GLASS AS A BUILDING MATERIAL

AKHIL KUMAR . NISCHALA . AKSHOBYA . AMRUTA G G . ANVITHI NH . AVISI . MANMITHA . HITESH KUMAR
 WHAT IS GLASS ?
It is an inorganic solid material that is usually transparent or translucent .

▪ The varieties of glass differ widely in chemical compositions and physical

properties .

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

• TRANSPARENCY • HIGH COST

• AESTHETICALLY APPEALING • BRITTLENESS

• UV STABLE • MAINTENANCE

• DUSTPROOF AND WATERPROOF • GLARE

• COLOUR AVAILABILITY • IMPACT RESISTANT

 PROPERTIES OF GLASS :
• Solid and hard material
• Disordered and amorphous structure
• Fragile and easily breakable
• Transparent to visible light
• High compressive strength
• Good electric insulator
Types of glasses
• Plate glass
• Tinted glass
• Wired glass
• Shatterproof glass
• Toughened glass
• Decorative glass
• Float glass
• Chromatic glass
• Etching glass
• Laminated glass
• Glass blocks
 MANUFACTURING PROCESS

STEPS FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF GLASS:

1. MELTING
2. SHAPING AND FORMING
3. ANNEALING
4. FINISHING
 RAW MATERIALS
1. Sand: Forms Acidic Part Of Glass
2. Soda Ash: Forms Basic Part Of Glass
3. Sodium Nitrate: Accelerates Melting
4. Cao: Forms The Basic Part Of Glass.
5. Silica: Forms Acidic Part Of Glass.
6. Barium Sulphate: Remove Impurities In The Form Of Scum.
7. Feldspar: Retards De-vitrification.
8. Potassium Oxide: Used As A Softening Agent.
9. Borax: Increase Hardness Or Refractive Index.
10.Boric Oxide: Improves Chemical Or Corrosive Resistivity.
11.Hosphoric Oxide: To Impart Bright Appearance.
12.Ead Oxide: Increases Insulation.
13.Selenimum: Used As Decolorizer.
FLOW CHART OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS
▪ MELTING : According to type of glass the raw materials are selected
and reduced in size by crushing and grinding. Then subjected to melting in
furnace .
POT FURNACE TANK FURNACE
• Raw materials are melted into pot
furnace made of ceramic materials of 1- • Raw materials are melted into regenerative
tank furnace of 1350-1400 tons.
2 tons .
• Used for production of small batches. • Used for production of large scale .
• Different types of glasses can be • Only one type of glass can be manufactured .
manufactured at a time .
 FURNACE

REGENERATION
• Waste gases are utilized for heating
incoming fuel gas and air .
• Direction of passages of outgoing waste gas
and incoming fuel gas are changed .
RECUPERATION
• Waste gases are utilized for heating
furnace
• Direction of passages of outgoing waste gas
and incoming fuel gas is in the same direction .

1)Raw materials mixed in proper proportions and cullets added.

2)Heating is done by burning producer gas and air .
SHAPING AND FORMING:
• Glass may be shaped by machine or hand molding.
• By machine molding the article is expected to complete in very few seconds.
• In short span glass changes from viscous liquid to clear solid.
• Problems like flow of heat , stability of metals , clearance of bearings are solved .

