Laminated glass is an excellent alternative to ordinary glass, offering a tough, strong and unbreakable structure. Laminated glass is suitable for a wide range of uses and is an increasingly popular material. If you are considering adding glass to your home or business, you should consider installing laminated glass in its place. If you are unsure what laminated glass is or are unaware of its benefits, Northglass can help. Here we have put together this guide to how laminated glass is made, the benefits and when to use laminated glass panels.
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This article will focus on how laminated glass is made, its benefits as well as its uses.
6.38mm Clear Laminated Glass
How is laminated glass made?
Laminated glass is made by bonding two or more layers of glass together with a flexible PVB laminate. This is achieved through a process of heating and pressure, where chemical bonds formed between the glass and the PVB interlayer not only join them, but also 'bond' them together to form a completely new material.
What are the benefits of laminated glass?
The robustness and thickness of laminated glass provides a number of benefits.
Reduced emissions: Low-e glass helps to reduce the amount of heat gained from the sun, thus reducing the frequency of air conditioning use and reducing emissions.
Reduced noise pollution: Installing a thick piece of laminated glass causes noise waves to break as they pass through the material, helping to reduce noise pollution.
Laminated Glass
Increased safety: As the glass does not shatter when broken, the risk of someone being cut or injured by shards of glass is reduced.
Resistant to natural disasters: In the event of a natural disaster or changeable weather, laminated glass will remain within its frame, reducing the risk of accidents and making life-threatening situations safer.
More design options: Laminated glass is available in a wide range of colours, tints or shades and can be manufactured in straight or curved shapes for greater versatility.
19mm Low Iron Toughened Laminated Glass
What are the uses of laminated glass?
The most common use of laminated glass is in car windscreens. This is because laminated glass is not only much stronger than normal annealed glass and does not break easily, but on the rare occasions that it does break, it does not shatter into sharp pieces, but the glass fragments stick together in a spider web pattern, thus reducing the chance of serious injury.
Laminated glass is a good choice for use in buildings when providing protection against disasters such as fire or earthquakes. Laminated glass is more fire resistant than normal glass, meaning that the building's occupants can escape the time it takes to be shattered. During an earthquake, the glass will not immediately shatter and fall off the frame, making it safer for people to pass through windows and walk outside. This application of laminated glass extends to residential and commercial spaces.
Shop windows and doors are often made of laminated glass to hold in the event of an attempted break-in, as shops are particularly vulnerable to robbery. For the same reason, laminated glass windows and doors are even installed in house construction.
3 Layer Laminated Hurricane Resistant Glass
Its resistance to temperature changes makes it a good candidate for the construction of skylights. Skylights made of laminated glass will not break and fall even in extreme weather conditions such as hail. Other structural applications of laminated glass can be found in the manufacture of glass balustrades, curtain walls, glass facades, glass roofs, etc.
Balcony railings are often constructed with laminated glass because of its impact resistance and aesthetic appeal. In addition, the glass does not obstruct the view to the outside, even for small children.
Today, more and more people are opting for "infinity pools" or infinity pools, which give the illusion that water is flowing over their edges. These pools are often constructed using laminated glass because it is shatterproof and resistant to high pressure.
Glass Railing
For safety reasons, laminated glass is used as a protective cover in jewellery shops, art galleries, aquariums, banks, currency exchange centres, showrooms and other places where valuable items are stored. In addition, laminated glass can also be used to enhance the visual appeal of a space, as it is available in a wide range of colours.
Looking for a reliable laminated glass solution?
Northglass laminated glass variants are designed to provide security for your home or office and allow you to live a peaceful life without the distraction of outside noise, especially if you live in a bustling city.
At Northglass, we pride ourselves on providing the most reliable glazing solutions for homes, offices, shops, cars or any other use. For more information and consultation, contact us here!
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When builders need strong glass windows, doors, walls, and skylights, they commonly turn to laminated glass.
It adds protection from breakage and injury, provides enhanced security against intruders, holds up against natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, is energy-efficient, and is customizable.
With its wide range of advantages over traditional window glazing, custom laminated glass has become an increasingly popular choice among architects and property owners alike.
What is Laminated Glass?
Laminated glass (LG) is something of a misnomer since &#;laminated&#; implies the glass has a layer of laminate on its surface. However, that&#;s actually &#;glass lamination.&#;
A more fitting term is &#;laminate glass.&#; Instead of a layer of laminate, it&#;s similar to laminate flooring and made up of layers &#; two or more panes of glass with a clear (typically vinyl) interlayer holding them together.
Because it&#;s bonded to an interlayer, laminated glass holds together strongly against impacts, much more so than regular single-pane glass. When it breaks, it forms a spider web pattern out from the point of impact. The shards tend to remain bonded to the interlayer, posing less risk of injury. These features alone make LG a desired choice for many applications.
In addition to its safety benefits, LG provides:
- Enhanced security against break-ins
- Protection from UV rays
- Reduced heat transfer
- Energy efficiency
- Sound dampening
How is Laminated Glass Made?
