Billions of phones are used worldwide, and millions are made each day. But all those phones have a few standard features, and gorilla glass is one of those. This glass is well known for saving mobile screens from breaking and getting scratchy. But the question arises: What is gorilla glass, and what makes it so durable?
Have you ever had a mini heart attack after seeing your mobile phone fall? But when you check it, its screen remains safe. How does this happen? All thanks to gorilla glass, which makes the screen reliable and resistant to breaking. Curious to learn more about this lovely masterpiece? Let’s dive in and explore!
Overview of Gorilla Glass
It is a special type of durable glass used in making screens for various devices. Those include smartphones, laptops, tablets, and smartwatches. It protects the screens of these devices from scratches. It is trendy due to its durability and scratch resistance. An American company, Corning, makes this glass.
This glass has been in use for more than 15 years. Let’s first have a bird’ s-eye view of its history. In the 1960s, Corning made glass, which they named Chemcor Glass. This glass was made and strengthened to improve its performance against falls and scratches.
At that time, no other glass was available. So, this Chemchor glass became famous in different industries, including automotive. Interestingly 1968, some auto racing cars used this glass to reduce their weight. Keep in mind that this Chmachor glass was super lightweight.
Unfortunately, this glass soon started to lose its value, and the company stopped manufacturing it. Fast-forward to 2005. This was the time of the rise of smartphones. The manufacturers needed thin but robust and durable glass for the screen.
This is where the Corning company turned their luck. They started working again on the Chemcor glass to improve its durability. In 2007, they made many improvements to that old glass. In January 2008, the Corning company officially launched this glass by naming it ”Gorilla Glass”. Apple supported this glass after its formal launch.
Their iPhone launched that year with a screen made of Gorilla glass. Corning did not stop their innovation by its first success. Instead, they kept working and launched many valuables. Each of the new variants had better durability. Currently, this glass is one of the most used mobile phones.
How is Gorilla Glass Made?
You have got an idea about what this gorilla glass is! But that’s not enough. The production of this gorilla glass is different from ordinary glass available. Remember that this glass type is made up of silicon dioxide, aluminum, magnesium, and sodium.
Ordinary glass is made from molten sand and undergoes no unique strengthening process. However, gorilla glass is different as ion exchange methods produce it. Is this “Ion Exchange Method” new to you? Worry not; let’s explore it in more detail and understand it.
Ion Exchange Method for Gorilla Glass Production
The formation of gorilla glass is not easy. First, the raw materials of glass are melted. Those materials include sand, silicon dioxide, magnesium, aluminum, and sodium. Their melting takes place at a high temperature of 400 degrees Celsius. As a result of melting, a molten mixture is made.
The molten glass contains impurities that can make it rough. To ensure the glass’s smoothness, impurities and bubbles are removed. Then, the molten glass is cooled and shaped into a sheet. Now, the manufacturer starts the important process of ion exchange.
Due to this ion exchange process, the gorilla glass becomes durable and strong. But the question is HOW? This happens by dipping the glass into a molten bath of salt. The molten bath consists of large magnesium ions. However, the pre-made glass consists of small sodium ions.
In the ion exchange method, ions are exchanged between molten bath and glass. The manufacturer dips the pre-made glass into this salt bath. As a result, a large magnesium ion enters the glass. On the flip side, a small sodium ion leaves the glass and enters a salt bath.
Those large magnesium ions get stuck and stuffed on the glass due to the small space. This stuffing of large magnesium ions compresses the surface of the glass. As a result, the glass becomes very sturdy and capable of bearing shocks. Ordinary glass does not undergo this ion exchange method and is generally fragile.
Key Characteristics of Gorilla Glass
Almost all mobile phones, from the budget to the high-end category, use gorilla glasses. This glass offers some distinct features. Let’s explore them. It will help you understand why these glasses are all the rage.
1- Strength
The manufacturing process of gorilla glasses is very unique. It involves putting glass through an ion exchange process. As a result, this glass becomes very compressed and robust. If you throw the gorilla glass from a height, it won’t break.
Have you noticed companies advertising their mobiles to be unbreakable for one or two meters? They do this due to the strength of gorilla glass. All those glasses contain this glass type.
2- Thinness
From day one, mobile companies wanted their mobiles to be thin and slim. But their ordinary glasses are thick and add thickness to mobile phones. This was one of the main reasons Corning started working back on Chemcor Glass.
They aimed to make glass with ultra-thinness, and they succeeded. These gorilla glasses are very thin (thickness is in microns) and slim. Using them on mobiles does not add any specific thickness. Mobile manufacturers are making beautiful, slim mobiles that leverage the thinness of this glass.
