Curved glass has endless possibilities and applications, from building façades, as seen on “Fondation Louis Vuitton” in Paris, to stylish shower doors in your home.
Here are the key benefits of curved glass:
When manufactured properly, curved glass has a number of key benefits that will enhance any building/renovation project.
1. Curved Glass is Strong and Durable
A curved glass panel is load resistant due to its curvature. The arched construction of curved glass minimises deflection which enhances its structural integrity. This makes curved glass a fantastic addition to structures where longevity and mechanical strength are essential. A well-thought-out design that integrates curved glass can reduce the demand for additional building materials which may lead to a decrease in construction expenses.
2. Curved Glass is Visually Enticing
The shapes that can be made from curved glass provide an unheard-of degree of inventiveness in the construction and design of a building or structure. Curved glass allows architects to experiment with more organic and flowing design ideas.
3. Transparency
Architects and designers use curved glass to manipulate the flow of light to maximise the amount of natural light entering a building or structure. This is not only beneficial to those inside but also, aesthetically, makes your building appear to have more space.
What are the Applications of Curved Glass?
Curved glass offers a wide range of attractive uses. From Exterior building façades, storefronts, to windows for your home, can all utilise curved glass. Internally, it can be used for room dividers, elevator glass panels, shower doors, staircase railings and enclosures. Architecturally curved glass can be used in domes, solariums, aquariums, tunnel vaults, and revolving doors.
Curved glass is a fantastic replacement for conventional applications of glass. It is the ideal material for architectural purposes because it is environmentally friendly, aesthetically appealing, and thermally insulating.
A brief overview of how curved glass is manufactured
Modern horizontal curving and tempering lines commonly operate as such:
- Step 1: The flat glass is heated to a temperature over 630 °C.
- Step 2: Once heated, the glass is moved while in the furnace into the bending station, where it is bent to its desired radius.
- Step 3: The glass is twisted into the direction the glass flows, which is known as lengthwise bending.
- Step 4: The glass can also be bent crosswire across the glass flow, which is known as crosswire bending.
- Step 5: The tempered glass is cooled to trap high energy forces inside of it.
- Step 6: The curved and tempered glass comes out of the furnace.