Have you ever seen a bent glass window? Well, it looks appealing to the eyes and is extremely beautiful. At least one time, you might have questions yourself— how does this craft work?

 

How can you even make curved glass? Various hacks work out in the manufacturing of curved glass. Today, we will discuss all the tactics and benefits of curved glass.

 

Let’s talk about it.

 

 

What is curved glass?

Curved glass is a bent glass that undergoes various processes to transform the flatness into a curvy pattern. Their famous external glaze, while heat applications, bends it into different forms. 

 

Customizing such glasses places them into high-end glass solutions among the users.

 

Now, the question is about the first time the presence of curved glasses. It traces back to the 20th century when architectural mastery peaked. Manufacturers attempted various techniques and reached the secret of curved glass manufacturing with heat applications.

Common types of curved glass

 

Curved glass comes in various types. Here are a few of the most popular types!!

Annealed Curved Glass 

Annealed glass is famous for its durability and excellent workability. Manufacturers transform the flat glass into a curved one and then undergo the annealing process.

It has tons of features:

• Easy drilling and cutting lead to better customization opportunities.
• Strength is quite good.
• It is a less expensive choice than competitors, such as tempered glass.

 

Tempered Curved Glass

Tempered glass must go through a high-heat application to enhance its strength. In this curved glass type, the first step is to curve the glass. Once it is done, manufacturers apply a high heat to the glass.

Critical features of tempered curved glass are:

• Tempered glass is more rigid compared to annealed glass.
• It shatters into small pieces, which are not very harmful.
• Tempered glass is resistant to high temperatures and ensures better survival at higher temperatures.

 

3D Tempered Curved Glass 

It is tempered glass, but better crafting applications implement this type. The glass transforms into the 3D style instead of 2D curved glass as above.

The best features of 3D tempered curved glass are:

• It has strength comparable to the tempered one.
• 3D glasses have a more intricate design and better external finish than other glass types.
• The precise shaping process keeps them out of standard leagues and makes them unique.

Laminated Curved Glass

Have you ever observed the lamination layer of other products? Think of the same in the curved glass case. With the two layers of glass, you can find a middle layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB).

Quality features of laminated curved glass are:

• Lamination provides sound insulation through the material.
• Reduced penetration features empower your security cases.
• It can block UV rays and elevate your safety.

Curved Gorilla Glass

Welcome to one of the robust glass types famous for its high strength. Corning of the glass promises better strength.

The optimal features of tempered curved glass are:

• It is lightweight and easy to handle many applications.
• High optical clarity keeps it among one of the best glass options.
• Don’t worry about the daily wear and tear features. The curved gorilla glass is already a game-changer.

How is curved glass made?

 

Curved glass is quite impactful for various applications. Therefore, we consider its manufacturing an optimal selection.

 

A few steps cover the whole bending process of the curved glass. 

 

Step 1: Select Glass Type

Before you jump into the process, decide on the glass type. We have discussed the five different types of curved glass. Pick any one of them!

Remember, the process will change based on the glass type. For example, an annealed Curved Glass has different features than the tempered one.

 

Step 2: Heating

Now is the heating process.

The goal of heating is to soften the glass and transform it into a curved shape.

What is the heating temperature? It is different for the annealed glass. Try 600-700°C and check the softness. Remember, your temperature must not reach the melting limits.

The heating temperature of the tempered glass also has a range of 650-720°C. 

 

Step 3: Molding

Mold is the material which has the desired shape of the glass. For example, the mold has a curved glass shape, which will transform the shape of the glass.

Two tactics are applicable in this case:

• Rely on gravity. Place your soft glass on the mold and let it pass through the curved shape and change automatically.

• Apply pressure. If you want to give different intricate shapes to the material, choose the molding material. Apply the pressure and now see the shape. It successfully changes into a curved glass.

Step 4: Cooling

The cooling process increases the strength of the glass materials. Annealed glass follows a slow cooling pattern with a constant decrease in the temperature until room temperature is achieved.

On the other hand, tempered glass rapidly cools. This phenomenon causes compressive stress and elevates the strength compared to the annealed glass.

Step 5: Additional Strengthening and Features

If you are considering the laminated glass, add an internal layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB). Autoclaving helps elevate the strength.

In the gorilla glass case, potassium nitrate addition bestows additional strength to the material. It replaces the small sodium ion and creates a compressive stress layer. 

Step 6: Chemical Control and Finishing

The manufacturers don’t let the glass go without the checks. Instead, they have to follow:

• Inspection. In this method, inspectors look for defects or bulbs and treat them instantly.
• Polishing. Edges are refined. Manufacturers make the necessary holes and cut through the surface of the glass.
• Additional treatments. Is your glass UV-resistant? Well, the additional treatments make it super cool with the added features.

 

Conclusion

 

Curved glass is all-important for various daily applications. However, you need a proper manufacturing system to mold and turn your straight glass pieces into curved ones.

If you don’t have any facilities, Shenxun glass manufacturers are here to save your day. Our expertise and collection of various glass types are pretty impressive. Plus, you’ll get the affordable rates. Enjoy the deal right away!