Popular Science on Common Flat Glass and Cold-Processed Art Glass in Construction
As an indispensable core material in the construction field, glass integrates light transmittance, decorativeness and functionality. The choice of its type directly affects the appearance, safety and energy-saving effect of the building. In construction projects,flat glass is a basic category that undertakes core functions such as lighting and protection; while cold-processed art glass injects aesthetic value and personalized temperament into the building through diversified process upgrades. This article will be divided into three parts to detailedly analyze the types of common flat glass used in construction, the category characteristics of cold-processed art glass, and the adaptive application of the two types of glass in buildings, helping everyone fully understand the core knowledge of architectural glass.
I. Common Flat Glass in Construction: Core Categories of Basic Functional Glass
Flat glass refers to flat glass products that have not undergone in-depth processing. It is the basic form of architectural glass, mainly used in basic scenarios such as lighting, partitioning, doors and windows. With the characteristics of high cost performance and strong versatility, it accounts for more than 70% of the total application of architectural glass. According to the differences in production processes and performance, common flat glass used in construction is mainly divided into the following 5 categories, each with its unique applicable scenarios.
- is ordinary flat glass, also known as sheet glass, which is the most basic category of flat glass. It is produced by processes such as float glass and sheet glass. It has a flat surface and good light transmittance, but low strength and poor thermal stability. When broken, it will form sharp fragments, resulting in weak safety. Ordinary flat glass can be divided into specifications such as 2mm, 3mm, 4mm and 5mm according to thickness. Glass with a thickness of 2-3mm is often used for indoor partitioning and window display; glass with a thickness of 4-5mm can be used for the base layer of doors, windows and curtain walls. Due to its insufficient safety, it has gradually been replaced by tempered glass, and is only used in low-risk scenarios or as a substrate for deep-processed glass.
- is tempered glass, which belongs to the category of safety glass. It is a deep-processed glass made by heating and quenching ordinary flat glass. The strength of tempered glass is 3-5 times that of ordinary flat glass, with extremely strong impact resistance. When broken, it will decompose into small obtuse-angled particles, which will not cause serious harm to the human body, and the safety is significantly improved. In addition, the thermal stability of tempered glass is also better than that of ordinary glass. It can withstand large temperature changes and is not easy to crack due to excessive temperature difference. In construction, tempered glass is widely used in scenarios with high safety requirements such as doors and windows, curtain walls, balcony railings and elevator cabs. It is currently the most used safety flat glass in the construction field.
- is laminated glass, also known as sandwich glass, which also belongs to the category of safety glass. It is composed of two or more pieces of flat glass with one or more layers of organic polymer interlayers (such as PVB film, SGP film) clamped between them, and compounded by high temperature and high pressure. The core advantage of laminated glass is that it "breaks but does not fall". Even if the glass is broken, the fragments will be firmly stuck by the interlayer and will not splash and scatter, which can effectively prevent personnel from falling and foreign objects from invading. At the same time, it can also block ultraviolet rays and reduce noise. According to the material and thickness of the interlayer, laminated glass can be divided into ordinary laminated glass, bulletproof glass, explosion-proof glass, etc. Ordinary laminated glass is often used in doors and windows, lighting roofs and corridor partitions; bulletproof and explosion-proof laminated glass is used in buildings with extremely high safety requirements such as banks, museums and high-end office buildings.
- is insulated glass, which is an energy-saving glass made by placing two or more pieces of flat glass in parallel, reserving a cavity of a certain width in the middle, filling the cavity with dry air or inert gas (such as argon), and sealing the edges. The core characteristics of insulated glass are thermal insulation and sound insulation. Its cavity structure can effectively block heat transfer, reduce heat exchange between the interior and exterior of the building, reduce indoor heat loss in winter, block outdoor heat from entering in summer, and significantly reduce the energy consumption of building air conditioning and heating; at the same time, insulated glass can also effectively block outdoor noise and create a quiet indoor environment. The substrate of insulated glass is usually tempered glass or laminated glass, which is widely used in high-rise building doors and windows, curtain walls and passive ultra-low energy consumption buildings. It is currently the core glass category in the field of building energy conservation.
- is LOW-E glass, that is, low-emissivity glass, which is an energy-saving glass made by coating one or more layers of low-emissivity coatings (such as silver film, tin oxide film) on the surface of flat glass. LOW-E glass can effectively reflect infrared rays and ultraviolet rays. It can not only block outdoor infrared rays from entering the room and reduce solar radiant heat, but also retain indoor infrared rays to achieve thermal insulation effect. At the same time, it can also block more than 90% of ultraviolet rays, protecting indoor furniture and clothing from fading. LOW-E glass can be divided into single-piece LOW-E glass and insulated LOW-E glass. Among them, insulated LOW-E glass has better energy-saving effect. It is currently the preferred glass category for high-end buildings and green buildings, and is widely used in curtain walls and high-end residential doors and windows.
