Glass brittleness (a poor adjective) is not effected by time after it is cooled and becomes a solid. Stresses between the surface and the interior determine how the glass will break or fracture.
As with many other elements in a home, glass can wear down throughout the years and eventually will need to be replaced. Temperature changes, wind, storms, and sun can all take a toll on glass windows, leading to brittle glass.
Glass: up to 4,000 years
A frightening 4,000 years is how long it takes a glass bottle to decompose in the environment. Every time we leave a recipient of this kind in the countryside, we are putting the environment and its ecosystem at risk.
They use a plier to crack a glass pane and the crack rapidly (very very rapidly) propagates shattering the pane. The measured speed of the crack propagation reaches 1.400 ms, that is 4 times the speed of sound!
The amorphous structure of glass makes it brittle. Because glass doesn't contain planes of atoms that can slip past each other, there is no way to relieve stress. Excessive stress therefore forms a crack that starts at a point where there is a surface flaw.
Age and Wear: Over time, windows can weaken due to wear and tear. Aging materials may become brittle, making the glass more susceptible to breakage.
If glass isn't installed properly with a sturdy, supportive framework and sealed to avoid moisture and airflow, it's prone to breaking on its own. Excessive weight from the glass itself or pressure from wind and weather can also stress the glass beyond its breaking point.
The bottom line is, windows age. When they age, they become weaker and break. Windows have to face intense elements day in and day out, so it's clear why glass thins and frames crack.
Depending on the manufacturer, the force required to break tempered glass ranges from 20,000 to 24,000 PSI (or pounds per square inch). Breaking glass is quite dangerous, as the shards of glass and the entering or exiting through the window frame can easily cut and slice through skin.
As older glass is fragile, it's easier for intruders to break in. Newer glass products are designed to be thicker and harder to break, effectively deterring intruders or thieves. Although there's no requirement that older properties replace their window glass, doing so will improve your safety and security.
The items that take the longest to decompose are glass bottles, electronic waste, and plastic bags. Glass bottles and some electronic waste can take over 1 million years to break down. While glass may break down into shards, it is non-biodegradable and cannot change back into a natural element.
The surface of the glass therefore, absorbs moisture from the air. It is this interaction between the glass surface and atmospheric water that starts the deterioration of the glass. This deterioration manifests itself in a number of ways. In the early stages a glass object may initially acquire a dull foggy appearance.
While the glass is being stored or transported, it may react with humidity that has penetrated the spaces between the layers of glass, which can lead to highly adhesive blotches of corrosion. If the corrosion is distinctive, the glass cannot be processed any further.
Glass can become brittle in extreme cold, and it may crack or shatter, posing a safety risk and compromising your home's security and insulation. If you notice cracks or broken glass, prioritize window repair or replacement. Opt for tempered or laminated glass, which is more resistant to shattering.
While single-pane glass may last around 15 to 20 years, double and triple-pane glass windows can endure for 20 to 40 years or more with proper care. Laminated, Low-E, tempered, and obscure glass windows also offer durability and longevity when maintained correctly.
Lines of fracture called “Wallner Lines” begin at the origin and radiate along break branches. When breakage occurs due to poor or damaged edges, the break origin will be at the edge of the glass where the damage was present.
When glass breaks, the cracks move at speeds of up to 3,000 miles per hour.
Frosted glass is made by etching the surface of glass to create a rough, matte finish. It is often used for decorative purposes, such as with glass lampshades and vases. While the texture may be beautiful, frosted glass is more fragile than other types of glass because of the etching process.
Polycarbonate Unbreakable Glass
In fact, according to some estimates a polycarbonate window is over 200 times more resistant to impact! Compared to standard glass windows, they offer superior protection against burglaries and weather-related disasters.
Spontaneous glass breakage is an extremely rare occurrence, however it is a possibility. There are a few reasons that glass would break without impact and the two main ones are nickel sulphide inclusions or thermal shock (also known and thermal stress).
'Many of us are unaware of the serious dangers drinking for a glass with a chip could cause - by continuing to drink out of the damaged glass, you are actually increasing your chances of cutting your lips, tongue or gums as well as even swallowing bits of glass. '
Glass is known for its excellent durability, but the strength of glass is very sensitive to the characteristics of its surface, which is known to accumulate damage during its service life.
Rapid or uneven heating and cooling of glass can also introduce stresses that lead to spontaneous breakage. For example, if one area of a glass pane is exposed to direct sunlight while another area remains shaded, the temperature difference can create enough stress to cause the glass to break.
Use a Piece of Sharp Metal or a Stone
So if you try to break a window with your fists, you could end up banging on it all day long and still not shatter it. If you take a sharp piece of metal or a stone, however, you'll find that breaking the glass is much easier.
However, you cannot get back the glass from the broken pieces so, the change is irreversible.