toughened glass

Toughened glass is glass that has been strengthened through a controlled process of sudden cooling, known as thermal tempering. This method involves rapidly cooling the glass's outer layers with air jets. As the outer layers cool and contract faster than the interior, they create a state of compression on the surface, significantly strengthening the glass.12

Another method to toughen glass is through lamination, where layers of glass are bonded with polymers like polyvinyl butyral. This process absorbs mechanical energy, reducing the likelihood of crack development and minimizing the risk of flying shards upon fracture. Toughened glass is often used in applications where safety is a concern, such as in shower doors or aircraft windshields.32