GLASS

Building Material and Construction- III

HISTORIC BACKGROUND OF GLASS
Naturally occurring glass, especially the volcanic glass obsidian, has been used by
many Stone Age societies across the globe for the production of sharp cutting tools and,
due to its limited source areas, was extensively traded.

But in general, archaeological evidence suggests that the first true glass was made in
coastal north Syria, Mesopotamia or Ancient Egypt.
APPLICATIONS
Glass is an innovative
material that has plenty of
applications.

It is an essential
component of numerous
products that we use
every day, most often
without noticing it.
 GLASS
A hard, brittle substance, typically transparent or translucent, made by fusing sand with
soda and lime achieved upon cooling rapidly.
PROPERTIES OF GLASS
Glass ?
➢ Amorphous
➢ Brittle
➢ Good Electrical Insulater
➢ Unaffected by Air, Water, Acid or Chemical reagents
➢ Can be Transparent
➢ High Compressive Strength
➢ Can Absorb, Transmit and Reflect Light
➢ Durable
PROPERTIES AND TYPES OF GLASS
The different varieties of glass all have
their own attributes and uses. However,
there are essentially three properties of
glass that are most important in
determining their uses.
There are types of glass made for:
They all differ a bit.
Changes in their manufacturing processes can result in
increased strength, color changes, and even safer ways of
breaking.

Strength ✓Security
✓Aesthetics
Transparency ✓Privacy
U Value ✓Insulation purposes
 TYPES OF GLASS
1. Float Glass
• The most familiar type of glass is soda-lime
glass, or window glass.
• Most common and least expensive type of
glass.
• It is composed of about 75% silicon
dioxide (SiO2), sodium oxide (Na2O) from
soda ash, lime (CaO) and other compounds.
• Silicate glass generally has the property of
being transparent.
2. Annealed Glass
▪ Annealed glass is essentially float glass that has
gone through the annealing process.
▪ This process involves slowly cooling float
glass with blasts of cold air on one side.
▪ This prevents imperfections and internal
stresses, allowing for extremely clear glass. It’s
ideal for cutting and shaping.
3.Tinted Glass
The glass used for windows in
buildings, homes, and cars, while
offering the advantage of letting
light in, often compromises the
privacy that the occupants desire,
and can also let in more than the
desired amount of heat. Tinted
glass, however, provides an easy
solution to these problems.
By the 14th-century, architects were designing buildings with
walls of stained glass. Stained glass had a major role in Gothic
Revival architecture in the 19th-century
With the Renaissance, and a change in
architectural style, the use of large stained
glass windows became less prevalent. The
use of domestic stained glass increased
until it was general for every substantial
house to have glass windows.

In the 20th-century, new types of glass such as

laminated glass, reinforced glass and glass panels
have increased the use of glass as a building
material and resulted in new applications of glass.
Multi-storey buildings are frequently constructed
with curtain walls made almost entirely of glass.
Similarly, laminated glass has been widely applied
to vehicles for windscreens.
Function of tinted glass
➢ Tinted glass saves energy
and reduces heat
penetration into buildings
➢ It gives a striking visual
effect. Coloured glass is an
important architectural
element for the exterior
appearance of facades.
Characteristics of tinted glass
Advantages Disadvantages
 Privacy  Less effective at night
 Low Temperature  Colder in winter
 Lower energy bills  Financial investment
Most widly use of tinted glass is in vehicles to avoid direct
glare from the source.
4. Glass blocks
Glass block or glass bricks are
manufactured from two different
halves and they are pressed and
annealed together while melting
process of glass. These are used as
architectural purpose in the
construction of walls, skylights
etc. They provide aesthetic
appearance when light is passed
through it.
RESTAURANT BAN RUN, THAILAND
5. High-Strength Glass
• Heat-strengthened glass is similar to tempered glass,
with a heating and cooling process used to increase the
glass’s strength.
• However, heat-strengthened glass is cooled more
slowly, reducing the amount of tension within the
glass.
• This makes the glass up to twice as strong as float or
annealed glass but it maintains a similar break pattern,
meaning they break into larger shards of glass that
typically stay in the frame.
• Heat-strengthened glass is popular in high-temperature
environments where thermal stresses may affect float
or annealed glass.
6. Tempered Glass
• Tempered glass, also known as toughened
glass, is designed to be strong and also break
into smaller, safer pieces than float or annealed
glass.
• Manufacturers start with a basic float or
annealed glass, heat it to roughly 1200 degrees
Fahrenheit, and then cool the surface quickly
while allowing the interior of the pane to cool
slowly.
Characteristics of Tempered Safety Glass
 This creates internal tension and
external compression, improving the
sheet’s strength up to four times.
 Tempered Glass is 4 - 5 times
stronger than the standard glass. It
cannot be easily broken.
 If hit very hard, it breaks into small
fragments, which minimize the
chances of major injuries.
 Tempered glass is safer for
earthquake prone area.
Characteristics of Tempered Safety Glass
 Use of steel grills in windows obstruct
outside view. Tempered glass is an excellent
solution to this problem.
 Steel grill can be easily cut by an intruder
whereas tempered safety glass cannot be cut.
 If an intruder tries to break tempered glass it
would create an explosion type of noise
thereby alerting the residents.
7. Laminated Glass
• Laminated glass is a type of glass made
from two or more sheets of annealed glass
with a thin layer of translucent material
between them.
• The double layers and the film also make
these panels much stronger and less likely
to break.
• For this reason, laminated glass is also
commonly known as safety glass.
8. Low-Emissivity Glass
 Low-e glass stands for low emissivity glass.
This glass varies from normal clear glass in that
one side of the glass has a special metal coating,
technically known as a low emissitivity, or Low
E. coating.
 Low-E glass is a type of insulating glass, which
increases the energy efficiency of windows by
reducing the transfer of heat or cold through
glass. That means in the winter your house stays
warmer, and in the summer it stays cooler.
Characteristics of low-e glass:
 Low-e Glass stop the ultravoilet rays.
 It enhance the visible Light to get in the space.
 Infrared light or heat energy, is transmitted as heat into a building, Low-e Glass stop the heat
and keep the space comfortable.
9. Energy Saving Double Glazed Glass or Insulated Glazed Units
 Energy is becoming more and more expensive.
Double glazing provides an excellent solution to keep
your building cool in summers and warm in winters.
 It also ensures that noise level remains low.
Functionality
Double glazing is essentially two layers of glass
placed together in a window frame and sealed
with special chemicals which are imported form
Germany/Italy.
Between both layers of glass, a space exists,
therefore reducing heat transfer through glass.

When glass panes are placed together, they are

known as double glazed units of glass. The glass
has thermal and acoustic properties, allowing it
to form an excellent source of insulation whilst
simultaneously allowing the light to enter your
home and office.
 SPACER BETWEEN THE GLASS
 The two glass panes are separated
by a small segment that allows the
air between the two panes to be
sealed. When a space exists, heat
will not travel and disperse - this is
how double glazed windows
prevent the home from becoming
too cold.
 The spacers themselves are made
from non-conductive materials to
prevent heat escaping from the
window.
CHARACTERISTICS OF DOUBLE GLAZED GLASS

 Improved Energy Efficiency and Comfort

 Reduction in Energy Bills
 Increased Security
 Reduced Noise Transmission
It’s Done!