Laminated glass was accidentally discovered in by the French chemist Édouard Bénédictus when he dropped a glass flask coated on the inside with dried plastic. The flask shattered, but the glass was held together by the plastic coating.
Today, LG is made by bonding glass sheets to clear interlayers. In most cases, the middle layer is polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin, but sometimes it&#;s ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) depending on the glass&#;s specified end-use.
EVA film is preferred for exterior applications since it is hydrophobic and resists water damage. It lasts longer than PVB and does not delaminate. For acoustic laminated glass, a special PVB layer is infused. However, because sound dampening is inherent to the final product, EVA and TPU are also acceptable binding layers.
During manufacturing, glass panes are first cleaned to remove any dirt/debris and then layered like a glass sandwich:
- The first pane of glass is placed on rollers.
- Resin is applied.
- The second glass pane is layered on top.
- The piece is sent through an infrared oven to soften the resin; and then
- Roller-squeezed to push out air bubbles and form better adhesion between the panes. In this stage, the resin is visible between the glass panes.
- Then the laminated panels are put in an autoclave oven and baked at a low temperature with high pressure &#; removing moisture and finalizing the bond between the glass panes and resin.
- Laminated glass panels are removed from the autoclave and technicians scrape off any excess resin squeezed out from between the panes.
- The laminated glass panels are now clear and placed on a conveyor line for inspection.
In an alternate method used by custom laminated glass manufacturers who need their pieces to be exactly the same (in stair railings, for instance), a vacuum oven is preferred over an autoclave.
The glass and resin &#;sandwich&#; is placed horizontally in a special vacuum oven. Inside, a bag seals around the glass pieces and creates a vacuum.
Between the heat of the oven and the vacuum, the interlayer is heated and air bubbles are pressure-squeezed out.
This method is preferred by manufacturers who need to fabricate the glass and temper it before laminating it.
Fabricators cut custom laminated glass panels to size and polish their edges based on customer specifications. Since most vendors keep LG in stock, it&#;s a quick answer for projects needing safety glass.
To create finished pieces that fit your vision and your project space, laminated glass can be fabricated with:
- Edgework &#; Removing sharp sides, while improving and accenting a piece&#;s appearance. Edgework can also meet safety, performance, and cleanliness needs and aids in chip prevention.
- Cutouts &#; Adding speak holes or pass-throughs, in partitions, for instance, to allow as little interference as possible while conducting business.
- Shaping &#; Using CNC machines, water jets, and drill presses, glass is cut to traditional geometric shapes as well as arches, gables, and decorative shapes.
- V-grooving &#; Similar to chiseling, intricate designs are cut into the glass surface to add interest and increase reflectivity.
Laminated Glass Uses & Applications
You&#;re likely to see laminated safety glass anywhere there&#;s a need for increased security, energy efficiency, and soundproofing.
Custom laminated glass uses include:
- Automotive glass
- Storefronts
- Skylights
- Sliding doors
- Glass railings
- Display cases
- Shower enclosures
- Soundproof booths
- Bulletproof glass
Many ask, is laminated glass safety glass?
The answer &#; yes, it is.
Laminated security glass windows and doors withstand break-in attempts longer than regular glass. Laminated glass storefronts and skylights withstand impacts from hail and tree branches, and LG walls, partitions, and stair railings stand up to the everyday wear and tear of public use while beautifying spaces.
LG is a great choice for storefronts, too, combining safety and security with soundproofing to block noises from busy streets, and UV resistance to keep merchandise in better condition, eliminating sun-bleaching.
Additionally, custom laminated glass pieces may be designed for aesthetics by incorporating a variety of tints or opaque materials such as plastic film between the glass layers &#; including logos, gradients, photos, and art.
Depending on your geographic location, it may be required to have laminated glass per safety codes. (For example, anything close to the coast must be either tempered-laminated or hurricane-resistant laminated glass.)
Custom Laminated Glass Costs
On average, custom laminated glass costs two to four times more than regular glass, depending on the size, type, and thickness of the laminate.
The laminated interlayer can add up to 5% to the cost of the window, while thicker laminates such as triple glazing can cost even more. In addition to the cost of the laminate itself, installation also typically adds additional expense since it requires special equipment and expert technicians.
In comparison to other security glasses, like:
- Polycarbonates & acrylics
- Insulated glass units
- Tempered glass
Custom laminated safety glass may be more expensive.
Despite its higher cost compared to other types of windows, laminated glass provides exceptional safety benefits that are worth the extra cost. It&#;s an investment with a high rate of return. Consider it as insurance &#; it may never be used, but when it&#;s needed it goes a long way to prevent damage or theft.
Resource: Commercial Glass Company Sketch and Template Requirements
Why Choose Custom Laminated Glass?
From commercial applications to residential projects, laminated glass provides
- Safety
- Security
- Soundproofing
- Sun protection
Used for both form and function, it&#;s the preferred choice for architects and homeowners alike.
A durable and dependable commercial glass, LG provides performance benefits and peace of mind.
What&#;s Your Next Laminated Glass Project?
We&#;re ready to help you bring your next glass project to life, and we can tell you whether laminated glass fits your needs. Contact us today to find out more:
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