Float glass is created through a manufacturing process involving both molten glass and a molten metal such as tin, or lead. It is extremely flat, smooth and uniform and as a result is most commonly used in the fabrication of transparent window panes for construction, automotive, engineering and residential industries.
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Cat-i Glass ManufacturingSouth Elgin, IL 847-931-8986 For your glass fabrication needs, you can count on Cat-i Glass Manufacturing to provide precision products at cost-effective prices. Since they began in 1965 as Elgin Precision Glass, this company has been providing you with products geared to meet each one of you individual requirements. When it comes to float glass, they have you covered, so call today for your next quote.
S & S Optical Company, Inc.New Haven, IN 260-749-9614 Over the years, S & S Optical Company has been able to build up an extensive knowledge and relationship base in the area of precision glass and fabrication. They are constantly taking advantage of the opportunities to reinforce their technological know how with every new customer application. For float glass you can depend on, call today for a quote.
Precision Glass Bending CorporationGreenwood, AR 800-543-8796 Precision Glass Bending has been manufacturing affordable bent glass since 1993. We use advanced technologies and patented methods to provide our customers with quality and on schedule float glass. There are tens of thousands of shape choices and millions of fabrication options for our bent glass products. Visit our website today or request a quote!
Glastron, Inc / Tech GlassVineland, NJ 877-691-7846 Glastron / Tech Glass has the float glass resources to fulfill your needs quickly. We offer the same high quality products and services to individuals & small businesses as we do to major distributors. We offer prompt & efficient service for the best in commercial, electronic, medical & laboratory glassware. Call today to find out how you can benefit & save by purchasing direct from us!
Glas Werk, Inc.Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 800-745-2793 Glas Werk is a superior glass fabricator. We specialize in manufacturing custom and scientific glassware products and custom quartzware for a variety of applications. Our offerings include: furnace tubes, wafer boats, pedestals and bell jars. We are dedicated to providing personalized customer service.
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Float Glass
Float glass is made in a process commonly referred to as the Pilkington process. It requires a lot of heat energy to fabricate, and yet the consistently high rate of production is a benefit. A mixture of recycled glass, silica, lime and soda are melted down in a furnace. Glass fabricators feed this molten mixture into a bath or bed of molten tin or lead through a delivery channel. Glass, being a less dense material than either tin or lead, rises to the top of the bed and forms a flat and smooth rolling surface moving along the bath. The temperature gradually lowers and the layer of glass cools and solidifies while floating on top of the mixture and forms a sheet of transparent and smooth glass. It is then lifted and moved by rollers to a kiln for the process of annealing. This removes potential areas of stress within the glass product and finishes the glass product in a stable and smooth state.
Additives can be incorporated into the initial molten glass mixture for the purposes of adding colors or refining materials, or for the production of specific types of glass such as safety glass. Commonly fabricated colors include grey, bronze and tints such as blue or green. These additives can also affect the opacity or ultraviolet transmission, thermal and electrical conductivity properties and heat resistance of the glass sheets. These features are required for certain applications. Glass produced through this method can vary in thickness according to the desired use of the pane, but common commercial thicknesses range from 2-19mm. The thickness is determined by the speed at which the molten glass moves over the metal, the faster it goes, the thinner the sheet of glass will be. In the case of tin being used as the molten metal, some of the tin may be absorbed by the molten glass prior to cooling, creating an almost invisible haze on one side of the panel. Other low reflectivity or emissive coatings can be applied at this time too as coated glass has a wide range of uses in industry. After the glass has cooled and has been through the annealing process, it is then cut into the desired sizes for its intended use.
