UEBE 1213-

BUILDING
MATERIALS
TOPIC : GLASS
 GLASS
COMPOSITION OF GLASS

Main components
Sand (silica) 70-74%
Soda Ash (sodium carbonate) 12-16%
Lime Stone (calcium carbonate) 5-12%
Small additions
Dolomite (magnesium limestone) 2-5%
Salt-cake (calcium sulfate)
Aluminium, iron, potassium oxide
Cullet (broken glass) 25%
GLASS
GLASS
FORMING PROCESS OF FLOAT GLASS
1. Batching of raw materials

The main components of Silica sand (73%), Soda (13%) Calcium oxide (9%),
Magnesium (4%) are weighed and mixed into batches to which
recycled glass pieces (cullet) is added.
The use of ‘cullet’ reduces the consumption of natural gas.
The materials are tested and stored for later mixing under computer control.
GLASS
2. Melting of raw materials in the furnace

The batched raw materials pass from a mixing silo to a five-chambered

furnace where they become molten at a temperature of approximately 1500°C.
GLASS
3. Drawing the molten glass onto
the tin bath

The molten glass is "floated" onto a

bath of molten tin at about 1100°C.

It forms a ribbon : width of 3210mm &

Thickness 3-25mm
GLASS
4. Cooling the molten glass in the annealing lehr
Annealing process
The glass cooled down 600°C,harderned & pass to a Lehr (annealing chamber)
The glass passed over rollers and is annealed,
Annealing :- modifies the internal stresses enabling it to be cut and ensuring
flatness of the glass.
As both surfaces are fire finished, they need no grinding or polishing
GLASS
5. Quality checks, automatic cutting, storage

Cooling – Quality Checks – Washed - Cut into sheets - store

 GLASS CLASSIFICATION
Soda-lime Glass
is also known as soda-ash glass, soda glass or soft glass.
Soda-lime glass is obtained by fusing a mixture of silica,
lime and soda.
This is the most common type of glass used in doors,
windows and for making glass-wares such as bottles.
Lead Glass
also known as flint glass is obtained by fusing a mixture
of silica, lead and potash.
It is free from iron impurities and is colourless. Lead
glass has high shining appearance and can take polish.
It is not affected by temperature. Electric bulbs, optical
glasses, cut glass, ornamental glass works and radio
valves are some of the articles made from it.

Boro-silicate Glass
is obtained by fusing a mixture of silica, borax, lime and
felspar.
The examples are pyrex glass and heat resisting glass.
Boro-silicate glass can withstand high temperatures and
is most suitable for making laboratory equipments and
cooking utensils.
GLASS PRODUCTS
Float glass Body-tinted glass Electrochromic glass

Reflective glass Low-e glass Self-Cleaning glass

Mirror Insulating glass

Screen printed glass Pattern glass

Antique mirror Photovoltaic glass

Electrically heated glass X-ray protection glass

GLASS – Sheet Products

Float Glass

Flat, clear glass, most common

The term "float" glass derives from the
production method, introduced in the
UK by Sir Alastair Pilkington in the late
1950's,
Thickness range 2-25mm
Flatness – high degree of transparency
Smooth surface – natural light flow
Coverage – large glazed openings

A decorative and highly transparent glass that adds distinction to

windows and to store fronts
Reflective Glass

This is an ordinary float glass

with a metallic coating to
reduce solar heat.

Energy saving.

This special metallic coating

also produces a mirror effect,
preventing the subject from
seeing through the glass.

It is mainly used in facades.

REFLECTIVE GLASS

- reduction in solar heat gain,

- absorbs and reflects a major proportion of the
sun's direct energy more effectively than tinted
glass.
- mirror like appearance
- application of a metallic coating during the
manufacture of the glass.
- energy efficiency.
- reduced natural daylight levels in a building.
- lower visible light transmittance than tinted
floats
 Has specially-designed coating
Anti-reflective Glass which reflects a very low % of
light.
A maximum transparency and
optical clarity, allowing optimum
viewing

Exteriors: shop fronts and

commercial frontages, glazing
where vision is important,
particularly at night
time(panoramic restaurants, air
traffic control towers, petrol
station windows) etc.

Interiors: high quality picture

framing, display cabinets and
interior display windows, dividing
screens in cinema projection
rooms, television studios,
machine control rooms etc.
Tempered Glass
A safety glass.
Tempered glass is stronger than
annealed glass.
When broken, it shatters into many
small fragments
No jagged or sharp edges - reduce
major injuries.
This phenomenon called ‘dicing’.

