Types of glazing

CLEAR GLASS (SINGLE)

Clear glass (also known as annealed or float glass) is made from sand, soda, and lime, hence its name ‘silico-sodo-calcic glass’.

Flat glass is produced by melting a mixture of mineral materials in a ‘float’ furnace. The glass is poured in a molten state onto a smooth, defect-free surface: a bath of molten tin. The glass thus produced is called ‘annealed’ glass, having practically no internal stress.

MIRRORS

Mirrors are silvered glasses that reflect light rays. A well-placed mirror in a room can easily add more brightness and depth.

We offer a wide range of mirrors: clear, extra-clear, acid-etched, gray, black, bronze, with anti-fog heating film or protective film… and with various possible finishes: raw edges, polished, beveled, or chamfered…

LAMINATED GLASS

Laminated glass is an assembly of several single or processed glass panes with organic interlayers (plastic or resin). These interlayers are often made of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) and are assembled with the glass by applying pressure in an autoclave.

The primary use of laminated glass is safety. Indeed, when laminated glass breaks, the glass fragments are held in place by the interlayers, reducing the risk of cuts and preventing penetration through the glass. Laminated glass also filters UV rays (protection against sun damage).

Depending on the type of glass and interlayers used, laminated glass can be used for burglary resistance or to prevent falls of people and objects. Some interlayers can also add additional performance to laminated glass: acoustic insulation, fire protection… while others will add a decorative touch to your home: inclusion of fabrics, colored films…

Laminated glass is particularly used for bulletproof glazing, railings, floor tiles, interior partitions, etc.

TEMPERED GLASS

Tempered glass is a safety glass (sometimes called securit glass) that has undergone thermal treatment to increase its mechanical and thermal resistance. It is heated to over 600°C and then rapidly cooled by forced convection. Tempering significantly increases resistance to bending, compression, temperature variations, and mechanical shocks.

If it breaks, the glass fragments into small blunt pieces, reducing the risk of injury.

Once tempered, the glass cannot be processed (cutting, drilling holes, etc.) without breaking.

Tempered glass is particularly used for custom-made shower screens, interior glass doors, sauna doors, table tops, etc.

NEOCERAM GLASS

Neoceram is a vitroceramic glass. It is designed to withstand very high temperatures. It is perfectly suited for heating appliances (fireplaces, stoves, boilers, etc.).

FIRE-RESISTANT GLAZING

These glazings have fire resistance test reports that include the frames holding the glazings. They are mainly laminated glass with intumescent interlayers that expand in case of fire, providing the glazing with stability and flame resistance. There are two categories of glazings: flame-retardant or fire-resistant, with varying durations of resistance to meet different safety levels.

INSULATING GLASS

Insulating glass (double or triple glazing) consists of two (or three) glass panes separated by an air gap and assembled with a peripheral aluminum or composite (Warm Edge) spacer. Insulating glass provides better thermal insulation, especially those with reinforced thermal insulation (ITR), which consist of a low-emissivity coated glass and a gas layer (usually argon).

Different types of glass can be used for the composition of insulating glass. The characteristics of some of these glazings can provide better sound insulation, solar protection, visual protection from the outside, or protection for people (falls, break-ins…), etc. Insulating glass, depending on its purpose, can thus fulfill multiple functions at once (for example: thermal insulation + acoustic insulation + security).

RENOVATION INSULATING GLASS

Renovation insulating glass, such as Neoclair, allows the installation of double glazing with a thickness of 14 to 24 mm on old wooden joinery, without removing the putty (the putty and residual glass remain in the rebate). For more information: www.synelog.fr

DECORATIVE GLASS

There are multiple types of decorative glass and many possible transformations of glass: blown, printed, tinted, extra-clear, lacquered, sandblasted or acid-etched, with digital printing or special cutting or finishing.

Printed glass is cast, while blown glass is mouth-blown.

Colored glass is tinted in the mass by adding metallic oxides to the vitrifiable composition to achieve the desired colors.

Extra-clear glass contains less iron oxide than clear glass, giving it increased light transmission and a whiter appearance (the glass no longer has a green tint in thickness).

Acid-etched glass has been treated with acid on one of its faces, while sandblasting involves projecting sand grains at high speed onto one face of clear glass, giving it a fully or partially frosted appearance (patterns).

Lacquered glass is clear or frosted glass coated with a lacquer on the back, which protects the layer from damage. The appearance of lacquered glass is thus preserved.

Digital printing allows printing a digital file (photo, patterns, text…) on the glass.

VARIABLE OPACITY GLAZING

Variable opacity glazing is composed of laminated glass with a liquid crystal film. The glass changes from translucent to transparent when an electric current is passed through, triggered by a simple switch or remote control.

PLASTIC MATERIALS:

PMMA

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) (“plexiglass” or “altuglass”), which can be cast or extruded, is lighter than glass and UV-resistant. It comes in different thicknesses (we stock it in clear from 2 to 8 mm, beyond that or in other colors we can supply it on order).

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is highly impact-resistant and is used for roofing fill in the form of alveolar sheets.

Consult the glass dictionary