Quality sheet glass in bulk is widely used in the construction of private and commercial premises. Produced by the float method, the glass gets the shape of a rectangular sheet, which is the basis of its name.
Float method is a method of glass production invented by the English scientist Pilkington. It consists of spreading molten glass over a mineral base. At the junction of the two materials, a perfectly flat surface is formed. After cooling, the user receives a sheet of perfect glass of high quality, without optical distortion. After the complete process, the sheet glass is sold for further implementation in the construction project.
The characteristics and application of the product depend on the labeling. A total of seven quality classes can be distinguished. We will tell you about each of them:
✔ M0 - the thickness of 0.2-0.6 cm and mirror optimization allows you to make high-precision devices from such glass. It is devoid of any imperfections and is considered the purest.
✔ M1 - At the same thickness, there may be slight distortions on the surface. This marking is used in the production of high quality mirrors, in the automotive industry.
✔ Mirrored M2 - Used in industry, glass products of mass realization.
✔ M3 - Polished sheet glass in Ukraine is used in the manufacture of furniture, decorative elements, car construction.
✔ M4 - Translucent products, windows, furniture.
✔ M5 - Not polished product for interior items, slow-moving and agricultural transport.
✔ M6 - Unpolished glass for translucent products.
✔ M7 - Stained glass polished with a thickness of 0.6 - 1.2 cm.
Classification determines the number of imperfections on the area of the product. The smaller the number - the better the quality of the product.
Production of sheet glass from the manufacturer
Sheet glass in bulk is produced by two methods: float (described above), and vertical pulling on machines (Furko method). To date, it is the float method is advantageous, and is used in modern production. The result of production is a sheet of transparent glass, the thickness of which is significantly inferior to the length or width.
In the float method, the molten glass is sent to a float bath where the glass is rolled over molten tin. This produces a smooth clear glass.
