Float

This product is an annealed basic glass that is available world wide. It is manufactured using the float glass process, i.e. the molten glass is floated on a bath of molten tin. Float glass is transparent and has parallel faces thus giving good optical and visual quality. It is generally available as clear glass. However, it may be tinted, by addition of trace oxides into the melt, to produce blue, bronze, green, grey coloured glasses. Modification of the composition will also allow the production of a white glass.

It is generally available in thicknesses from 2mm to 25 mm for use in the construction industry. Other thicknesses are available for special purposes, i.e. automotive, transportation, solar energy.

The main product is soda lime silicate glass and this accounts for the majority of the production. However, float glass can also be manufactured for the following compositions:

borosilicate glass

alkaline earth silicate glass;

alumino silicate glass.

This product has been replaced, in the majority of applications, by float glass. It is produced by the drawn sheet process which results in a transparent product that does not have parallel faces. Sheet glass can have high visual quality and optical quality that is poorer than float glass. It is used in horticultural glazing and in applications where the optical quality is not important.

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