In the construction and automotive industry, you can excessively use glass materials. The display glass of the phone also uses glass materials.
Have you ever wondered about the various types of glass used in the industry? Is there any glass with 100% clarity and quality?
Today, we will discuss the top glass materials— low iron and standard clear glass!! Both materials stand out as top competitors because of differences and usage cases.
What is low iron glass?
Low iron glass is a specialized type produced from the standard clear glass after eliminating iron oxide content. The elevated iron content gives a greenish tint to the glass material. In the case of low-iron glass, extra iron oxide is wiped out. The result is high clarity and quality glass.
It is colorless and provides an extensive range of daily life applications. Moreover, precise manufacturing techniques can only produce this glass type under special conditions.
Benefits of Low Iron Glass
Low iron glass is one of the most highly demanded glass types because of its excellent features. For example, the high clarity guarantees a better look and exceptional value at the storefronts.
Let’s look at more benefits of low iron glass.
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High clarity
Low iron content wipes off the tints and colors of the materials. Therefore, it is colorless and makes viewers see through the objects. Because of color accuracy, it is useful for high-class applications requiring precision.
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Elevated Aesthetics
How is the idea of a transparent glass which presents a clear view? Well, that is possible with the low iron glass. Its sleek design and transparency allow the internal materials to see exceptionally. It is crucial in applications where designs stand out as key features.
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Higher Light Transmission
Can you imagine 90% of light transmission? Low iron Glass allows more than 90% of light to pass through. The atrium or storefronts will enable the passage of light and a better view during the daytime. Retailers must minimize the expenses of installing light sources to illuminate the place.
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Increased Value
It is extremely important since low-iron glass is used more in high-end applications. The costs are also high due to aesthetic appeal and sleek designs. Overall, low-iron glass is perceived as a valuable material in the industry.
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Versatile Applications
Elegant look. High clarity. Premium look. All such features make the place of low iron glass in various applications, such as:
- Frameless glass doors
- Display cases
- Solar panels
- Aquariums
- Facades
Some high-end furniture and shower enclosures also use low iron glass.
What is standard clear glass?
Standard Clear Glass is a household item used excessively in hundreds of applications nowadays. The production method is quick heating of the silica sand, soda ash, limestone, and other necessary materials.
Its high iron oxide content gives it a greenish tint. But don’t worry; the greenish tint isn’t visible until you have a thick piece of glass and look from the sides. This glass type appears clear and effective from the front for various applications.
Benefits of Standard Clear Glass
Don’t underestimate the power of the standard clear glass. It has many benefits related to appearance, costs, and eco-friendly nature. Let’s talk about it!
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Cost-Effectiveness
Compared to other glass types, standard clear is a quite cheaper solution. Its widespread availability and low production costs make it an ultimate choice for daily usage. Standard glass is equally effective for all such applications, whether construction or infrastructure applications.
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Versatile and Functional
The good thing about the standard clear glass is its easy fabrication. Whether manufacturers cut or groove it, it provides an easy platform to perform all such activities. It is even easier to deploy in various daily life applications. So, standard clear glass is an elegant and quality material with elevated worth and an impactful presence in the market.
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Sufficient Clarity
What is your purpose in deploying the standard glass? Even if you are deploying it in general applications, its clarity places it in the various applications. Its greenish tint does not appear in the thin panes, making it an essential choice for residential and commercial sectors.
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Environmental Benefits
The production process of standard clear glass is simple and efficient. No special handling is required. No toxic impact on the environment. So, overall, it is an eco-friendly solution compared to other specialized glass materials. Moreover, you can recycle the standard clear without losing its original quality in multiple cycles.
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Durability and Strength
Temperature and other heating processes make the standard clear glass much stronger. Better customization boosts its use in our daily lives. You can harness the standard clear glass for many years without a single sign of damage with proper care.
Low-Iron Glass vs. Standard Clear Glass: Ultimate Differences
Low iron Glass sets excellent competition with the standard clear glass. But can you guess the winner?
The detailed comparison of Low-Iron Glass vs. Standard Clear Glass is here.
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Iron content
The glass materials comprise the silicon dioxide and iron oxide content. Each content gives a different feature. For example, an elevated iron oxide adds a greenish tint. It is visible in the thicker panes when viewed from the sides.
Low iron glass defines iron oxide from its name. When the iron oxide is eliminated from standard glass, it manufactures the low iron glass. It has less iron content and better clarity than standard iron glass.
Expecting the high iron content with the standard glass? It is already obvious from its standard manufacturing processes. There is no removal of the iron content from the standard glass materials compared to the low iron. So, such glass materials have a high content of iron oxide.
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Clarity and Color
Have you ever thought about the color of glass? Which material does it give a color? For example, the iron oxide gives it a greenish tint. Other materials, such as silicon dioxide, add different colors to the transparent glass.
Low iron Glass has a low iron oxide content. That means you have eliminated the greenish tint. Therefore, the glass is more clear. Moreover, it is colorless, making it easy to fit in highly specialized applications.
Standard Clear Glass is also famous for its clarity. But it isn’t comparable with the low iron glass. The first con is the greenish tint that loses the race with the low iron glass. When viewed through this glass material, it also affects the objects’ color.
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Light Transmission
Light transmission has a greater impact on the transparency of materials. For example, if a material is 100% transparent, the light transmittance is 100%. Materials with low light transmittance don’t exhibit higher transparency. Simply put, you can consider it the percentage of light passing through the material.
Low iron content doesn’t reflect or absorb the light. More than 90% of light passes through it without getting absorbed. So, the result? It is clear and high-quality glass with excellent viewing see-through surface.
The standard clear glass’s transmission power is less than that of the low iron. It lets 80-85% of the light pass through it. The remaining portions of light are either absorbed or reflected by the material. Therefore, it is not a 100% transparent glass material.
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Applications
Differentiate your applications into two categories when opting for the right glass material—one of the general glass applications in the automotive and construction industries. Second, there are high-end specialized applications that require accuracy in glass materials.
Low iron glass is more precise and famous for its flawless quality and high clarity. Therefore, it is popular for applications such as display glasses and luxury interiors. High-end glass applications require low-iron glass.
Standard Clear Glass is a general glass used for general glass usage. Residential windows often deploy this material. Moreover, household mirrors and relevant materials also use standard clear glass materials.
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Costs
Material with extensive production and costly raw materials is more expensive. Isn’t it so? Let’s compare the low iron glass with the standard clear glass.
Low iron Glass has to undergo a chain of manufacturing. The final step is the removal of iron contents. The specialized raw materials also elevate its costs.
Compared to it, the standard clear glass is widely available. The raw materials are cheaper with the easy production techniques. Therefore, it is affordable and excessively deployed in numerous applications.
Conclusion
Whether you select the low iron or standard clear glass, the quality matters; however, consider your budget a priority to understand the overall investment. However, the standard selection criteria rely more on the applications needed.
During this course, you must explore the top glass manufacturers. Do you have the ones? If not, rely on the Shenxun Glass Manufacturers. With 20+ years of glass fabrication, we allow you to customize your glass materials. Implement required features. Bring in better usage and effectiveness. Try our affordable solutions now!