Laminated security glass or laminated safety glass is a type of robust, shatterproof glass composed of a thermoplastic interlayer sandwiched between glass panels. Though not truly “unbreakable,” this type of security glass can withstand heavy, repeated impacts.
Laminated Glass (aka “Shatterproof Glass”)
In the window industry, unbreakable laminated glass is often tossed around as “shatterproof glass.” This has become a catch-all term that vaguely defines a certain variety of laminated security glass products.
Laminated Glass
This type of glass is also a type of safety glass. Unlike tempered and annealed glass when laminated glass breaks, it keeps all of the shards together in one piece.
Definitions of shatterproof glass. glass made with plates of plastic or resin or other material between two sheets of glass to prevent shattering. synonyms: laminated glass, safety glass.
Laminated glass is far stronger than the tempered glass as there is PVB layer in between the glass panes that lets the shattered pieces stick together.
Tempered Glass is about four times stronger than regular class and is known for its safety. And, unlike regular glass, tempered glass fractures into small, relatively harmless pieces. This is possible because during the annealing process the glass is cooled down slowly, which makes the glass much stronger.
Borosilicate glass is a type of glass that contains boron trioxide which allows for a very low coefficient of thermal expansion. This means it will not crack under extreme temperature changes like regular glass. Its durability has made it the glass of choice for high-end restaurants, laboratories and wineries.
The cost of bulletproof window glass has a range of $150 to $800+ per square foot.
Easy clean-up: Tempered glass isn't indestructible. If the glass breaks it fractures into small fragments instead of large, jagged pieces. However, if laminated glass breaks, it will crack, but remain in one piece.
When tempered glass does break, it shatters into many small pieces. However, these aren't sharp. This is why tempered glass is used for safety glass in windows, cars, and things like display cases.
Both tempered and laminated glass are more expensive than normal glass, due to their specialized nature. Because of this, safety glass is often used sparingly throughout a home, instead of being used for every window, door, and glass fixture in the house.
In fact, borosilicate glass is perfectly safe to use in both kitchen and laboratory applications. Creating borosilicate glass requires much higher temperatures than those necessary for the production of regular glass.
How Much Does A Bulletproof Window Cost? The cost of a bulletproof window ranges from $350 to $800+ per square foot depending on what bullets are to be stopped, whether the window is opening, how intricate the design is, and the size of the window.
Tempered glass is tougher than standard annealed glass, but this doesn't mean that it should be considered impact-resistant glass. Though it can be up to five times stronger than traditional glass, tempered window glass can still be easily shattered by impacts.
Yes, the installation of bulletproof glass in private cars is entirely legal, and anyone can install bulletproof glass for protection in their vehicle (we recommend professionals who can properly seal and install the Armormax® materials). For information on installing bulletproof glass please contact us here.
Riot Glass developed our ArmorPlast unbreakable window glass to offer maximum protection with virtually no visible change to your storefront's aesthetic.
Glass tends to cost less than plexiglass, and can be more scratch resistant and more easily recycled. Though the benefits of plexiglass are that it is stronger, more shatter-resistant, and resistant to the elements and erosion than glass.
Tempered glass—also known as toughened glass—is a strengthened material used when traditional annealed glass isn't strong enough. Tempered glass is created by heat processing glass, making it up to four times stronger.
Limitations and Disadvantages of Borosilicate Glass:
Cost: Borosilicate glass is more expensive than other types of glass, making it less suitable for cost-sensitive applications. Brittleness: While borosilicate glass is relatively strong, it is still relatively brittle and can break or shatter under stress or impact.
If you're determined to have the strongest stuff out there, consider purchasing from a brand still making glassware out of borosilicate, such as OXO. These bakeware dishes and glass meal prep containers come with or without lids in a variety of sizes for all kinds of food storage needs.
The most valuable glass you could find, however, is art glass—pieces not intended to be used practically as vases and such but rather meant to be art alone. Here are a couple of the most notable makers to look for.
Generally, annealed is the weakest glass, followed by heat-strengthened (approximately twice as strong as annealed) and fully tempered (approximately four times as strong as annealed).
Dragontrail uses the chemical float process instead of the ion exchange method used by Corning for their Gorilla Glass. The result is a six times stronger product than soda lime glass, scratch-resistant, light, and thin.