In the design of building facades and commercial spaces, the choice of glass is crucial because it is not only about beauty, but also closely related to safety.
Tempered glass is popular for its safety and durability, but how can we quickly distinguish tempered glass from ordinary glass? Let’s take a look.
Between Tempered Vs Non Tempered Glass
- Production process
- Tempered glass is made by processing ordinary glass through a series of special treatment processes such as heating and rapid cooling. This treatment process creates compressive stress on the surface of the glass, thereby enhancing its strength and impact resistance.
- Non-tempered glass does not receive similar treatment, so its strength and impact resistance are weaker.
- Different performance
- Tempered glass has higher strength and safety performance than non-tempered glass. It can withstand greater pressure and impact, and even when it breaks, it will not form sharp fragments, but will become smaller particles after breaking. Such particles will not hurt the human body, thereby improving the safety of use.
- Non-tempered glass often breaks into sharp fragments when the impact force is large, posing a certain safety threat to the human body.
- Application field
- Tempered glass has high strength and good safety, so it is widely used in the fields of construction and vehicles. For example, the walls, windows and glass curtain walls of high-rise buildings, the front and rear windshields of cars, etc. are all made of tempered glass.
- Non-tempered glass is relatively fragile and not suitable for environments that withstand large forces and compression. It is usually used in lightweight fields such as home decoration.
Tempered glass vs non-tempered glass Performance:
Different health properties:
- When tempered glass is damaged by external force, the fragments will become small obtuse-angled particles similar to honeycombs, which greatly reduces the harm to the human body.
- When non-tempered glass is damaged, the fragments will not become small obtuse-angled particles similar to honeycombs, which are easy to harm the human body.
Impact strength:
- Tempered glass Tempered glass has high impact strength. The impact strength of tempered glass of the same thickness is 3 to 5 times that of ordinary glass.
- Non-tempered glass has high impact strength, which is lower than tempered glass.
Indicates thermal stability:
- Tempered glass: Tempered glass has good thermal stability and can withstand a temperature difference that is 3 times that of ordinary glass, and can withstand a temperature difference of 300.
- Non-tempered glass: The temperature difference it withstands is lower than that of tempered glass, and can withstand a temperature difference of 100.
Cost of Tempered Glass Vs Non Tempered
Tempered Glass:
Cost per Square Foot: The cost of tempered glass typically ranges from $5 to $40 per square foot, depending on the thickness, size, and any additional treatments or coatings.
Factors Affecting Cost:
Thickness: Thicker tempered glass is more expensive. For example, a 1/4-inch thick tempered glass costs between $12 and $15 per square foot, while a 3/8-inch thick tempered glass costs between $15 and $20 per square foot.
Size: Larger pieces of tempered glass cost more due to the increased material and manufacturing time.
Customization: Custom shapes, sizes, and surface treatments (such as low-E coatings) can add to the cost.Custom shapes, sizes, and surface treatments (such as low-E coatings)Custom shapes, sizes,
Non-Tempered Glass:
Cost per Square Foot: The cost of non-tempered glass typically ranges from $2 to $16 per square foot, depending on the thickness and size.
Factors Affecting Cost:
Thickness: Thicker non-tempered glass is more expensive. For example, a 3mm thick non-tempered glass costs between $2 and $4 per square foot, while a 12mm thick non-tempered glass costs between $8 and $12 per square foot.
Size: Larger pieces of non-tempered glass cost more due to the increased material and manufacturing time.
Differentiate Between Tempered Vs Non Tempered Glass
Transparency
After high temperature and rapid cooling, tempered glass will form a tiny compressive stress layer on the surface, which affects the refraction of light.
When you observe tempered glass from different angles, its light transmittance is different. The light transmittance of ordinary glass is relatively uniform.
Temperature change
There is compressive stress inside tempered glass. When used in an environment with a large temperature difference, its indoor temperature change is not as obvious as that of ordinary glass.
The thermal expansion coefficient of tempered glass is relatively low, and it is relatively less sensitive to temperature changes, which also determines its good thermal insulation and heat insulation performance.
Check the edges and corners
During the production and processing of tempered glass, special treatment will be performed on the edges and corners to reduce stress concentration. Its edges are usually smoother and rounder than ordinary glass. When distinguishing, you can observe carefully and find subtle differences.
Identification of knocking sound
The internal structure of tempered glass is relatively tight. When it is knocked gently, it will make a relatively crisp sound. No matter how thick the glass is, the sound will be relatively crisp; while the sound of ordinary glass will be relatively dull.
Identification logo
Regular tempered glass manufacturers will print the words “tempered” or “TEMPERED” with permanent ink on the corners or edges of the glass to distinguish them.
Some will also have the manufacturer’s logo, while ordinary glass usually does not have such a logo. An important basis for distinguishing the authenticity of tempered glass.
Shattered shape
Due to its special structure, if tempered glass is accidentally broken, it will only form small particles and will not cause harm to the human body; while ordinary glass will show large pieces of sharp glass fragments after breaking, which can easily cause injuries if you are not careful.
Conclusion
Tempered glass is more expensive than non-tempered glass due to its enhanced manufacturing process, safety features, and durability. While the initial cost is higher, the long-term benefits of tempered glass often make it a worthwhile investment.
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