Laminating vs. Tempering

Both tempered and laminated glass are stronger than standard glass.

Remodeling or building a home creates a tremendous number of options for the builder in terms of the types of fixtures to use. There are two main treatments in glass remodeling for items such as doors, windows and skylights — laminating and tempering. Make sure you know which treatment you want to use before the project begins.

Definitions

Tempered glass has been heated to extremely high temperatures so that the crystals actually come closer together to create a "foggy" appearance. According to federal regulations, tempered glass has a surface compression of 10,000 pounds per square inch. On the other hand, laminated glass is made with two layers of glass and sealed with a resin called polyvinyl butyral. Laminated glass is safer and stronger than tempered glass and offers better protection against theft and cracks.

Tempered Glass Uses

Tempered glass is not as strong as laminated glass and is easier to break. However, engineers, architects and interior designers still use tempered glass for their products in cars and buildings. When it does break, it tends to crack into small, relatively harmless pieces. It is often used as safety glass because it is less likely than traditional glass to break into large shards that can cut people.

Laminated Glass Uses

Laminated glass is used to prevent sound or wind from entering a building. Its reinforced layer helps keep unwanted noise out of a home or office. Laminated glass is used in doors, windows, partitions and other interior spaces. Glass can also be laminated in a way to perfectly sound-proof a room.

Production

Tempered glass is first sized and cut. Then it is placed into a tempering oven and heated to 620 degrees Celsius. The outer surfaces of the glass cools more quickly than the center does, which gives the glass additional strength. Laminated glass is produced by heating to about 600 degrees. A layer of PVB is then added before another layer of heated glass is placed on top to complete the production.

References

• Fastglass.com: Laminated and Tempered
• Auto Glass University: The Role of Auto Glass
• Scientific American; How is Tempered Glass Made?; January 2001