3- Lightweight
We all prefer that the weight of our smartphones should not be so heavy. This is where these glasses prove to be super helpful. They have a meager weight that does not add anything specific to mobiles. In simple words, the gorilla glass gives you almost weightless protection.
In mobiles, the weight of a few milligrams matters now. The competition in this industry is very high. Every manufacturer wants to get an edge over others. So, the game has come to small margins. So, they use gorilla glasses to reduce their weight. If they had used ordinary glass, the weight of mobiles would have been too high.
Quick Highlight: Corning is still trying to reduce the weight of its glass further. Each of its latest versions is lighter than the previous versions and has better durability. This is why no other glass manufacturer comes close to Corning.
Different Versions of Gorilla Glass
Since its invention, different types of gorilla glass have been developed. They vary in terms of durability and thickness. The first version of gorilla glass was simple, but many changes and advancements were later made.
Among those types, gorilla Victus is the latest version, which is exceptional in terms of durability. The company claims it can bear the fall from 2 meters. Here is the table showing different variants of gorilla glasses:
| Gorilla Glass Variant | Year of Launch & Specific Features |
| Gorilla Glass v1 | 2007 – It had a thickness of 1.5 mm |
| Gorilla Glass v2 | 2012 – Its thickness was 20% reduced compared to glass 1. |
| Gorilla Glass v3 | 2013 – Better scratch resistance with 0.8mm thickness. |
| Gorilla Glass v4 | 2014 – Better strength and thickness reduced to 0.4mm |
| Gorilla Glass v5 | 2016 – First version to withstand drops from up to 1 meter |
| Gorilla Glass v6 | 2018 – Twice as strong as v5, can survive multiple drops from 1 meter. |
| Gorilla Glass Victus. | 2020 – Survives drop from up to 2 meters, twice as scratch-resistant as v6. |
Some modern types of gorilla glass also include DX, DX+, and SR+. They are all very prominent when it comes to scratch resistance. The SR+ consists of properties of both sapphire and gorilla glass. It can easily bear extreme conditions and usage. It won’t show any scratching even if it falls from a height.
Can Gorilla Glass Break or Get Scratchy?
Depending on its variants, gorilla glass can break and become scratchy. The manufacturers advertise it as unscratchable, which is a half-truth. It is unbreakable under particular pressure. However, its chances of breaking are high when the pressure goes beyond its limit.
Each gorilla glass type has its pressure-bearing capacity. For example, gorilla glass v1 has low capacity and is very fragile compared to glass v5. V1 will break more quickly than the V5. However, both can be damaged if they face pressure beyond their capacity. Among all the types, Victus glass is the strongest.
Even if the surface is hard, it can withstand a fall from 2 meters. But when you put extreme pressure on it, it will break, too. You need to understand that each glass has its limit. Suppose your mobile phone screen is made with Victus gorilla glass. If you use the mobile carefully, it won’t break.
The same goes for the scratches. All the Gorilla glasses are scratch-resistant and bear mild scratches. But if you keep your mobile in your pocket with any rigid material, it will get scratched. It is all about keeping these glass types to the conditions they are made to bear. Overall, gorilla glass is robust and durable.
Quick Highlight: Are you worried about your phone coming in contact with keys and coins? Don’t worry; these items cannot scratch the gorilla glass. Additionally, all girls, don’t worry – your long nails also cannot scratch the gorilla glass of your smartphones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gorilla Glass unbreakable?
No, gorilla glass can break under extremely high pressure or when falling from a severe height. However, under regular use, these glasses offer excellent durability. They don’t break in such a case.
Does Gorilla Glass crack easily?
No, gorilla glass is solid and resistant to scratches. It does not crack under daily use, and mobile phones made of gorilla glass last for many years.
Do phones use Gorilla Glass?
Yes, almost all smartphones use gorilla glass. From iPhone to Samsung and many other brands, they all rely on this glass. These glasses enhance the strength and durability of the phone screen.
Does Gorilla Glass need a screen protector?
Even though gorilla glass is dependable, you still need a protector. They are additional safety layers that you should use with gorilla glass. You never know when your mobile will fall from very severe heights. This protector absorbs shock and pressure, protecting the original gorilla glass. It is a must-use thing.
Conclusion
Gorilla glass is becoming more famous every day. Many characteristics contribute to its popularity. Today, you don’t have to worry if you accidentally drop your phone from a specific height. The strong gorilla glass will save your mobile from scratches.
There are several versions of gorilla glass, from gorilla v1 to gorilla v6 and Victus. All these vary in terms of thickness and scratch resistance. I’ve laid out all the details about this glass type. Hopefully, my efforts will make sense to you.