ANNEALING :
• When glass cools from the forming range to room temperature , thermal stresses
develop that adversely affect strength properties.
• Annealing is done to eliminate this stress.
• Involves heating the glass to annealing range, holding it there for a period of time,
and then cooling it slowly to room temperature.
FINISHING :
All types of annealed glass must undergo certain finishing operations, which are
simple and important. These include:
• Cleaning.
• Grinding.
• Polishing.
• Cutting.
• Sandblasting.
• Grading etc.
Although these are not required for every glass object, one or more is almost
necessary.
 Construction A Medical technology
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 Plate glass
• Plate glass is a type of glass , initially produced in plane form,
commonly used for windows , glass doors, transparent walls, and
windscreens.
• Thickness 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and 12mm thick.
Manufacturing process:
The molten glass is conveyed onto a bath of a molten metal, such as tin. The high
temperature of the molten metal smooths out any irregularities on the surface, making a flat,
even sheet. As the glass floats on top of the bath, the temperature of the molten metal is
gradually reduced until the glass solidifies.
 Tinted glass
Glass that has been treated to produce a tint to the glass, reducing the emission of heat
from the sun as well as adding privacy due to the decrease in visual clarity.
Tinted glass is made by adding Color pigment to Raw materials in plate glass. The standard
colors are blue, green, Grey, Bronze.
The primary uses for tinted glass are reducing glare from the bright outdoors and reducing
the amount of solar energy transmitted through the glass.
Wired Glass
Wired glass, which is also known as Georgian wired glass, was invented by Frank Shuman. Steel wire mesh is placed in
the glass during the manufacturing process. The wire mesh acts as a reinforcement. If the glass breaks due to impact,
the pieces of glass are held by wire reinforcement in position.
Wired glass has high resistance to fire as it does not break when exposed to fire. Due to such property, it is also
called fire-rated glass or fireproof glass. Thus in areas which are prone to fire, people prefer to install wire glass
windows rather than float glass windows. The wire mesh is available in square grids as well as diamond grids.

Size
Wired& Thickness:
glass is available in thickness ranging from 6 mm to 19 mm. The
standard size of glass sheets is 1370 mm x 1370 mm. The maximum
size of wired glass sheet available is 1981 mm x 2540 mm.

Pros/Advantages
•Wired glass blocks of
fireWired Glass:
for some time. This provides people sufficient time to
escape from the building and thus it helps in preventing life damage in case of fire
emergencies.
•Wired glass can break through impact, but the fragments of glass stick to the
wire mesh .
•It has high resistance to thermal and electric shock .
•Wired glass is less expensive as compared to other safety glass such as
laminated glass, so it is used as a cheaper fire-rated glass or cheaper safety
glass.
•Wired glass can also be used in the form of tinted glass and patterned glass.
Hence it can also impart decorative aesthetic to the windows.
Cons/Disadvantages of Wired
•The wired glass is notGlass:
impact resistance and makes it more susceptible to breaking.
•Upon breakage, the sharp wires in the glass are exposed, which may serious injuries to persons in the vicinity of
the glass.
•If a clear view is desired, wired glass cannot be used as wires in the glass obstructs and distorts the view.
•Wired glass does not have high durability in areas which are exposed to more rain and humidity, as the wire in
the glass will rust eventually.

Application/Uses:
•It is widely used in places where nominal fire resistance properties are required.
•Wired glass is used in windows and partitions of schools, institutions, public buildings, government offices, hotels, etc.
•Wired glass is generally installed in windows of fire escape routes of the structure, to gain time for evacuating people in
case of fire emergencies.
•Windows in stairwells and in hallways are prime examples of emergency exits where fire rated wire glass is a smart addition.
•It is used in roofs, skylights, fire resisting doors and windows.

Indian Glass Fibre Products – Manufacturer in Bangalore

Wired Glass at Rs 42/square feet
Shatterproof Glass
The term can be a bit misleading because what people are usually referring to when they say “shatterproof” is laminated safety and security
glass. This type of glass is not actually unbreakable as you might have been led to believe, but it is very shatter-resistant. If this type of
security glass does break, it will hold the shards from your glass doors and windows in place and prevent the glass from shattering
dangerously inwards.

