Difference Between Tempered Glass And Laminated Glass

Living in the 21st century, one of our major concerns is the safety of our homes and buildings. Now large windows and Glass walls look aesthetically pleasing, but they are also a security concern for our homes.

This security concern has led to the formation of many types of safety glass products to prevent forced entry and accidents. Tempered and laminated glass are two popular safety glasses.

But what are these? And how are these made? Let’s find out in this article.

How Is Safety Glass Made?

Safety glass is manufactured by different techniques depending upon its intended use. It receives different treatment from normal glass to refine its strength and durability for certain purposes.

Tempered Glass:

Standard glass goes through a series of toughening to become stronger glass. Tempered glass is made during this process. The process includes heating, high-pressure and chemical treatment, etc., to give glass its strength.

The glass sheets are heated at sufficiently high temperatures followed by rapid cooling, which makes glass pretty much resilient and strong. This process is called tempering.

The quick cooling makes the outer layer of glass hardens quickly, giving tensile stress to the center, which gives the tempered glass its strength.

Laminated Glass:

Laminated glass is made by fusing layers of glass over each other and bonding them with layers of adhesive resins.

Most commonly, Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) is used as the adhesive. This fusion takes place under heat and pressure, which makes it compact and unbreakable. The glass is then heated to get rid of the air pockets and then melted to mold into the desired shape of the product.

The strength of the product can be increased by adding more layers of glass and resin. The resin layer in laminated glass makes it stretchable and holds it together in case of impact.

Laminated Glass Vs. Tempered Glass:

Aside from the manufacturing process, laminated and tempered glass differ in many aspects, such as:

Strength:

Though both are types of safety glass, they have their unique strengths, which differ considerably from each other. Where laminated glass doesn’t shatter even after being hit by a bullet, tempered glass can resist considerable force.

The layering in laminated glass makes it 100 times stiffer and five times stronger than standard glass, whereas the strength of tempered glass is due to its elongated exposure to heat and pressure during its manufacturing. Tempered glass is four times stronger than annealed glass.

Breakage:

Safety glass is meant to resist breakage. They can't be completely immune to breakage, but they are designed in a way that they cause minimum damage on breaking.

Now tempered glass can break into tiny pieces on impact, but these pieces have blunt edges, which cause less damage. This property makes it significantly more durable than standard glass, which shatters to form sharp-edged pieces that are more harmful.

However, sometimes tempered glass takes the shape of a web-like pattern instead of shattering. This can't be repaired, but it at least keeps the glass from breaking. The high-stress impact disturbs the balanced stresses in glass which results in its shattering.

On the other hand, laminated glass does not shatter on impact. The broken pieces stick to the resin instead of falling out of the frame making it more stretchable.

The extra layer of PVB among the glass panes results in a stronger hold in case of impact. It can even withstand the impact of rocks and metal pieces. Unlike tempered glass, laminated glass with slight impact damage can be repaired with a special clear adhesive resin layer.

Cost:

Due to the complex manufacturing process and raw materials, laminated glass has a significantly high cost than tampered glass. The use of resin, heat, and pressure treatment makes it pricier.

Tampered glass is also costly as compared to standard glass but still less expensive than laminated glass.

Where To Install Them?

Laminated Glass:

• Laminated glass is most commonly used in automobile windshields. It is because it does not shatter into small pieces in case of an accident which lowers the damage.

• It is also effectively used in buildings that are prone to natural disasters. Laminated glass being hard to break will give time to inhabitants for escaping the building. The glass does not shatter, which makes it safer for people to move outside.

• Being UV and weather-resistant, it is used in outdoor canopies allowing natural light and making them look spacious. It blocks almost 97% of UV rays.

• Windows and doors of shops are made of laminated glass as shops are more vulnerable to break-ins and robberies.

• It is used to make skylights. They have to be strong even in extreme weather conditions, and laminated glass gives them strength and resistance.

• Protective cases in museums, art galleries, etc., are also made of laminated glass.

• It is used in soundproof rooms as it reduces the transmission of high-frequency sounds.

Tempered Glass:

• It is used in automobile rear windows and passenger seat windows.

• It is commonly found in home applications such as; in bathroom areas, shower doors, refrigerator shelves, coffee tables, etc.

• It is used in skyscrapers because of its high tensile strength and wind resistance.

• Monitors and mobile screens also use tempered glass.

Which One Do You Need?

As discussed earlier, tempered glass and laminated glass have different uses, so there are situations where one is preferable over the other. In general;

If your main focus is security, laminated glass is the best option for you. Especially for commercial use, laminated glass provides the best protection. Although it is stronger than tampered glass due to its cost, it is not that common in residential construction.

For a safer interior, tempered glass can be your choice. Being easier to clean and cheaper, it is perfect for applications inside the home. Tempered glass cannot be cut after tempering, so make sure the sizing is completed before installing it.

Overall, tempered and laminated glass are both types of safety glass and have their own benefits. You must consider properties like strength, cost, and area of installment before choosing the safety glass.