Toughened glass is a unique product, so it's no wonder Googlers have questions. Get the answers here.
Toughened glass is a versatile product prized for its safety, strength, heat resistance and easy maintenance. It can be used for everything from furniture to car windows and from office partitions to kitchen splashbacks.
Its key selling point is that it's super-safe. This is a direct result of the manufacturing process. The glass is heated in the furnace and then rapidly cooled. This changes the molecular composition of the glass, meaning that when it breaks it shatters into harmless smithereens.
At ToughGlaze, we believe that an informed customer is a happy customer. That's why we've put together this guide to what toughened glass can and can't do.
These questions are based on the most commonly asked queries on Google in the UK. We hope it helps you in your quest for the right materials.
1. Can toughened glass be cut to size?
The answer is "yes and no". Like standard and annealed glass, toughened glass can be manufactured to meet your exact requirements.
However, this cutting to size needs to be done
before the toughening process. If you try to cut toughened glass once it's out of the furnace and cooled, it will shatter.
2. Can toughened glass crack?
Toughened glass is up to six times stronger than regular glass. However, it can still crack when subjected to enough pressure.
The difference from annealed glass is that when toughened glass breaks, it shatters into lots of small, relatively harmless pieces that are easy to clear up. This is one reason why it's classified as safety glass.
3. Can you cut toughened glass with a grinder?
No. The toughening process means the glass will shatter if you try to cut it with a grinder or any other tool. This is why toughened glass should be cut before the toughening process.
4. Can toughened glass break on its own?
On rare occasions, toughened glass can break on its own. This could be because of thermal shock or because of inclusions that are present in the glass – most commonly nickel sulfide.
These inclusions are a byproduct of the manufacturing process – tiny pebbles inside the glass that can expand over time and lead to breakage.
If you're worried about
nickel sulfide inclusions, you can ask your processor to
heat soak test the glass.
5. Can toughened glass be recycled?
Toughened glass can't be widely recycled like regular glass – though some clever eco-firms are working on ways to do it at scale.
It can, however, be sold on or repurposed. Sometimes, waste management services will take toughened glass off your hands.
6. Can toughened glass be drilled?
No, for the same reason that it can't be cut after manufacturing. If you drill a sheet of toughened glass, it will break into smithereens. This is why you need to ensure your glass processor knows your requirements before the glass is cut.
7. Can toughened glass be curved?
Yes. Toughened glass can be heated to its softening point, bent into a curve and then rapidly cooled. It can then be used for windows, shower enclosures, skylights, balustrades and more.
However, toughened glass can only be bent to a single radius and has the same breakage pattern when curved and straight. This means it's not ideal for structural features that are vulnerable to vandalism or extreme weather.
8. Can toughened glass be ground?
Toughened glass can't be ground after it's been manufactured. That said, you can sand and polish any scratches on the glass and grind the edges.
9. Can toughened glass be sandblasted?
Sandblasting is a decorative process whereby glass is blasted with sand to create a frosted texture. It can be used to apply designs, logos, text and other patterns onto glass.
At ToughGlaze, we provide all kinds of sandblasting, from frosted privacy glass to logo-embossed panels. Interested? Check out TG SB, our
glass sandblasting solution.
10. Can toughened glass break due to heat?
Yes, toughened glass can break due to heat or "thermal stress", as it's known. But it's more resistant to thermal stress than other kinds of glass and won't be broken by day-to-day temperatures.
Thermal stress has to be taken into account when installing glass high up on a building. If it breaks, it has to do so in a way that's safe for passersby. Building Regulations document K specifies the areas of a building where safety glass is required.
11. Can toughened glass be frosted?
Yes, toughened glass can be frosted. It can be
sandblasted, etched with acid or sprayed with frosted glass spray paint.
Frosted glass can be used for increased privacy, aesthetic charm, or both. The frost effect can cover the whole of a sheet of glass or pick out designs such as shapes and text.
11. Can toughened glass just shatter?
Occasionally, the news will run a horror story that a pane of toughened glass has spontaneously shattered. It's a rare occurrence that's most commonly caused by
nickel sulfide inclusions.
These are small pebble-like inclusions in glass that can grow bigger over time and eventually lead to breakage.
It's impossible to completely rule out the chance of nickel sulfide inclusions in toughened glass. However, some processors offer
heat soak testing. This involves checking sheets of toughened glass for inclusions and throwing away faulty products.
12. Can toughened glass be etched?
Yes, toughened glass can be etched, either with acid or
sandblasting. It's important to say that a lot of skill is required to execute this job safely. Done badly, the toughened glass could shatter, leaving you with an expensive mess to clean up.
13. Can you use toughened glass for aquariums?
Yes, toughened glass can be used in the construction of aquariums, although it's not recommended as it can be vulnerable to explosion under water pressure. The thickness of the glass will depend on the water volume of the tank.
13. Can toughened glass be laminated?
Yes, toughened glass can be
laminated. This involves sandwiching a PVB or EVA interlayer between two panes of toughened glass. This can be used for applications such as balustrades, balconies and walk-on floors.
Are you looking for high-quality
toughened glass, cut to size? Don't hesitate to
get in touch with ToughGlaze for a quick, competitive quote.
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