Size & Thickness:

Thickness 12 mm
Brand Crystal Glass
Material Glass
Size 51-200mm Diameter

Application/Uses:
• Increased Security
Burglars often break windows or doors to intrude on your property. To safeguard your home and to add another layer of security, opt
for laminated glass. The strength of laminated glass can resist intrusion and can make it almost impossible for any unauthorised person to
break in. Even if an unauthorised person manages to break in, the interlayer will hold up the strength of the structure so that the gap is
extremely difficult to widen. Moreover, since laminated glass pieces do not break and shatter unlike ordinary glass but stick to the PVB
interlayer, this makes it very difficult for intruders to break in.
• Noise Insulation
Laminated glass has proven itself to be an excellent barrier to noise. Installing laminated glass can prevent external sounds from intruding and
provides a 90% sound reduction. When compared to normal 5mm glass, AIS Glass’s range of laminated glass called AIS Acoustic glass
provides an extra 50-60% sound reduction. The noise cancellation feature becomes extremely important, especially if your house or
workplace is near the main street, traffic signal, airports, or an area with night clubs and pubs.
 • Solar-Energy Control
Even though natural light sounds good, too much sunlight can also mean too much heat. Laminated glass can be used in combination
with low-E glass or tinted glass to reduce heat gain. Reduced heat gain will subsequently lead to low usage of air-conditioners. This
low usage will ultimately lower your energy consumption and bring down your energy bills.
• Better Protection
Laminated glass is also resistant to dirt, debris, and other harmful environmental elements. When paired with UV-absorbing additives
in the interlayer, laminated glass can also protect the interiors of your property from harmful UV rays. UV rays are not only harmful
to your health, but are also a major cause of damage and fading of furnishings, rugs, and pictures in your house or office, so
protection from UV rays is important.

Pros/Advantages :
1. Increases Safety During Unexpected Accidents
2. Protects Against Force
3. Reduces Sound Transmission
4. Lowers Energy Costs
5. Prevents Damage During Extreme Weather Events
6. Doesn’t Detract from Appearance or Visibility
7. Provides UV Protection

Cons/Disadvantages :
• Expensive - laminated auto glass windows are lot more expensive than regular windows. The manufacturing process is more in
depth, and the glass requires multiple layers of material, unlike regular glass. Depending on your income, there is a good
possibility that if you need replacement windows, you will only be able to replace a couple at a time if you use laminated auto
glass.
• Less manufacturers - There are much fewer companies who manufacture laminated auto glass than regular glass, so you might have
a hard time finding the right company. You might actually have to wait several weeks, or even months before they can be made for
you.
SGC International Inc. – Manufacturers
You can find the website for SGC International Inc. here, and as far as laminated glass, as well as architectural
glass goes, SGC International have been in the business for around 30 years. They're located not just in North
America, but in Asia as well, and they supply various types of glass for various uses, such as laminated glass,
silkscreened glass, tempered glass, fireproof glass etc. With an excellent reputation

Laminated Glass
₹ 200-300/ Square Feet
Toughened Glass
Toughened glass is compressed and tempered with heat and cold during production, giving it much greater strength and
shatter-resistance compared to normal float glass. Toughened glass is ideal for use in many different applications, from
shower screens and glass homeware to touchscreens and high-rise apartment windows.

Size & Thickness:

•Available in 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 19 mm thickness
•Maximum Size:- 2950 X 6000 mm (Greater Noida Unit) & 3500 X 5000 mm (Mumbai
Unit).
•Minimum Size:- 220 mm diagonal(Greater Noida Unit) & 280 mm diagonal (Mumbai Unit)

Application/Uses:
1. As a transparent partition
2. Exterior facades
3. Skylights
4. Glass doors
All frameless doors should be fabricated out of toughened glass.
• Sliding glass doors
• Shower cubicle
5. Double- or triple-glazed windows
6. Glass handrails
7. Wardrobes
8. Kitchen backsplash
9. Glass shelves
 Pros/Advantages :
• Toughened glass is extremely tough and hard. These glasses reduce the risk of injury and damage in care of
disaster or calamity
• It is a very lightweight glass which reduces the load of building
• Ravishing variations of toughened glass provide a very rich and elegant look to the buildings
• Frosted and laminated glasses used for housing projects enrich the interior as never before
• It facilitates natural light into the homes and buildings while providing a soothing sensation
• Toughened glasses are UR resistant, prevent heat absorption and are highly energy efficient

Cons/Disadvantages :

• Toughened glass must be cut to size or pressed to shape before toughening and cannot be re-worked once toughened.
• Polishing the edges or drilling holes in the glass is carried out before the toughening process starts.
• The glass is most susceptible to breakage due to damage to the edge of the glass where the tensile stress is the
greatest, but shattering can also occur in the event of a hard impact in the middle of the glass pane or if the impact is
concentrated.
• Using toughened glass can pose a security risk in some situations because of the tendency of the glass to shatter
completely upon hard impact rather than leaving shards in the window frame.

