Technology of glass production.

Glass has been known for several millennia. The first mention of glass associated with the findings found in ancient Egypt 7000 years BC, glass beads and amulets. And the first glass factories began to appear only in the eighteenth century.


Glass is a state located in the frozen liquid. This is - an amorphous substance, which does not possess in the solid state properties of crystalline substances. The main components that make up glass are silica sand (69-74%), ash (12-16%), limestone and dolomite (5-12%) and small percentages some other components. In addition to the basic raw materials can enter various additives, such as coloring the glass in the desired color or to change other properties of the glass.

Technology for producing sheet glass is mainly based on two methods: Fourcault and Float.

In 1902 Emil Fourcault developed a method for drawing windows machine. In this method the glass is pulled from the glass furnace as a continuous strip mill rolls over, goes into the mine cooling, which is cut into individual sheets. Today in Europe Fourcault method is not widely applied, it replaced a more perfect float method.

Float method was developed in 1959 by <Pilkington>. In this process, the glass comes from the furnace melting in a horizontal plane in the form of a flat strip through a bath of molten tin on further cooling and annealing. The advantages of this method in comparison with all previous is:

• a stable thickness of the glass
• quality of the glass surface, which does not require further polishing
• the absence of optical defects in glass
• performance

The largest the size of the glass, as a rule, is 5000-6000 mm x 3210 mm and the thickness of the sheet can be from 2 mm to 25 mm.

The mass of glass produced in recent years significantly increased the proportion of functional (with special properties), and decorative glass. This is due to the fact that ordinary glass, used in architecture, does not meet current demand. At present it to the strict specifications of teplosberezheniya, mechanical strength, the spectral range of the transmitted radiation, etc.

Float-glass method can give some necessary properties on the stage of its production. The range is currently produced by the glass is so broad that it can cause confusion for inexperienced users. Some types of glass produced under their own names. To navigate in this diversity and make the right choice should be clear under what conditions will be operated by one or another glass. For example, the use of tinted glass in the mass, with a transmittance of less than 50% as facing facade glazing is not recommended. As a hot sunny day the panel out of it can be heated to a temperature of 80-90 ° C and above, which creates a large thermal stresses that may lead to the destruction of the panel with all the ensuing consequences. In this case, the use of special hardened reinforced and laminated glass.

In Russia, there is widespread enthusiasm for tinted (having a different color glass) glazing. In this fashion from Europe declined. This is due to many reasons. One of them noted above, the second is that much different from the natural spectral composition of light in negative impacts on human well-being. With a large degree of glazing, the people inside the room, losing all sense of time, and they have worse eyesight.

So, the choice of glass should be determined not only by aesthetic considerations, but also the optical-power characteristics of glazing and its biological effects.

In order to successfully apply modern types of glass used in building, it is necessary to understand what the solar radiation.

Consider the basic components of solar radiation:

1. Ultraviolet rays (wavelength 280-380 nm);
2. Visible light (wavelength 380-780 nm);
3. Short wave (wavelength 780-2480 nm);
4. Long waves (wavelength of 2480 and more).

Light rays are partially reflected glass, partially absorbed and some of them falls into the room, which, actually, there is a glass (Fig. 1). Transmittance of glass from 88% (for the ordinary float glass) to 19% (special).

Direct solar energy (short wave) - is an invisible part of the spectrum, it is also partly reflected in the glass (especially dark-colored), and some of it goes into the room. Solar Factor (SF) consists of a straight-through energy I and the energy absorbed by the glass II, which it passes inside.

Indirect solar energy (long wave) is transmitted in three ways:

• thermal conductivity
• convection
• thermal radiation
• 2/3 of heat loss through the glass is due to thermal radiation and the third by conduction and convection.

 Attaching the glass certain properties (creating different types of glass) can influence the penetration of the premises of a particular type of light energy.

Energy-efficient glass

Other definitions: heat saving glass, Low-E glass, selective glass - a polished float glass, on the surface of which is applied by spraying a special, coated with metal oxide semiconductor or non-ferrous metals. Glass coated with such a reflecting heat waves in the infrared range, which can significantly reduce heat loss from the room. Since the energy-saving glass selectively transmits the waves, it becomes clear one of its less common definition as selective glass.

Parameter characterizing the energy-saving properties of the glass is its emissivity (emission), which is defined as property of the surface reflect the long-wave thermal radiation. For comparison, emissitent surface (E) of an ordinary glass has a numerical value of E = 0.835, while Selective - less than 0.04, indicating that the issue of selective glass on the order of magnitude below the usual glass of emission, hence another name for energy-efficient windows - Low-E glass.

Energy-saving low-E glass coating has a thickness of several tens of nanometers, is no different from ordinary glass visually and absolutely transparent to the human eye. It is currently used two types of low-e coating glass: the so-called K-window - solid surface and I-Glass - soft cover. The first step in the production of energy-efficient glass was the production of C-glass. To make the float-glass, heat-saving properties directly in the manufacture, on its surface by chemical reaction at high temperature, creating a thin layer of metal oxide which is transparent and has electrical conductivity.

The next step in the manufacture of glass was heat-release of I-glasses, which by its heat-saving properties of 1.5 times the K-glass. The difference between the K-glass and i-glass is the coefficient of emissivity, as well as the technology of its receipt. I-glass is produced by vacuum deposition and is a multi-layer structure comprising a thin layer of silver on the surface.

Enameled glass (Stemalit)

Stemalit - enameled glass - a sheet construction material composed of tempered glass with thickness of about 6-12 mm, coated on one side of an opaque ceramic paint (a mixture of pigments containing low-melting glass - fluxes). Various pigments are metal oxides, silicates and aluminates.

