What Is Tempered Glass, and How Is It Made?

 

 

 

Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that’s commonly used in commercial and residential applications, ranging from car windows and computer screens to home windows and patio doors. Unlike standard glass that can easily shatter into a thousand pieces, tempered glass is made using a thermal process that provides heat resistance and durability, making it safer for use in hundreds of different applications.

How Is Tempered Glass Made?

A sun room with tempered windows

The thermal process used to make tempered glass allows it to be up to six times stronger than normal glass. In order to give it that strength, tempered glass goes through a treatment that rapidly heats it before cooling it off; it must be cut into shape first to avoid breakage. Once it’s cut into shape for whatever the application may be, the glass is examined for tiny cracks or bubbles. If any are detected, the piece must be re-cut, as even the smallest defects in the glass put the piece at greater risk for breakage.

Once the inspection is complete, the edges are gently sanded to make them smooth and even, and then the glass is washed to get rid of dirt or glass particles. Once cleaned and dried, the glass is rapidly warmed to a very high temperature, usually over 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. Then the material is blasted with high-pressure air to rapidly cool the outside, leaving the inner core hot and pliable, resulting in a strong, durable piece of glass.

What Are the Advantages of Using Tempered Glass?

While normal glass does have its uses, tempered glass is ideal for use in residential construction because it’s very safe, even if it shatters. Because it’s so durable and only breaks into round pieces instead of razor-sharp shards, it can be used for shower doors, windows, mirrors, doors, and more. Tempered glass can withstand major temperature changes, making it an excellent construction material for homes in Missouri, with the cold winters and long, hot summers. Its durability means it can’t easily be cut or broken, but tempered glass still maintains the same characteristics of normal glass, like light transmission and solar radiant heat properties. Tempered glass is so flexible that it also has thousands of commercial uses, such as in stairways and escalators, screen protectors, and microwaves. Even those panels separating the ice from the spectators at hockey arenas are made from tempered glass, so it’s easy to see how strong the material is!

Whether you’re looking for new glass patio doors or pattern glass for shelves and cabinets, Santa Fe Glass can help you get the look you’ve imagined. Call us today at (816) 254-5515 to learn more.