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Did you know?
Metal oxide coatings on the outside of glass containers are typically less than 10 nanometers thick. That's less than one ten-thousandth the width of an average human hair.
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| Annealing and Tempering |
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Annealing
If you are using or manufacturing glass items and are unaware of the annealing or cord characteristics of the item, you may be exposing yourself to unnecessary risks. An improperly annealed glass item exhibits elevated tensile stress levels, which if excessive can produce spontaneous failure of the item. In addition, when loads such as internal pressure or thermal shock are applied to improperly annealed items, the two stress fields combine and can lead to elevated stress levels and premature catastrophic failure. Likewise, cord is a streak of glass of different composition than the rest of the item and can also produce regions of elevated tensile stress that can combine and lead to product failures. |
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American Glass Research has the expertise to perform detailed analysis of residual permanent stresses from annealing and cord and can assist you in determining the proper course of action when these stresses are excessive. Experiencing delayed or warehouse breakage is a costly way to learn that the annealing or cord stresses in an item are unacceptably high. Therefore, the performance of a cord and annealing evaluation by itself or in combination with a comprehensive test protocol is a prudent step towards ensuring quality glassware.
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Tempered Ware
When increased tensile strength glass is required, thermally tempering the item is one method to achieve this goal. Properly tempered glass must have layers of compression on outside glass surfaces, with a buried layer of tension stress within the interior of the glass thickness. If the item fails, tempered glass offers the added safety of dicing (breaking into relatively uniform chunks of glass rather than sharp shards). |
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American Glass Research is equipped for comprehensive evaluations of tempered items. Our testing will establish (1.) the presence of a sufficient compression layer, (2.) the absence of undesirable tensile stress reaching the outside surface and (3.) the uniform distribution of the internal stresses. Tempering non-flat glassware is known to be difficult; therefore, testing these items prior to commercial distribution is imperative to avoid reports of spontaneous or unexplainable item failures.
In the event that your tempered items are reportedly breaking, avoid the temptation to make assumptions regarding the cause of the failure. An examination of the fractured pieces by a trained American Glass Research representative can provide clear feedback regarding the source of the failure; whether it is related to stress distribution, a serious flaw or mishandling of the item.
Contact Us
Whether your interest is in a cord and annealing evaluation or an assessment of a tempered item, we would be happy to discuss how our services can benefit you. We are always willing to provide an upfront, no-cost estimate prior to any service. |
Inquiry Form | Print this page | Contact us for more information | Call (724) 482-2163 |
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