, during which time the at-risk glass breaks.
State-of-the-art technology
Transparent Design invests in modern machinery, produced by renowned professionals, in order to be able to produce quality products.
We currently have three securitizing lines in production, which benefit from state-of-the-art uniform and controlled glass heating technology and a high-performance ‘full convection’ system, which is reflected in both the quality of the securitized glass (flat and spot-free) and productivity.
- LANDGLASS ULTRAJET A326OU – 6000 X 3300 MM & 5-19 MM (2021)
- LANDGLASS ULTRAJET PLUS BOTTOM SUPERAIR – 5000 X 2400 MM & 3.2 - 19 MM, MIN. DIM. 150X300MM (May 2022)
- LANDGLASS ULTRAJET LD-A3050U - 5000 X 3000 MM & 5-19 MM (Feb 2024)
Next we will add 2 automated bending modules for the existing securing ovens and a line for securing and bending (convex and concave) of windows of max. 9000x3210mm.
These new machines will allow us to increase our daily capacity (8 hours) of securing up to 1600 sq.m. and to expand our product portfolio by supplying curved tempered glass. We will cover a diverse range of bending radii (both concave and convex), thanks to modern machines with computerized control and programming.