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What are the differences between tempered glass and regular glass?

Tempered glass and regular glass are two common types of glass, with significant differences in physical properties, safety performance, and application fields. Understanding these differences helps us better select and use suitable glass materials for specific needs.

1. Manufacturing Process

Regular Glass:

1. Regular glass (also known as float glass) is produced by cooling molten glass poured into molds. This process is relatively simple and low-cost.

2. During float glass production, the molten glass floats on a bed of molten tin and cools, forming a uniformly smooth surface.

Tempered Glass:

• Tempered glass is made by specially processing regular glass. The specific steps include:

  1. Cutting and Edging: First, regular glass is cut to the required size and the edges are ground to remove sharp corners.

  2. Heating: The glass is heated to near its softening point (approximately 600-700°C).

  3. Rapid Quenching: The glass surface is rapidly cooled using high-pressure cold air, causing the surface to harden quickly while the interior remains relatively hot. This uneven cooling creates compressive stress on the surface and tensile stress inside.

  4. Annealing: Finally, annealing treatment is performed to relieve internal stresses and stabilize the glass.

2. Physical Properties

Regular Glass:

1. Strength: Low impact resistance and flexural strength; breaks easily.

2. Thermal Stability: Poor thermal stability; prone to cracking due to temperature changes.

3. Hardness: Relatively low hardness; easily scratched.

Tempered Glass:

1. Strength: Impact resistance and flexural strength are 4-5 times higher than regular glass; can withstand greater external force.

2. Thermal Stability: Good thermal stability; can withstand significant temperature changes without cracking easily.

3. Hardness: Higher surface hardness; more scratch-resistant.

3. Safety Performance

Regular Glass:

1. Breakage Pattern: Breaks into sharp, jagged shards that can cause serious injury.

2. Safety: Lower safety due to the dangerous nature of the broken fragments.

Tempered Glass:

1. Breakage Pattern: When subjected to severe impact, it shatters into countless small, granular fragments instead of large, sharp pieces, significantly reducing the risk of injury.

2. Safety: Far higher safety performance than regular glass; widely used in applications requiring high safety, such as car windshields and building curtain walls.

4. Application Fields

Regular Glass:

1. Household Items: Windows, mirrors, decorative items.

2. Furniture: Table tops, cabinet doors.

3. Artwork: Glass crafts, lamps.

Tempered Glass:

1. Construction Industry: Curtain walls for high-rise buildings, stair railings, elevator doors.

2. Automotive Industry: Car windshields, side windows.

3. Home Appliance Industry: Microwave oven doors, oven doors.

4. Sports Facilities: Basketball court backboards, swimming pool fences.

5. Public Facilities: Protective panels beside escalators, public phone booths.

5. Cost

Regular Glass:

• Lower production cost; relatively cheaper.

Tempered Glass:

• More complex production process; higher cost and relatively higher price.

Conclusion

Tempered glass and regular glass each have their characteristics and suitable applications. Regular glass is appropriate for general household and decorative purposes, while tempered glass, due to its high strength, superior safety, and good thermal stability, is widely used in many scenarios requiring high safety and durability. Choosing the right type of glass ensures functional needs are met while enhancing safety and service life.