Float Glass
Glass manufactured by floating molten glass on a bed of molten tin, producing perfectly flat, uniform sheets with parallel surfaces and consistent thickness.
Technical Details
The float glass process (invented by Pilkington in 1959) produces approximately 90% of the world's flat glass. Molten glass at ~1,900°F is poured onto a bath of molten tin in a nitrogen/hydrogen atmosphere. The glass floats on the denser tin, spreading out to a uniform thickness determined by the speed of the glass ribbon. Standard float glass thicknesses range from 2mm to 25mm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called float glass?
The name comes from the manufacturing process where molten glass literally floats on a bath of molten tin. The tin surface is perfectly flat, giving the glass its uniform thickness and optical clarity.
Related Terms
See It in Action
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