No matter where it is applied, always spruce up space with magic. Yes, talking about the glass. Glass has peculiar intrinsic and physical properties that make it stand out in the most of its counterparts. Glass is a semi-solid and amorphous material that is basically made up of sand and its particles. The common and tested method of glass manufacturing is melting down the raw materials which are of course silicon’s of sand, and then cooling down the molten liquid rapidly. In this way the heated substance atoms are haphazardly merged from here to there, by rapidly cooling them they set down at the same random positions. And we get glass sheets.
But things are not done yet, a lot of options are still available to do in glass physically. Other than sand several powdered mixtures and raw items can be added into the melting amalgam. Thus, ultimately these different things combine in different ratios work wonders together and make solid and clear glass sheets. These compositions can be colorants, setting agents, networkers and other substances like calcium, sodium and trapped particles of oxygen. These all things define the ultimate physical characteristics of formed glass sheets, that how much tough and how much strong the sheets will be.
Some common properties of Glass
- Clear and transparent
- Eco-friendly and natural-looking substance
- Provides Safety
- Pollution-free
- Corrosion-free
- Give expensive looks
- Insulated sheets
- Give illusionary effects
- Make places more aesthetic and dreamy
Flat glass – double glazing glass
Flat glass is those clear glass sheets that are produced from the very first process of floating. It is clear and unified type of glass and is used to make the base or double sheets of many other glass types. It can be customized or designed by going through multiple processes. Flat glass sheets are also called ordinary glass sheets.
Uses: Flat glass or clear glass is used everywhere like see around you. The base material of almost many surfaces windscreens, protective glass covers, window replacement sheets, bus stop glass sheets, bus windows, electronic appliances doors and much more.
Perk: easily available and easy to manufacture, transparent and clear.
Drawbacks: These sheets when are shattered convert into large harmful pieces that can cause human fleshing easily.
Toughened Glass – Tempered Glass
Toughened glass has many names in the market like tempered glass, annealed glass, and safety glass. These special types of glass sheets are made just by another manufacturing process. Some chemical substance ratios is just changed little, but the other procedure is the same. First of all silicon particles are molten down with other substances added into them. After that cooling process is a bit changed because all the physical properties of tempered glass sheets depend upon this cooling tie and environment. Instead of rapidly cooling these molten liquid s cooled down slowly at normal temperature. This way randomly scattered sand particles can set down at some normal position, equally distanced from each other and firmly cohesive. These properties will make these sheets enough hard and annealed.
Uses: Glass shower doors, tables tops, Safety walls, office partitions
Perks: Thick and hard, Not easy to shatter, if break then converts itself into harmless tiny pieces which cannot explode any human harm.
Drawbacks: Costly and custom made, not easy to cut.
Laminated or Safety Glass
Another type of safety glass sheet is laminated glass sheets. Have not you seen a clear and shiny but stout and sturdy glass wall around the fancy shopping mall shops? These shops have all the walls made up of clear and unbreakable glass sheets. These sheets are called laminated glass sheets.
Uses: Clear safety walls and compartments, usually outdoor shops
Perks: Unbreakable and shatter-free glass sheets, no one can break into these sheets
Drawbacks: No further customization available, require just expert installations
Sandblasted or Frosted glass sheets
One of the amazing glass types is sandblasted and frosted glass sheets. These sheets are made of clear glass sheets but further, they are treated with chemicals and acids so that they can be frosted. Other than this frosting process of making them opaque, another technique can be used. This second technique is to use sand for blasting the upper surface of this glass. These sheets when applied in home, office or in some commercial place sparkle the sleek and uniqueness.
Uses: for making privacy walls, for making private and unclear walls around the office compartment or home apartment.
Perks: Utmost
privacy can be achieved by using frosted glass sheets just.
Drawbacks: thick and hard but still
vulnerable to be shattered when pressure applied.
Patterned – Textured Glass
There is no boundary at which glass cannot have its impact. Texturing and patterns have been there a part of interior designing therefore, glass is also a competitor in patterns. Patterned glass sheets were highly encouraged in mid-century but these sheets have not their charm till yet. Beautiful and alluring patterns on glass sheets can be used anywhere at home. From making glass shower doors to kitchen doors.
Uses: Used in
making of expensive and beautiful articles and doors.
Perks: Have beautiful patterns and
transparency.
Drawbacks: Are slightly thin sheets as compared to other sheets types, vulnerable to be shattered if continuous stress is applied.
Mirrored Glass
Glass sheets never disappoint us whenever we think of using them in any unique way. Mirrored glass sheets are another glass sheet forms that allow you to have somewhat reflections through it. Used as in shopping malls or cinemas or in bars. These sheets give two benefits at the same time. One is that these are glass sheets and second is they are mirrored glass sheets.
Uses: used in the making of reflective glass walls
Perks: clear and reflective sheets, used as walls and window panels
Drawbacks: costly and needs a high level of maintenance
Summary
Other than these types of glass forms, glass sheets can be glazed or painted with some UV rays protective coverings. And also glass sheets can be made colorful and tinted you can have a visit to your nearby glass shop for previewing them.