Float glass typically has a compressive strength that is substantially higher than its tensile strength. In order to make paint where glass may be used in more challenging situations than before, strengthening procedures have been developed. The majority of these processes include pre-stressing to introduce surface compression.
Glass from a furnace is poured into a chamber with a bed of molten tin to create float glass. The procedure is occasionally known as the Pilkington Process. The environment inside the chamber is precisely regulated. The glass self-forms into the shape of the container as it floats on the tin. It has a thickness that is predetermined at the time of construction and spreads 90 to 140 inches broad. In contrast to hollow ware, the phrase "float glass" refers to all glasses made in a flat form, independent of the method of fabrication. Glass blowers did not finally succeed in taking flat sheets of glass for windows and subsequent processing until the middle Ages. After 1920, mechanical production methods started to be developed. Flat glasses made by hand today are more often the exception than the rule.
Uses
The hue of float glass is a little bit greenish. This is more or less strong depending on thickness and viewing angle; the edges' green colour stands out in particular. The amount of iron oxides in the glass's overall composition is what causes this.
Float glass: an integral part of everyday life
Whether we are conscious of it or not, we are always surrounded by floating glass panes, whether we are driving and looking through the windshield, relaxing on the glazed porch, or admiring excellent porcelain in a glass case. Because mirror-flat glass can be efficiently produced using the float glass method, allowing for crystal-clear sight.
Applications
Float glass is a versatile material with numerous uses, from household housing to commercial applications.
Building industry
Smaller windows in residential buildings are built of float glass, whereas bigger windows are constructed with toughened panes. Glass is utilized for windows for both aesthetic and practical reasons, letting light through while also allowing inhabitants to view outside.
Displays
Float glass is the best material for showing things because of its dazzling clarity. They can be utilized for countertops, retail store windows, and showroom display cases to safeguard priceless objects like pricey watches, jewellery, and so forth while still being able to easily reveal the beauty of the unique products.
Facades
Nothing screams wealth and sophistication more than the sight of gleaming, glass skyscrapers, and what better material to use than float glass processed with glazing to build the ideal building that is both aesthetically pleasing and useful. While glazing makes glass stronger and more effective, float glass' unmatched charm and beauty are provided by its extraordinary clarity.
Wall Panels
Wall panels are an excellent way to freshen up the decor and improve the visual attractiveness of your rooms, whether you use them to create partitions in your house or your personal cabin in the office. Wall panels made of coloured float glass can give a space the much-needed burst of colour and new energy.
Float glass must be used for décor when adorning your homes and places of business because it is unquestionably the most adaptable glass of them all. As the top integrated glass maker in India.
Commercial Glazing
Commercial applications are increasingly using float glass. It enables the building of structures and provides the benefits of being inside, shielded from the weather, while giving the impression that one is outside (except the sun).
Glass is also becoming more prevalent in buildings because it offers an enticing and simple-to-maintain outside surface. It should be noted that the majority of the glass used in this application undergoes a toughening process after being heated.
Considering the materials used in the construction of large commercial buildings is essential in a time when environmental friendly practices in the office and at home are receiving a lot of attention.
Market Outlook
The small-scale, decentralized manufacturing industry that was the Indian commercial glass market has given way to a largely organized industry. Due to the emergence of new industrial infrastructure, particularly in the construction and automotive industries, it is expanding quickly. The effectiveness of glass manufacturing facilities is heavily reliant on energy consumption efficiency and the implementation of new technologies. One of the biggest markets for glass in construction worldwide is India. Because green and sustainable architecture is becoming more widely accepted, it is predicted that rising urbanization and rising disposable incomes of end users will fuel market demand.
The glass market is likely to see considerable potential and is projected to expand at a CAGR of over 12% from 2019 to 2027. The commercial glass market in India is divided into types and industries. According to type, it is divided into four categories: container glass, fiber glass, flat glass, and specialty glass. Of these, container glass is predicted to hold a significant market share in India's commercial glass market due to rising consumer awareness of health and hygiene issues as well as an increase in the use of glass containers as opposed to plastic ones. According to industry, it is divided into the food and beverage, automotive, and architectural sectors, with the architectural sector holding the majority of market share and expected to experience the highest CAGR in the next years.
Industry Major Market Players:
· Asahi Glass Company (AGC)
· Nippon Sheet Glass
· Saint Gobain
· Metro Performance Glass
· Hartung Glass Industries
· Pilkington
· Guardian Industries
· China Southern Glass
· Central Glass
· Asahi India Glass (AIS)
· Trakya Cam Sanayii
· PPG
· Fuyao Group
· Taiwan Glass Group
· Cardinal Glass Industries
· Sanxia New Material
· Shanghai Yaohua Pilkington Glass Group
· Xinyi Glass Holdings
· China Glass Holdings
· Jinjing Group
· China Luoyang Float Glass