II. Cold-Processed Art Glass: Decorative Glass Category with Both Aesthetics and Functionality
Cold-processed art glass refers to decorative glass products that take flat glass as the substrate and change the appearance, transparency or pattern texture of the glass through cold processing techniques that do not require high-temperature heating, such as cutting, edging, sandblasting, etching, film covering and splicing, and have both decorativeness, artistry and functionality. Compared with hot-processed art glass (such as hot-melt glass, blown glass), cold-processed art glass has the advantages of mature technology, controllable cost, precise patterns and strong stability. It is the most widely used art glass category in the field of architectural decoration. According to the differences in processing technology, common cold-processed art glass mainly includes the following 6 categories.
- is sandblasted glass, also known as frosted glass. It forms a uniform frosted texture on the surface of flat glass by impacting and grinding the surface with abrasives such as quartz sand and emery under high pressure. Sandblasted glass can effectively block the line of sight and realize privacy protection, while maintaining good light transmittance. When light passes through, it will form a soft diffuse reflection, creating a hazy and elegant space atmosphere. According to the different sandblasting effects, sandblasted glass can be divided into full sandblasting, partial sandblasting, gradient sandblasting, etc. Partial sandblasted glass is often used for doors and windows, partitions and bathroom glass. Through the contrast between the reserved transparent patterns and the sandblasted areas, personalized decorative effects are created; full sandblasted glass is suitable for scenarios that need to completely block privacy, such as office partitions and bedroom bathroom doors and windows.
- is etched glass, which forms fine patterns, characters or textures on the surface of glass through chemical etching (such as hydrofluoric acid corrosion) or physical etching (such as laser etching). Compared with sandblasted glass, etched glass has clearer and more delicate patterns, more transparent texture, and can achieve more complex decorative effects. Moreover, its surface is smooth, not easy to accumulate dust, and easy to clean. The pattern edges of chemically etched glass are soft, suitable for creating elegant European and Chinese style decorations; laser etched glass has extremely high precision, can realize precise characters and line patterns, and is often used for logos, background walls and door and window decorations of high-end buildings. In addition, etched glass can also be combined with sandblasting technology to form a composite effect of "etching + sandblasting", further enhancing the decorative layering.
- is film-coated glass, which is a decorative glass made by pasting special glass films (such as color films, frosted films, reflective films, explosion-proof films) on the surface of flat glass. Glass films have diverse materials, rich colors and optional patterns, which can quickly change the appearance effect of glass. At the same time, they can also endow glass with additional functions. For example, frosted films can realize privacy protection, reflective films can improve the heat insulation and anti-glare effects of glass, and explosion-proof films can enhance the safety of glass and prevent fragments from splashing when the glass is broken. Film-coated glass has simple construction, low cost, and can be replaced at any time, with strong flexibility. It is widely used in indoor partitions, doors and windows, shop windows, office building curtain walls and other scenarios, especially suitable for the renovation of glass in old buildings.
- is mirror mosaic glass, also known as glass mosaic. It cuts flat glass of different colors, specifications and textures (such as tempered glass, laminated glass, sandblasted glass) into irregular or regular small pieces, and then combines them into exquisitely patterned decorative panels through splicing, pasting, edge sealing and other processes. Mirror mosaic glass has rich color matching and strong pattern three-dimensional sense, which can create luxurious and grand decorative effects. Common patterns include geometric figures, flower patterns, abstract patterns, etc., which can be customized and designed according to architectural style and space needs. Mirror mosaic glass is mainly used in decorative scenarios such as indoor background walls, ceilings, foyers and corridors, and is one of the core decorative materials to enhance the appearance of the space.
- is ice flower glass, also known as cracked ice glass. It forms natural textures similar to cracked ice on the surface of flat glass through special cold processing technology. The textures are irregular but full of beauty, which can create a natural, simple and vivid space atmosphere. Ice flower glass has moderate light transmittance, can effectively block the line of sight and protect privacy. At the same time, its unique texture can increase the diffuse reflection of light, making the space light softer. Ice flower glass can be divided into single-sided ice flower and double-sided ice flower. It is suitable for doors and windows, partitions, bathroom glass, shop windows and other scenarios, especially suitable for simple and natural architectural styles such as Chinese and Japanese styles.
