No more flat thinking for a curved world

TIME: 2023-07-07     READ: 128    AUTHOR:

Bent and tempered glass has consistently garnered significant interest in the market. The process of producing high-quality tempered bent glass has undergone continuous evolution.

Through ongoing research and development, optimal utilization of cutting-edge technology, and the expertise of industry professionals, new dimensions in glass have been unlocked.

Glass is such a ubiquitous material that we often overlook its full potential. While bent glass has been used in buildings since the early 19th century, it wasn't until the 1990s, with the introduction of the first horizontal tempering machine equipped with a bending furnace, that bent tempered glass of superior optical quality became widely available. However, there were still certain limitations and constraints to overcome.

Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to enhance the technology, refine processing methods and techniques for tempered bent glass, and achieve top-notch quality.

The bending and tempering process can be summarized as follows:

1. The flat glass is heated to over 630°C until it reaches a red-hot state.

2. Once heated, the glass is transferred within the furnace to the bending station, where it is bent to the desired radius.

3. Lengthwise bending involves twisting the glass in the direction of its flow, while crosswise bending refers to bending it across the glass flow.

4. The bent glass is then tempered by cooling to lock high-energy forces within the glass.

5. Finally, the bent and tempered glass is released from the furnace.

While the main stages of this process have remained largely unchanged since the 1990s, the technologies employed have seen advancements.

Bent tempered glass is particularly welcomed for several reasons. Firstly, it is considered safety glass, as it poses no harm to individuals when broken. Thus, it becomes the practical choice for applications requiring a high level of safety, such as windows, curtain walls, balustrades, or skylights.

Secondly, bent and tempered glass exhibits superior resistance to mechanical and thermal loads, as well as enhanced durability against temperature variations. In fact, tempered bent glass can withstand up to five times more mechanical strain than bent annealed glass, making it more advantageous from a contractor's perspective.

Lastly, the production cost of bent and tempered glass is lower compared to hot-bent laminated glass, as it involves a single process without the need for lamination.

The ability to simultaneously curve and temper glass has propelled glass materials to a more advanced level, adding significant value to the end products.

Bent glass brings elegance and energy to any designed space, whether it be in architectural structures or the latest home appliances. It serves as an artistic focal point, accentuating the play of natural light within interior spaces. Above all, the assurance of meeting safety requirements remains paramount.

In terms of progress, the bending and tempering technique has advanced significantly over the past decade. However, certain constraints still persist, such as limitations on maximum size, weight, glass thickness, and extreme forms.

Currently, these constraints need to be considered during the design of glass structures. Nevertheless, manufacturers of glass processing equipment are continuously challenging themselves to overcome these limitations. Given the rapid evolution of technologies, the process will soon undergo a complete transformation, enabling glass processors to push beyond existing boundaries.

For instance, recent achievements have expanded the range of sizes and thicknesses that can be tempered and bent. Innovations have resolved previous optical issues, ensuring consistent top-quality optical results with the right technology.

What was considered practically impossible a decade ago has now become a cost-effective and adaptable method for producing high-quality curved safety glass, with minimal changeover time, no anisotropy issues, and zero tooling. There are even machines available for soft-coating bent building glass.

The interest in curved glass forms continues to grow, and it will further intensify as designers and architects comprehend the latest advancements in bending and tempering techniques.

Bent tempered glass is no longer an experimental concept. Thanks to ongoing research and development and the transformative impact of technology, custom bent glass is revolutionizing the integration of form and functionality in future designs and applications. This unlocks new possibilities for the world of glass, allowing it to become a quality, economical, and safe material with limitless shape possibilities.