Glass
Clear toughened glass
Laminated toughened glass
Frosted toughened glass
Tinted toughened glass
Reflective toughened glass
Decorative toughened glass
Price
100/sqft – 500/sqft
200/sqft – 700/sqft
200/sqft – 800/sqft
150/sqft – 700/sqft
200/sqft – 800/sqft
100/sqft – 500/sqft
Toughglass India pvt ltd – Manufacturers
 DECORATIVE GLASS
Also called as ornamental glass, that is used for more than just a
functional purpose particularly if it is designed to be pretty or change
the look of the space in which it is used.

DECORATIVE GLASS WALL GLASS DIVIDERS/ PARTITIIONS CONTEMPORARY GLASS DOORS DECORATIVE GLASS FLOOR

TEXTURED WALL DECORATIVE WINDOWS DECORATIVE GLASS INSERTS SKYLIGHTS

 ADVANTAGES
• Privacy without blocking natural light. One of the biggest problems with
curtains and blinds is that they block out natural light when closed. With
decorative glass, you can let light in all the while keeping your privacy.
• Customizable: You can customize your decorative glass to fit your home, the
window, and your tastes.
• Can help with energy costs: Many decorative glass options and installation
methods will help reduce heat coming into your home and block up to 99% of
UV rays.

• Preparing A Glass; Coating A Water-based Pigment On One TYPE SIZE COST

Surface Of The Prepared Glass.
original stained glass 3 to 4mm 900 per square
• Covering The Glass In Which The Water-based Pigment Has
thickness feet
Been Coated With A Vinyl Or A Wrap
• Forming A Pattern On The Vinyl Or Wrap Covering The Glass. Multi-coloured Decorative 1 square 1700 per square
• Removing The Vinyl Or Wrap In Which The Pattern Has Been glass feet feet
Formed. Black painted decorative 1 square 350 per square
• Drying The Glass In Which The Vinyl Or Wrap Has Been glass feet feet
Removed.
Designer door 1 square 300 per square
feet feet
FABRICATION
 FLOAT GLASS
Float glass is also called soda lime glass or clear glass, It is extremely smooth, distortion-free glass used in
many window applications. It also provides the material for many other forms of glass, including tinted
glass (heat absorbing) and laminated glass.

FABRICATION
• Float glass is made by pouring the molten glass from a furnace into a
chamber that contains a bed of molten tin. The process is sometimes
call the Pilkington Process.
• The atmosphere inside the chamber is carefully controlled.
• The glass floats on the tin and forms itself in the shape of the container.
• It spreads 90 to 140 inches wide at a thickness determined at the
time of manufacture.
 TYPE SIZE COST
ADVANTAGES 2-12 feet rectangular float 2-12 feet 39 per square
glass feet
• A major advantage of float glass is its completely even surface. 6mm float glass 6mm 55 per square
• Allows a clear, undistorted view. thickness feet

• Other properties of float glass: robust against scratches. 5 to 8mm float glass 5 to 8mm 200 per square
thickness feet
• These glasses are easy to cut and uneasy to be damaged.
12mm float glass 12mm 115 per square
thickness feet

Float glass is used for smaller windows in It allows structures to be constructed and Based on its transparency, hardness
domestic housing, it is used for windows for both gives the impression of being outside with the and ease of cleaning, glass is often
aesthetic and functional purposes benefits of being inside protected from the used for display cases in retail
elements (except the sun). outlets and countertops.
 CHROMATIC GLASS
This type of glass can control daylight and transparency effectively.
These glass are available in three forms-
1. Photochromatic (light sensitive lamination on glass),
2. Thermochromic (heat sensitive lamination on glass) and
3. Electro chromatic (light sensitive glass the transparency of which can be controlled by electricity switch.) It can
be used in meeting rooms and ICUs

