Tempered Glass

Tempered glass is one of two kinds of safety glass regularly used in applications in what standard glass could pose a potential danger. Tempered glass is four to five times stronger than standard glass and does not break into sharp shards when it fails. Tempered glass is manufactured through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling, making it harder than normal glass.

Laminated Glass & Bulletproof Glass

Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that holds together when shattered. In the event of breaking, it is held in place by an inter-layer, typically of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), between its two or more layers of glass. The inter-layer keeps the layers of glass bonded even when broken, and its high strength prevents the glass from breaking up into sharp pieces. This produces a characteristic “spider web” cracking pattern when the impact is not enough to completely pierce the glass.

Low-E Glass

Low-emissivity (Low-E) glass has a thin coating, often of metal, on the glass within its airspace that reflects thermal radiation or inhibits its emission reducing heat transfer through the glass. A basic low-e coating allows solar radiation to pass through into a room. Thus, the coating helps to reduce heat loss but allows the room to be warmed by direct sunshine. The low-e coating is usually on the surface.

Insulating Glass

A transparent construction of glass, hermetically conjoined along a contoured spacer frame so as to form one or two separate chambers which are filled with dried air or inert gas.

Insulating Glass w/ Argon Gas

Argon, a safe, odorless, non-toxic gas which is 40% denser than air, significantly slows down the transference of heat and cold from pane to pane. The Argon can be upgraded to Krypton, which is 96% denser than air, to provide considerably more insulation value and significantly reduce heat transfer as well as energy bills.

The air-filled windows and argon-filled windows look exactly the same. It is also important to note that argon gas is nontoxic. As such, a cracked or broken argon window is just as harmless as an air-filled window.

Laminated Glass w/ Eva or Pvb Film

Newer developments have increased the thermoplastic family for the lamination of glass. Beside PVB, important thermoplastic glass lamination materials today are EVA.

The advantages of EVA film are:

  • high tensile strength
  • excellent transparency
  • outstanding adhesion
  • UV protection
  • sound barrier
  • good temperature withstanding
  • water proof
  • high wind resistance
  • humidity durable
  • long-term reliable

Colored Glass

The glass is made by addition of coloring ions, colored inclusions, light scattering dichroic coatings or colored coatings.