Whether you have a home or a business, there are many forms of glass available. If you are trying to brainstorm ideas for what to include with your window glass production line, it helps to read to brainstorm ideas.
If you are looking for a brainstorming session, we’ve got seven of the most standard glass types for windows.
#1: Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is a type of glass that is superheated to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. The high heat provides two benefits for your glass:
- When it shatters, it will do so in small and mostly harmless pieces
- It makes the glass more difficult to break, as it is bound together by heat and sudden cooling
Tempered glass has an exterior and an interior with different temperatures. Those different temperatures are bound together.
Tempering is almost part of all modern window construction. You’d be hard-pressed to find a window without some form of tempering.
#2: Annealed Glass
Annealed glass is popular in use for tabletops or cabinet doors. When used as window glass, it’s typically combined with multiple layers of plastic. The layers of plastic classify annealed glass as laminated, making it suitable for basements that require insulation.
Annealed glass is excellent for transferring light, making it one of the most transparent glass types ever. Where it has clarity, it lacks in sturdiness.
You cannot use annealed glass in applications involving safety. Because it tends to be an entire pane of glass, it shatters into large pieces. Large pieces are more likely to cut through people, making them less suitable in many work environments.
#3 Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is popular for use in car windshields due to its ability to contain shattering. Laminated glass has layers of resin. That resin acts as the first layer for the glass, meaning that you’ll see it crack well before it shatters.
If you’ve ever seen a car windshield crack, you know you’ve got some time before that crack spreads. Even then, windshields are more likely to “spiderweb,” as having a sheet of resin land on your head while driving is far safer than shatter glass.
Laminated glass is less robust than tempered glass because it is not made for safety applications. Laminated glass is more likely to be damaged in a self-contained way, so that’s why you see it used in vehicles.
For an extra cost, you can temper your glass before you laminate it.
#4: Low-E Glass
Low emissivity (Low-e) glass is glass specially designed to reduce infrared and ultraviolet light. The prevention of light entering the space works to control the interior temperature.
A characteristic of Low-E glass comes from the obscuring of color between panes. Because of the mild blurring, the color will not be exact to color on the other end. Typically, you will see a greenish tint.
Low-e glass is relatively inexpensive, making them a fairly easy way to reduce cooling costs. However, this type of glass is also known to interfere with cellular communication. Sometimes, taking a phone call inside of a building with Low-E glass can be challenging.
#5: Tinted Glass
Tinted glass adds an element of style to your car. In addition, a window tint works to prevent heat exposure to your car’s interior. However, it does differ from Low-e glass.
Low-E glass is specifically for preventing heat; tinted glass combines privacy and other factors. Still, having a “solar tint” to your windows is one way to reduce heating costs.
Tinted glass is a common point of contention in the automobile industry, as some states have restrictions against some level of tints. Also, tinted glass often co-mingles with other areas. This style can be laminated, tempered, or everything in-between.
Conclusion
Having a general understanding of the glass industry allows you to meet client needs better. Knowing different types of glass commonly used in residential and commercial applications tells you where to start with people.
To get the right machinery for these windows, contact Window Machinery Direct to find how you can make these windows.