ADVANTAGES
1. In ICUs, meeting rooms, etc., chromatic glass is
used.
2. The transparent efficiency of glass is controlled.
3. From daylight, it protects the interior.
ETCHING GLASS
• Glass etching is generally known as ‘FRENCH EMBOSSING’ is a popular technique developed during
mid 1800s and still widely used in both residential and commercial spaces till today .
• Glass etching comprises the techniques of creating art on the surface of glass by applying acidic,
caustic, or abrasive substances.

Applications:
There are many interior and exterior applications for acid-etched glass. Acid-etched glass is
widely used for:
• Enhancing every area where glass can be used and where a little privacy and natural light is
desired
• Creating feature walls or partitions.
• Enriching doors and windows
• Heightening the look of balustrades
• Augmenting shower and bath enclosures
 LAMINATED GLASS
Laminated glass (lg) is a type of safety glass that holds together
when shattered. In the event of breaking, it is held in place by a
thin polymer interlayer, typically of polyvinyl butyral (pvb),
ethylene-vinyl acetate (eva), lonoplast polymers, cast in place
(cip) liquid resin, or thermoplastic polyurethane (tpu), between its
two or more layers of glass.
 Advantages
1. Laminated Glass Is Less Dangerous
When BrokenIf you are concerned about break-ins in your neighbourhood, regular safety-
standard glass is liable to break quite easily when impacted. Not only that, but if your
window were to break for any reason at all, the way in which is breaks is far more
dangerous with normal glass and can lead to serious injury

2. Less Sound Transfer

If sound is a concern of yours, consider the fact that laminated glass greatly reduces sound going in or
out of your house as it passes through a laminated glass window.

3. UV Protection
As you probably know, ultra-violet light from the sun has a way of fading some of
our favourite things, such as carpets, curtains, and furniture.When we use normal,
non-laminated glass windows, this will allow for the UV rays to come through and
fade everything there is to fade. Of course, you can always close the curtains, but
something else you can do is install laminated glass windows, which contains a
special film that blocks most of the UV light from coming in.

5. Impact Resistant
Depending on where you live, there are certain threats posed by nature which can sometimes shatter a
normal window with ease.We're talking about forces of nature, such as a tornado, a hurricane, or even a
thunderstorm.
THE DISADVANTAGES OF LAMINATED GLASS
Poor Installation Can Lead To Many Problems
The number one way that you can not reap any of the benefits of
laminated glass is to install it incorrectly.For instance, to take full
advantage of the sound-dampening properties of laminated glass, it HOW LAMINATED GLASS IS MADE ?
must be installed correctly with the exact right fit and with sufficient
airspace between the two panes.One other thing you can consider is Laminated glass is made by pasting PVB (polyvinyl butyral) resin glue
combining the use of laminated glass with non-laminated glass, and film between two or more pieces of glass sheet, then heating, pressing
this is particularly useful for windows that don't ever open such as and bonding them together to create flat or curved compound glass
cellar windows. product.

APPLICATION OF LAMINATED GLASS

Due to its strength and shatterproof quality, laminated glass finds wide variety of
applications in areas both residential and commercial. Laminated glass’ safety feature
is extremely useful in areas that need high-security such as banks, money-exchange
centers, jewellery shops, museums, and art galleries. They can also be used in
prisons to help protect the premises as well as the prisoners. Due to its strong
resistant capacity, laminated glass can be used to make bulletproof glass. With rising A FEW RECOMMENDED BRANDS
levels of crime and terrorism in urban spaces, the usage of bulletproof glass can
• SGC International Inc.
safeguard lives. It can also be used in places that have national and international
• Saflex (Eastman)
importance to add another level of security.
• Cardinal Glass Industries
• Guardian Glass
 Glass Block
Glass block is also known as glass brick is an architectural material made of glass that provides visual opacity and light, it has
become an integral part of upscale interior design.
They can be used for wall and floor applications when glass blocks are used on the floor.

