What is plate glass?

Yakov Jacobson / July 26, 2018 / Industry News

Projector Port Glass

Plate glass finds common use in projector port windows for digital projectors. This type of glass is typically derived from casting in a solid plate. The method usually employed is a roller process, which removes almost all irregularity and distortions from the glass. Besides projector port installment, it finds use in the making of mirrors, tables and other objects which require clear and flat glass. Different weights of plate glass are available, ranging from durably thick to delicately thin.

How plate glass is made

The glass used in projector port windows is manufactured using a specialized process. Molten glass in its liquid form is first spread out on a metal table. While it cools, the glass is smoothed and polished to create a uniform sheet. Based on the specific requirements for the intended use, the glass may need to be polished again after it has cooled. Plate glass can alternately be produced through a floating process, where it is floated in a molten tin bath while it cools and solidifies.

The main thing to consider when buying plate glass is its thickness. If intended for use in a structure, for instance, the use of this material will be governed by building codes, which require a minimum thickness for safety reasons. If meant for use in a projector port window, then clarity and reflectance – as well as other optical qualities –are more important. Thicker glass is more durable, but sampling beforehand is essential to ensure the product meets specific standards and needs.

Differences from tempered glass

Plate Glass Uses

Tempered glass is another variety of glass, which is thermally altered for strength and temperature resistance. Un-tempered plate glass has the downside of producing shrapnel when it shatters, as opposed to tempered glass that only forms small blocks from the same event. Plate glass does not require manufacturing to size either, and that makes it more suited to custom-fit applications.

Laminated glass

Laminated glass is a safety glass, which uses two or more panes of float glass held together with a viscous plastic layer in between. The component glass layers are joined together using pressure and heat. When this type of glass breaks, the broken pieces stick to the plastic layer on the inside. This property makes it a safer material for the construction of windows, but places its optical transmission level significantly below that of plate glass.

This was some information on plate glass, used in projector port windows, and thermal and laminated glass, which find use in safety applications. Get in touch with our experts for more details on the same.