This type of glass is intended for glass

facades, sliding doors, building
entrances, shower enclosures, wind
screens, and other uses requiring
superior strength and safety properties.
Tempered Glass

Production
There are two different methods used to produce tempered glass:

• Heat treating:
Where the annealed glass is subjected to a special heat-treatment
If it is cooled rapidly (fast), - 4 times stronger then annealed glass
it breaks into many small fragments (fully-tempered).
If it is cooled slowly, - 2 times as strong as annealed glass
- the fragments of the broken glass are linear & more likely to
remain in the frame.
• Chemical Strengthening:
The glass is covered by a chemical solution which produces a higher mechanical
resistance.
More commonly seen in industries where thin, strong glass is produced
Laminated Glass

Safety Glass feature.

-combination of two or more glass
sheets with one or more inter layers
of plastic or resin.
In case of breakage, the interlayer
holds the fragments together.

This glass is particularly suitable

where it is important to ensure the
resistance of the whole sheet after
breakage such as: shop-fronts,
balconies, stair-railings, roof glazing.
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Laminated Glass

Production
There are two types of laminated glass: PVB (polyvinyl butyral) and resin
laminated glass:

• PVB laminated glass is two or more sheets of glass which are bonded
together with one or more layers (PVB) under heat and pressure to form
a single piece.

• Resins laminated glass is manufactured by pouring liquid resin into the

cavity between two sheets of glass which are held together until the resin
cures.
Note : Laminated glass cracks but holds together.
Laminated Glass
GLASS
Bullet prove glass
 typical laminated tempered

Ordinary Glass easily broken leaving dangerous, dagger-like splinters.

Laminated Glass crazes under severe impact but stay integral.
Tempered Glass requires a harder blow but when broken disintegrates.
Wired Glass A Safety Glass
Wired glass is a product in which a
wire mesh has been inserted during
production.
It has an impact resistance similar to
that of normal glass, but in case of
breakage, the mesh retains the
pieces of glass.
This product is traditionally accepted
as low-cost fire glass.

Production
A steel wire mesh is sandwiched
between two separate ribbons of
semi-molten glass, and then passed
through a pair of metal rollers which
squeeze the "sandwich of glass and
wire" together.
Bent Glass

Bent glass is a normal glass, which

is curved with a special process. It
can be used for external sites, such
as facades, shop fronts, panoramic
lifts etc. and is also commonly used
for internal sites in showcases,
shower doors, refrigerator cabinets
etc.

Production
Bent glass is produced in a
horizontal mould.
The glass is then slowly cooled to
avoid any internal stress.
The mould determines the quality
and angle of the curve.
Sand blasted Glass

A decorative glass.

Spraying sand at high velocities over the

surface of the glass.
This create translucent surface.
The depth and degree of the translucency of
the sand-blasted finishing vary with the
force and type of sand used.

It can be used in numerous interior design

applications in both residential and
commercial settings: doors, shower
screens, partitions and interior screens,
furniture, etc.
Sand-blasting is done by pressure-spraying a fine abrasive onto the glass.
Patterned Glass

A decorative glass.
Patterned glass has texture impressed
transmits only slightly less light, visual
It can be used for a variety of applications:
interior design and decorations, furniture,
windows, street furniture etc.
Glass panels and screens.

Production
Patterned glass is squeezed between two
metal rollers.
The bottom roller is engraved with the
negative of the potter.
Thickness is controlled by adjustment of the
gap between the rollers.
Patterned Glass
Glass Obscuration
Stained Glass

A decorative glass
Coloured glass.
Additive colour resins
creates
pigmentation.
Acts also as a blind
as low percent of
light penetrates.
Stained Glass

by Frank Lloyd Wright

from the Boynton House
Rochester, New York - 1908

Adapted from an art glass skylight designed by Frank Lloyd Wright,

circa 1904, for the reception room of his Oak Park architectural studio.
With an abstract pattern inspired by nature, the skylight is composed
of myriad green and gold rectangles and clear glass.
Mr. Wright lived and worked in Oak Park, Illinois, from 1889 to 1909.
It was here that he created a new form of American architecture
known as the Prairie style.
GLASS
Glazing and energy conservation glass
GLASS – Non-sheet products
Glass block

-casting two half blocks at 1050oC

-joining them together at 800oC
-annealing at 560oC