Toughened glass

Toughened glass

What is Toughened Glass?

Toughened glass or tempered glass is glass that has undergone processes of controlled thermal treatment to
increase its strength. It is four times stronger than normal annealed glass. It is called safety glass because
when it breaks, it shatters into small.Toughened glass is made from annealed glass that has been heated to
approximately 650?C and then rapidly cooled. Due to the increased heat treatment and rapid cooling of the
glass, especially between the surface and the inside of the glass, the treatment produces different physical
properties. This results in compressive stress on the surface and improved bending strength of glass.

Before toughening, the glass must be cut to size or pressed to shape. This is because once it is toughened, it
cannot be re-worked on. Toughened glass is widely used in a number of applications.

What are the characteristics of Toughened Glass?

Toughened glass is four to five times stronger than annealed glass of the same size and thickness against
impact. Toughened glass has higher thermal strength and can withstand a high temperature differential up to
250°C.Toughened glass is considered as safety glass. It is difficult to break and even in the event of a
breakage, disintegrates into small globules, which are relatively harmless.

Toughening does not alter the basic characteristics of glass such as light transmission and solar radiant heat
properties.

After heat treatment, the surface of toughened glass has the same resistance to surface damage as annealed
glass. Toughened glass cannot be cut, drilled or altered.

Heat soak test is recommended to be carried out on Toughened glass that is used for overhead and horizontal
application, to prevent the spontaneous breakage caused due to nickel sulphide inclusion.

What are the properties of Toughened Glass?

Properties Toughened glass
Thermal Shock Resistance Up to 2500C
Mechanical strength Four to five times stronger than annealed glass
Tensile strength 65 MPa
Bending strength 120 – 200 N/mm2
Surface compression > 95 MPa
Design Stress for Architectural purposes 50 MPa
Fragmentation Small round crystals
Conducive for processing Cannot be cut after toughening

What are the benefits of Toughened Glass?

Toughening increases tensile strength, thermal shock resistance and safety of normal glass. It also increases
its heat withstanding capacity. Because of these properties, toughened glass is preferred in applications where
strength, safety and thermal resistance are significant.

What are the Strength & Safety Considerations of Toughened Glass?

Four to five times stronger than annealed glass
Two to three times stronger than heat strengthened glass
Fragments into small, relatively harmless pieces, reducing the likelihood of injury

Resistance to Thermal Breakage

Uneven heating due to direct sunlight makes glass expand and contract at different rates. This difference in
the rates, creates stress in glass which may lead to breakage. When temperature differential is above 50°C, the
risk of thermal breakage is high for annealed glass and when the difference is up to 250°C, the risk of thermal
breakage is prevented by using toughened glass.

Thermal Breakage Pattern

Thermal breakage starts at the edge and is perpendicular to the glass edge. Breakage may be single or
multiple depending on the built up stress. Several cracks indicate high thermal stress across the glass pane. A
fully toughened glass has significantly higher edge strength to withstand chances of thermal breakage.

What are the applications of Toughened Glass?

Toughened glass is specifically designed for use in areas where there is a high risk of contact and breakage. It
can be used for exteriors and interiors, such as facades, showroom shelves, dividers, shower cabins, doors, etc.

In the automobile industry, toughened glass is commonly used for side lights and back lights.

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