Glass Building Materials and Types

Glass Building Material

• Glass is made from a mixture of silica, sodium potassium carbonate, lime or lead oxide, and manganese oxide.
• Glass is a transparent or translucent, hard material that can be molded into any shape.
• Glass is often used in construction for its aesthetic and practical advantages, such as its transparency, ability to transmit light, and durability.

Types Of Glass Used In Construction

• Sheet or Flat Glass is made by passing molten glass through rollers to create a flat finish. It is commonly used in greenhouses and other applications where visual distortion is not a concern.
• Float Glass is made by floating molten glass on a bed of molten tin, creating a flat, clear, and distortion-free glass. It is commonly used for windows, shop fronts, and in public places.
• Laminated Glass is made of layers of ordinary glass bonded by a transparent, flexible material. It is typically used for bridges, stairs, aquariums, and canopies.
• Shatterproof Glass is made by adding a plastic polyvinyl butyral resin to prevent it from shattering into sharp pieces. It is commonly used in windows, floors, and skylights.
• Energy-efficient Glass is produced by glazing float glass with a special thin coating on one side, allowing solar energy to pass through in only one direction.
• Wired Glass contains a wire mesh embedded within the glass, providing fire resistance.
• Tinted Glass is colored to reduce glare and heat gain.
• Toughened Glass is strengthened by heat treatment, making it more impact resistant than regular glass.
• Chromatic Glass is a type of glass that can control the transparency of glass, protecting the interior from daylight, and can be photochromic (light sensitive), thermos-chromatic (heat sensitive), or electrochromic (electrically controlled).
• Glass Blocks are two halves of glass pressed and annealed together during the melting process, creating a solid glass structure.
• Glass Wool consists of glass fibers and is used as an insulating filler.

Properties of Glass

• Transparency: Allows light to pass through it, making objects behind the glass visible.
• Workability and Recycle Property: Can be molded into various shapes and is 100% recyclable.
• Strength: Although generally brittle, its strength can be enhanced by adding admixtures and laminates.
• Transmittance: Refers to the amount of visible light that passes through the glass.
• U Value: Represents the amount of heat transferred through the glass, with insulated glass units having a low U value.

Advantages of Glass

• Transparency: Allows natural light to enter buildings, reducing energy consumption and providing visual connection to the outside world.
• Dust-proof and Waterproof: Its smooth surface makes it easy to clean and resistant to water damage.
• Color Availability: Available in a wide range of colors, and can be combined in laminated or insulated units to create unique visual effects.
• Aesthetically Appealing: Adds beauty and sophistication to buildings.
• Recyclable: Can be recycled repeatedly without compromising quality or purity, saving energy and resources.
• UV Stable: Resists damage from ultraviolet radiation.
• Weather and Rust resistant: Resists corrosion and weathering, retaining its appearance and integrity over time.
• Easily Molded: Can be easily molded into various shapes, allowing for versatile designs.
• Insulator of Electricity: Does not readily conduct electricity, providing protection from electrical hazards.

Disadvantages of Glass

• Cost Is High: The energy-intensive manufacturing process makes it an expensive material.
• Brittleness: Can break easily under stress, producing sharp shards that can cause injury.
• Impact Resistant Is Low: Can break under impact loads.
• Corrosion Due To Alkali Solution: Can be affected by alkali solutions, leading to surface corrosion.
• Unsafe for Earthquake-prone Areas: Its brittleness makes it unsuitable for buildings in earthquake-prone areas.
• Maintenance Cost Is High: Requires regular cleaning to maintain its appearance and clarity.