Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that has been through several processes to make it stronger and safer than annealed or untreated glass.
It is made up of two or more glass layers of annealed glass or tempered glass with a thin interlayer (normally polyvinyl butyral) and it's edges are sealed together with a strong transparent adhesive like epoxy resin. The end result is that when broken the shattered pieces of laminated glass holds together by the thin film of plastic layer in between, forming large cubes rather than large jagged shards.
Toughened glass is made through a toughening process by intense heating and then rapid cooling regular glass or tempered glass very quickly. When toughened glass breaks it shatters into small pieces with no sharp edges, making it much safer than standard comfort glass or double glazing.Laminated glass can be produced in clear or tinted shades, and is often used for sound proofing, automotive windows, car windscreen, shower doors, shop windows and the glazing bars in high security prison windows due to its strength when compared with ordinary glass. Laminated glass is only slightly more difficult to cut through than untreated clear glass when using a handheld cutter blade.
Toughened security or safety glass, when broken, shatters into small bicubic shaped pieces. Because of this highly practical safety feature, it is often used in public buildings because it absorbs the shock of the glass shattering unlike ordinary glass or any other safety glass. If made to certain thicknesses toughened glass can be virtually unbreakable. Toughened glass can even withstand high temperature changes up to 243 degrees Celsius.
Both laminated glass and toughened glass have their own unique properties.
Laminated glass and toughened glass are two separate types of safety glass, both laminated glass and toughened glass have their own unique benefits. Additionally, the manufacture of tempered glass differs from laminate glass too, in the sense that tempered glass is only made of a single glass sheet.
One of the core differences in the usage of toughened glass and laminated glass is that laminated glass is normally used for automotive windows, shower screens and the glazing bars in high security prison windows, although it is also available for shopfront window installation.
Toughened vs laminated glass, can be identified by conducting a "hot point test". Simply rub a candle over the surface of the glass and if the area that has been touched becomes frosted then this is toughened (tempered glass) safety glass.
There are three main types of laminated safety glass built using three different lamination or manufacturing process - PVC, EVA and SGP. The processes used to make this safety glass will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Manufactured by compressing and heating the lamination material in-between the two glass sheets of regular glass, PVC laminated glass is a extremely strong and has excellent resistance to mechanical shock. When subjected to high temperatures it also becomes softer, allowing it to expand more readily than ordinary laminated glass when heated by warm air or sunshine, making it easier for installers to handle without risk of breakage. This type of safety glass can be produced with either low iron (LIG) or high iron (HIG) PVB interlayers depending on durability requirements. EVA or ethylene vinyl acetate laminated glass is made with a clear polyvinyl butyral (PVB) plastic interlayer. PVB is easy to handle and fits together well during installation, which makes it a popular choice for use in commercial glazing applications. EVA also has very good light transmission properties as well as being flexible and durable. This type of safety glass stays intact where the laminated pane will be exposed to wide fluctuations in temperature or high winds that can cause catastrophic failure if toughened glass or any normal glass is used. SGP or silver-grey PVC laminated glass has a grey tinted interlayer with a neutral appearance, giving it a "silver" coloured finish when installed. It offers similar physical properties to PVC but with better transparency, allowing more natural sunlight into buildings while still providing safety from impact and severe weather conditions. This type of safety glass is ideal for use in commercial glazing applications where the impact performance of toughened glass would be too strong but the aesthetics of ordinary glass is not required.
LIG and HIG refer to PVB laminated glass that is made with an interlayer of either low iron or high iron PVB. LIG is generally considered to be the more thermally efficient and the stronger glass of the two types of laminated glass, however it usually has a lower impact resistance, which means it has a higher risk of breakage when impacted by small stones.
HIG or high impact glass has a higher breakage resistance when impacting small stones, stray balls and other flying objects due to its thicker interlayer. It also provides better insulation than LIG, reducing heat loss in your home during winter months. An added benefit of HIG safety glass is that less UV rays pass through the glass into your home, making it easier for you to maintain a comfortable temperature. This type of safety glass is often used in areas where the risk of breakage from small stones and other debris is higher, such as roadside applications. Perspex is often used as a substitute.Laminated (safety) glass provides protection against shattering greatly reducing chances of an injury caused by falling glass, which can occur if it is subjected to an impact or heat source such as fire. Other than that, laminated glass leaves no holes behind for thieves and intruders to enter through. In such instances of collision, standard glass or even a tempered glass breaks into tiny pieces.
This type of laminated glass also has excellent insulating properties which reduces your home's energy usage and cost during winter months while also offering far superior UV resistance and sound reduction properties than any other glass type.
The large surface area on all glass sheets of the glazing gives you extra strength and resistance to high winds and impacts, making it great for use on commercial applications like shopfronts and windows facing busy roadways where there is potential for damage caused by collisions with larger objects in case a glass breaks. Laminated glass are also very easy to clean and maintain as long as they are installed properly.
Moreover, different usages and types of laminated glass include: solar control laminated glass, bullet resistance glass, blast resistance glass, heat resistance glass, fire resistance glass. Thermal efficiency is a huge benefit of glazing your glass, which you can find out more about on the YourHome website.