Tempered glass is about four times stronger than ordinary glass. And unlike annealed glass, which can shatter into jagged shards when broken, tempered glass fractures into small, relatively harmless pieces. As a result, the inside remains in a state of tension, while the outside goes into a state of compression. These competing forces are what make tempered glass so much stronger than annealed glass.
What is Tempered Glass?
Manufactured through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling, tempered glass is much harder than standard glass. Regular, annealed glass undergoes a thermal tempering process that increases its strength and changes its composition to shatter differently.
In a furnace, the glass is heated to a temperature of more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit before being rapidly cooled with high-pressure air blasts. Due to this, the glass’s exterior layers cool much more quickly than its interior layers, which causes the interior to cool and separate from the outer layers.
Who Invented Tempered Glassware?
The Duralex factory in France invented the tempering process for glassware and its Picardie range of glassware sets is the top seller among tempered lines. It’s used in restaurants, cafes, and bars worldwide and also sold in retail sets for home use.
The picardie glasses come in a range of different colours, as well as sizes.
What Are Some Advantages of Tempered Glass?
It’s safer
The fact that tempered glass was created with safety in mind gives it a significant benefit over annealed or regular glass. Tempered glass shatters into tiny, relatively safe granular fragments as opposed to annealed glass, which shatters into big, deadly shards.
It’s tougher
Tempered glass is produced using a thermal tempering technique that significantly increases its strength compared to regular glass. Strong gusts, direct hits and bumps, and small explosions cannot break tempered glass.
It’s heat-resistant
The maximum temperature that tempered glass can withstand is 470 degrees Fahrenheit. Tempered glass is perfect for use in kitchen appliances and in rooms like the bathroom because of this quality, where it will likely be exposed to heat frequently.
It’s crystal clear
Despite tempered glass being extremely robust, its clarity is unaffected. Tempered glass works well in windows, glass doors, and exhibition cases because it is transparent and optically clear.
It doesn’t scratch easily
Tempered glass is made with a manufacturing process that also makes it scratch-resistant. This makes tempered glass the perfect material for windows in passenger cars, kitchen appliances, and screen protectors for smartphones.
So there you have it. If you’re looking for glass that will last a lifetime, look no further than tempered glassware.