Types of glass block:

1.Wavy Glass Block Windows:
The most popular type for home windows is commonly used as
basement home windows.
The wavy pattern allows light to flow but still provides privacy.
2.Clarity Glass Blocks Window:
This glass does not provide privacy, such glass blocks home windows
are commonly used for kitchen windows.
Consequently, provide a maximum amount of light.
3.Ice Glass Blocks Window:
These are popularly used as toilet windows.
This appears due to the frosted pattern that also considers gentle, but
not visibility.
4.Diamond Glass BlockS Windows:
Unlike wavy and ice blocks, the diamond glass blocks are clean for
contact because the pattern is inside the blocks.
Advantages Disadvantages
1.Glass blocks permit natural light gentle to
1.Glass manufacturing is a high energy
cross the window.
consumption process due to the high
2.It provides privacy.
temperatures required for processing raw
3.They are available in a wide range of options.
materials.
4.Also, provides safety.
2.There is corrosion due to alkali solution.
5.It provides tolerance.
3.They are brittle.
6.It provides good thermal and sound insulation.
4.Unsafe for earthquake-prone areas.
7.They are extremely resistant.

Uses
•They are used in interior decoration for all commercial and residential buildings.
•Glass block wall panels can also be used in bathrooms that accept the light and beauty of the
bathroom.
•These blocks can be used for wall cladding work on the exterior of commercial buildings that
enhance the beauty of the building.
•These blocks can be used to add light and illusion to space in a walk-in shower.
•Glass blocks work well as windows as they give light.
 Fiber-reinforced
composite materials
Glass
 Fiber Reinforced Composite
Fiber-reinforced composite is any building material composed of two or more
integral materials with individually different physical properties.
 GLASS FIBER AS A REINFORCING
MATERIAL FOR COMPOSITES

• Composites are heterogeneous, created by assembling two or

more components with fillers or reinforcing fibres and a matrix.
• The matrix may be metallic, ceramic or polymeric in origin.
• It gives the composites their shape, surface appearance,
environmental tolerance and overall durability, while the fibrous
reinforcement carries most of the structural load thus giving
macroscopic stiffness and strength.
 Glass fiber reinforced plastic
• Glass fiber reinforced polymer also known as glass fiber reinforced plastic
is a composite material weaving fiber E-glass (electrical grade glass ) and
polyester material together.
• The polymer matrix is usually an epoxy, vinyl ester, or polyester
thermosetting resin.
• The glass fibres add strength to the composite. They may be randomly
arranged, or conveniently oriented.
• It comes with low weight at high mechanical strength, resistance against
chemicals and corrosion, UV radiation and temperature stability,
and environmental friendliness. GRP is waterproof, making it ideal for all
outdoor applications.
 Glass fiber reinforced concrete
• Glass reinforced concrete (GRC), or glass-fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC), is
a construction material that is commonly used to form exterior cladding panels.

• GRC is composed of high-strength, alkali-resistant glass fibres embedded in

a concrete matrix.

• The fibres act as the principal load-carrying component, while the

surrounding matrix keeps them in position, and transfers load between the fibres.

• Both fibres and matrix are capable of retaining their physical and chemical
identities while combining their properties to create a high-
performance composite.
Glass fiber reinforced Gypsum

• GFRG (Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum) is the interior alternative to GFRC

(Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)
• GFRC is used for exterior projects as it is similar to concrete in strength
and durability with only a fraction of the weight.
• Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum (GFRG) consists of high strength resistant
glass fibers bonded with high density gypsum cement to produce panels
that traditionally were done with plaster castings. The GFRG is lighter in
weight, superior in strength and much easier to install than the traditional
plaster castings.
Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center by Zaha Hadid Architects Serpentine Pavilion by Bjarke Ingels

House of Dior by Christian de Portzamparc One Ocean Thematic Pavilion EXPO 2012 Yeosu by SOMA