Glass is a hard usually transparent material that is chemically inert, brittle, hard and has widespread practical, technological, and decorative usage in, i.e. window panes, tableware, optoelectronics.
Glass is a most
astounding building material.
A
typical piece of 6mm-thick clear float glass is 87 percent transparent to
visible light and yet strong enough to fulfill a number of building roles that
provide protection, security and comfort.
Chemical Resistance
Glass will
resist most acids with the exception of hydrofluoric, and at high temperatures
phosphoric acid. Alkalis will attack the surface of unprotected glass.
Weight
Glass can be
deceptively heavy even in relatively small physical sizes. Glass has a density
of 2,500 kilograms per cubic meter, making it approximately 2.5 times heavier
than the equivalent volume of water and heavier for its size than many other
building materials.
Strength
Glass is a
strong building material with greater capacity to resist compression than
stretching or sudden impact.
Conductivity
Glass is
generally a poor conductor of electricity, with volume electrical resistivity
of 310,000,000,000 Ωm. Glass is a better conductor of heat.
Light
Transmission
Clear glass is
not completely transparent, a 6mm-thick pc. of clear float glass will capture
around 13-percent of light within the visible spectrum, allowing 87% of the
visible light to pass through it.
Temperature
Performance
Glass is
created at high temperature and will return to liquid form if heated
sufficiently. This can be a problem for fire-resistance. Glass products made
for fire protection are enhanced with the addition of substrates, laminates and
other technologies to maintain rigidity at high temperature.
Other Physical
Properties
Other measures
include elasticity, resonating frequencies, dielectric constant and a range of
other performance properties required for complex engineering and construction
purposes.
Types of Glass
Clear Sheet Glass
This is drawn
vertically from a tank of molten glass. How fast its drawn determines the
thickness. It is used for ordinary glazing as well as better and special
quality products i.e. for doors of cupboards, pictures.
Polished Plate
Glass
This is a roughcast
glass that is ground and polished to produce an undistorted finish. It is used
for general glazing, high-class work and silvering for mirrors. The thick types
of this class may also be used for load bearing functions such as shelves and
tabletops.
Float Glass
Molten glass is
floated on a bed of molten tin, which gives a very flat undistorted finish.
Wired Polished
Plate
This has a wire
mesh incorporated within it. If the glass breaks the wire holds it together. It
has some fire resisting qualities.
Tempered Glass
This is made by
heating and suddenly cooling the glass. It tempers the glass giving a more
flexible, impact resistant glass. It is used for doors, balustrades etc.
Laminated Glass
This is two or more
layers of glass usually with a plastic film between, which the glass adheres to
if broken. It is used in various grades and thickness, from safety in high
impact areas, to anti-bandit types of glass that may resist intentional attack
such as gunfire or hammer impact.
Patterned Glass
This refers to
translucent glass that has linear or geometric patterns embossed
usually on one and sometimes both sides.
Tinted Glass.
The glass is
semi-coloured to absorb solar radiation / reduce glare and to reduce
heat build up. Bronze, grey or blue / green in colour, it reduces
light transmission.
Reflective Glass.
A transparent metal
coating is applied to the surface of the glass to reduce the amount
of solar energy passing through it.
Insulating Glass. Two layers of glass are separated by a hermetically sealed
airspace to provide thermal insulation and restrict condensation.
Citations:
Citations:
Website:
Glass (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. Retrived
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glass
(Merriam-Websters,1828)
Glass (2016). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 1, 2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass
(Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 2016)
Glass(n.d.) Retrieved July 1,2016 from http://prointeriordesigner.com/construction/glass/
(Dezine Holding Ltd., 2016)
Physical Properties of Glass (2011) Retrieved July 1,2016
from https://glasstalks.com/2011/03/16/physicalproperties/
(Wordpress.com,2016)
Photos:
A Reception Desk Made by Stacking Layers of Glass [online image]. Retrieved Jul 1, 2016 from http://www.designrulz.com/design/2015/01/reception-desk-made-stacking-layers-glass/ (DesignRulz, 2016)
Ramon Todo [online image]. Retrieved Jul 1, 2016 from http://blog.littlepaperplanes.com/ramon-todo/ (Nayeli Nava,2014)
Taking Time [online image]. Retrieved March 05, 2016 from http://brokenliquid.com/taking-time (Ben Young 2016)
Photos:
A Reception Desk Made by Stacking Layers of Glass [online image]. Retrieved Jul 1, 2016 from http://www.designrulz.com/design/2015/01/reception-desk-made-stacking-layers-glass/ (DesignRulz, 2016)
Ramon Todo [online image]. Retrieved Jul 1, 2016 from http://blog.littlepaperplanes.com/ramon-todo/ (Nayeli Nava,2014)
Taking Time [online image]. Retrieved March 05, 2016 from http://brokenliquid.com/taking-time (Ben Young 2016)
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