Bent Glass

Regular glass curved by a special process. Production starts with flat glass which is treated in a horizontal mould by slowly heating the glass.

Body-tinted Glass

Regular float glass into whose melt colorants are added for tinting and solar-radiation absorption properties.

Bullet Proof Glass

It is constructed using a strong but transparent material such as polycarbonate thermoplastic or by using layers of laminated glass. The desired result is a material with an appearance and light-transmitting behaviour of standar

Burmese Glass

A particular type of art glass which is produced by treating ordinarily translucent white glass with uranium oxide and tincture of gold.

Cavity

The cavity formed by the spacer bar between the two panes of glass in double-glazed units, is generally filled with air. The air can be replaced with argon for example, for enhanced thermal insulation.

Decibel (dB)

Abbreviation of decibel, the unit of measurement of sound.

Double glazing

Glazing comprising two panes of glass for acoustic or thermal insulation.

Double-glazed unit

Two panes of glass, separated by a cavity and hermetically sealed in a factory, to provide thermal insulation.

Electrically Heated Glass

A laminated glass incorporating almost invisible electrically-conductive wires. It comprises two or more sheets of glass interlaid with one or more films of polyvinyl butyral (PVB).

Electrochromic Glass

Also called as electric-control curtain glass, it changes from opaque to clear with a flick of a switch. It is produced with the multi-development of electronics and glass techniques.

Electrochromic Vacuum Glass

A thermally insulating glass which is obtained by combining vacuum glazing and electrochromic glazing.

Emissivity

Emissivity is a surface characteristic of a material. It is the relative ability of a surface to absorb and emit energy in the form of radiation. Low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings reduce the normally relatively high surface emissivity of the glass. The coatings are mainly transparent over the visible wavelengths but reflect long wave infra-red radiation towards the interior of the building.

Enamelled Glass

Enamels are soft powdered coloured glass that are mixed with a medium and painted onto flat glass with a brush, for decorative purposes.

Enhanced thermal insulation

Conventional double glazing provides thermal insulation. Double glazing comprising a low-emissivity glass provides enhanced thermal insulation.

Etched Glass

It is the result of carving of the surface of flat glass to leave a white, frosted finish.

Face

The term used to describe the surfaces of the glass in numerical order from the exterior to the interior. The exterior surface is always referred to as face 1. For a double-glazed unit, the surface of the outer pane facing into the cavity is face 2, the surface of the inner pane facing into the cavity is face 3 and the internal surface of the inner pane is face 4.

Float glass

High quality, transparent flat glass manufactured by means of the float tank procedure that is floating molten glass on a "tin-bath" at extremely high temperature. See SGG PLANILUX, SGG PARSOL.

Lacquered glass

Opaque and coloured glass produced by depositing and baking a highly resistant lacquer onto one side.  See SGG PLANILAQUE EVOLUTION.

Laminated glass / laminate / laminating

Two or more sheets of annealed or heat treated glass are separated by one or more plastic interlayers (normally PVB) and subjected to heat and pressure, in order to ensure perfect adhesion between constituent elements. 

Light transmittance (LT)

The proportion of the visible light spectrum that is transmitted through the glass.

Liquid Crystal Glass

It comprises laminated glass, with a minimum of two clear or coloured sheets of glass and a liquid crystal film, assembled between at least two plastic interlayers. It allows for switching between transparency and transluc

Low-emissivity (low-E)

See "emissivity"

Magnetically enhanced cathodic sputtering

See "Sputtered coating".

Patterned glass

Translucent patterned glass, manufactured by rolling heat-softened glass between embossed cylinders. See SGG DECORGLASS, SGG MASTERGLASS.

Photovoltaic Glass

A special glass with integrated solar cells that convert solar energy into electricity.

Reflective Glass

Essentially, ordinary float glass with a metallic coating that cuts off solar heat. The coating also provides a one-way mirror effect.

Sandblasted Glass

Sandblasting is the process of blasting the surface of glass with grit which peppers the surface, giving it a milky white appearance.

Satin Glass

Glass that has been chemically treated to give it a satin finish; is made by treating finished glass products with hydrofluoric acid to remove the shine.

 

Self-cleaning glass

Property of glass with a photocatalytic and hydrophilic coating. The coating harnesses the dual-action of UV light and rain (or water) to break down organic dirt and reduce the adherence of mineral material. The glass stays c

Silvering or silvered glass

A process used in the manufacture of mirrors, whereby a silver coating is applied to one surface of the glass. See SGG MIRALITE EVOLUTION.

Solar control glass

Coated glass to reflect and/or absorb solar energy to prevent excessive heat gain. See SGG REFLECTASOL, SGG ANTELIO PLUS, SGG COOL-LITE, SGG NANO

Solar factor

The percentage of total solar radiant heat energy transmitted through glazing (the sum of energy transmitted directly and energy absorbed and re-emitted to the interior). 

Spacer bar

Generally an aluminium bar along all edges of a double-glazed unit, filled with desiccant, which separates the two panes of glass and creates a cavity.

Sputtered coating / coated

An advanced metallic coating is applied to the glass "off-line" or after the float glass manufacturing process, by a technique called magnetically enhanced cathodic sputtering under vacuum conditions.

Thermally insulating glazing

Double-glazed units provide thermal insulation. See also "enhanced thermal insulation" and "Document L".

Toughened/Tempered glass

Glass that has been subjected to a controlled heating and cooling process in order to significantly increase its resistance to mechanical and thermal stress. Through the thermal toughening process, the glass attains its safe-breakage cha