Spandrel glass manufactured using the casting, with further polishing or horizontal hire. By varying the composition of the glass, you can vary the color palette of tiles. The surface of the front side can be polished or uzorchatokovannaya. A more economical way of manufacturing stemalita - from ordinary window glass, but it is covered on one side of quality enamel paint and heat-treated to harden the glass and the fixing of paint on its surface.

By the application of spandrel glass are divided: for building facades or walls in the rooms. For each category stemalita must meet certain requirements. For example, a glass decorating the walls should be evenly colored, and must not contain any color of different shades. A stemalit for interior must not contain gaps and patches of color. Enameled glass allow to obtain a homogeneous effect of the facades (glazed with tinted windows and SLR). For lasting stemalita heated in the furnace sheets are intense air quenching. High resistance of glass to mechanical and chemical damage is caused by pigment coating, as when exposed to high temperature paint acquires the structure of glass and at the same time the surface of the vpekaetsya glass.

Stemalit has high physical and mathematical properties, and relates to the safety glass (able to withstand the impact of the metal ball weighing 800g, which fell from a height of 800mm), its strength in bending is 180 MPa and 900 MPa in compression. The material is different decorative, good weather resistance, heat resistance, durability. Colors and opacity of the material provide a wide application in interior decoration, for decorative purposes, the exterior walls of buildings facing the public and industrial use, concealing the floors, walls bearing structures in a variety of architectural projects and upgraded with different glazing systems (examples of various glass products .) Using stemalita can visually align the sections with ceilings and translucent areas uniform facade, while the material is lightweight, which is also one of its advantages. For the interior decoration of public buildings, facing facades of buildings, window sills often use the "Marble" - is another option enameled glass, thick flat glass sheets from black to greenish in color, often with brilliant iridescent specks. Surface marblita most polished, smooth, patterned or corrugated.

Glass laminated glass (laminated glass)

Glass laminated glass, laminated glass (from Lat. triplex - triple) - laminated glass, consisting of several glasses held together a special polymer film or a photocurable composition.

Laminated glass belongs to the category of sound - it is very difficult to break, and even when it is not the destruction of the fragments fly away, staying glued to the film, which prevents injury. In addition to safety glass laminated glass provides high optical transparency, color stability and resistance to scratches. Also, laminated glass has improved sound quality. Typically, triplex glass is made by pressing with heating.

Scope of laminated glass 

• glazed using glass of different classes of protection
• office partitions and windows
• glazed entrances and lobbies of public buildings
• balcony glazing
• railing stairways, lifts and balustrades
• stair treads
• glass floors and ceilings
• bulletproof (bulletproof glass)
• custom designs for bars, windows, wardrobes
• auto glass laminated

Facing the glass

This glass is widely used for the facade and interior of the building. Glass finishing materials are highly decorative (bright colors, shiny surface), a large weather resistance and durability. In addition to the special finishing of glass, as described below, the functions of the finishing material in modern architecture does float glass coated with a film, plate glass, etc.

Glass cladding panels (stemalit) in the form of horizontal structural elements positioned between the rows of windows of multistory buildings. The inner surface of a thick float glass is applied by heating an opaque coating of ceramic enamels of various colors, part of a whole glass. Coverage area is protected by a thin layer of aluminum, applied in a vacuum. Stemalit widely used for lining the walls of public buildings (eg, of CMEA stemalitom faced buildings and hotels in Moscow on Aeroflot).

Marble is a 12 mm thick sheets of colored glass jamming with polished front surface and a grooved back. Glass can be monotonous, but it can also mimic marble, it is used for cladding facades and interiors of public buildings, as well as the device window sills, cap tables, shelves.

Frosted glass. Application.

Frosted glass is produced from a conventional, glass or by sandblasting or using etching the surface of the acid, the result is a great glass ensures privacy while transmits light. There are many practical applications of this process. One of the most common - the bulb. The electric light is more diffused, lighting - soft. Fiberglass windows of opaque glass commonly used in bathrooms to get an opaque bottom sash. This makes it possible to enjoy the sunshine, without sacrificing privacy and still having an unobstructed view. Another application in everyday life - is the sun room and porch, opaque glass can be used to eliminate the need for curtains and blinds to shield you from the nearest neighbors. Frosted glass is often used in the glass ceiling in order to scatter the light and temperature control. Domestic use of frosted glass are legion, just look around, it can be found in lamps, lighting fixtures, chandeliers, coffee tables, shelves, tables, frosted glass just wash, they are not left fingerprints. Sandblasting effect on the doors of the shower will help to create a beautiful look, make a pleasant stay in the bathroom. Matt door in the shower generally perform two functions, they decorate the bathroom and hide the water stains on the doors.

Tempered glass

Recently, more and more often during the repair or construction use tempered glass. After the material has high durability when compared to ordinary glass. Tempered glass is used not only in construction and in furniture and automotive industries.



At the heart of the production of tempered glass is the use of hardening attitudes and patterned glass. Hardening units simultaneously produce and holes in the glass, and cuts, and also handles the edge. The finished profile of tempered glass can not be processed because the material is better not to injure. But proper care of the windows, which are equipped with tempered glass, extend the term of their service.

What is glass?

Glass - is one of the main materials used in construction. Transparent to visible spectrum of electromagnetic waves by a man material, one of the oldest and, thanks to the variety of their properties - in the practice of universal human rights. Physico-chemical - an inorganic substance, solid structure - amorphous. The main components that make up glass are silica sand (69-74%), ash (12-16%), limestone and dolomite (5-12%) and small percentages some other components. More specifically, by the glass-forming substances include oxides: SiO2, B2O3, P2O5, TeO2, GeO2 Fluoride: AlF3, etc.