- is patterned glass. It is a cold-processed glass that forms fixed patterns on the surface of flat glass through pressing with patterned rollers during the production process. Patterned glass has a variety of patterns, such as stripes, water ripples, diamond patterns, chrysanthemum patterns, etc. Different patterns can present different decorative effects, and can effectively block the line of sight and realize privacy protection. Patterned glass has good light transmittance. When light passes through, it will form a unique light and shadow effect due to the refraction of the pattern, creating a warm and elegant space atmosphere. Patterned glass is widely used in doors and windows, partitions, bathrooms, kitchens and other scenarios, and is one of the most commonly used cold-processed art glass in home decoration.
III. Adaptive Application of Flat Glass and Cold-Processed Art Glass: Balancing Function and Aesthetics
In architectural design and decoration, flat glass and cold-processed art glass are not used independently. Instead, they are reasonably matched according to factors such as space function, architectural style and safety requirements, which not only meet the basic functions of lighting, protection and energy saving, but also enhance the decorative and aesthetic value of the building. In different scenarios, the adaptive selection of the two types of glass has a clear logic, with the core of "function first, aesthetic adaptation".
In the scenario of doors, windows and curtain walls, the core requirements are safety, energy saving and wind pressure resistance. Therefore, functional flat glass such as tempered glass, insulated glass and LOW-E glass are preferred to ensure the safety performance and energy saving effect of the building. For high-end office buildings, hotels and other curtain walls that need to improve decorativeness, the combination of "LOW-E insulated glass + partial etching/sandblasting process" can be adopted, which not only retains the energy saving and safety functions, but also creates a unique architectural appearance through partial artistic processing; for residential doors and windows, the combination of "tempered insulated glass + film" can be selected to balance the needs of thermal insulation, sound insulation and privacy protection, and adjust the indoor light atmosphere through the color of the film.
In the scenario of indoor partitions and private spaces, the core requirements are privacy protection, space division and decorativeness. Therefore, cold-processed art glass such as sandblasted glass, etched glass, ice flower glass and patterned glass are preferred. For example, bathroom partitions need to balance privacy and water resistance, so frosted glass or patterned glass can be selected. At the same time, to improve safety, art glass with tempered substrate is required; office partitions need to balance privacy and transparency, so partial sandblasted or etched glass can be selected. Through the division of transparent and frosted areas, the space effect of "both independent and connected" is realized; the partition between the bedroom and the living room can choose ice flower glass or mirror mosaic glass, which not only blocks the line of sight, but also enhances the decorative layering of the space.
In the scenario of indoor decoration and background walls, the core requirements are aesthetic decoration and atmosphere creation. Therefore, cold-processed art glass such as mirror mosaic glass, etched glass and film-coated glass can be flexibly matched to create personalized decorations combined with the space style. For example, European-style living rooms can choose etched glass background walls with European patterns, matched with metal lines to create a luxurious and elegant atmosphere; modern minimalist foyers can choose mirror mosaic glass with geometric patterns to enhance the fashion sense of the space; Chinese-style studies can choose etched glass with landscape and calligraphy patterns to highlight the charm of traditional culture. At the same time, decorative art glass should pay attention to matching the color and material of the wall and furniture to avoid being too abrupt and ensure the unity of the space style.
In special scenarios such as banks, museums and hospitals, the core requirements are high safety, explosion-proof and protection. Therefore, high-strength flat glass such as laminated glass and bulletproof glass are preferred. At the same time, partial etching or film coating can be carried out on the glass surface according to the scenario requirements to balance safety and identification functions. For example, the partition of bank counters needs to adopt bulletproof laminated glass to ensure the safety of funds and personnel; the glass of museum showcases needs to adopt low-reflection laminated etched glass, which not only protects the exhibits from ultraviolet damage, but also facilitates the audience's viewing, and improves the decorativeness of the showcases.
In addition, when selecting architectural glass, it is also necessary to pay attention to relevant specification requirements. For example, the curtain walls of high-rise buildings must use safety glass (tempered glass or laminated glass), and ordinary flat glass is prohibited; areas prone to collision such as bathrooms and balconies must use tempered glass or tempered art glass to ensure safe use. At the same time, according to the energy-saving level requirements of the building, energy-saving flat glass such as insulated glass and LOW-E glass should be reasonably selected to help the building achieve the goal of green energy saving.
In summary, flat glass is the basic functional material of buildings, undertaking core responsibilities such as safety, energy saving and lighting; cold-processed art glass is an "upgraded version" of flat glass, which endows glass with artistic value through diversified processes and meets the decorative needs of buildings. The reasonable matching of the two can achieve "win-win of function and aesthetics", making the building not only safe and energy-saving, but also full of personality and texture. With the continuous upgrading of glass processing technology, the future architectural glass will develop towards the direction of "safer, more energy-saving and more artistic", providing more possibilities for architectural design.
