Different Types of Glass

Float glass is produced by pouring molten glass continuously from a furnace onto a bed of molten tin. Controlled cooling, or the annealing process, modifies the internal stresses of the glass ensuring its flatness and allowing it to be cut in a predictable way. Float glass is available in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from 2mm through to 15mm.

Clear glass is produced using the float process. It is colourless and allows high light transmittance.

Tinted glass is also produced by the float process and adding small quantities of metal oxides to create the desired colour. In Australia the three colours produced are green, grey and bronze. Tinting does increase heat absorption.

Patterned glass is produced when one of the rollers carries a pattern that is pressed into the glass. This is called a rolling process. In Australia patterned glass is available in white, bronze and grey with thicknesses from 3mm to 6mm. Not all patterned glass can be toughened or laminated because of the depth variations of the pattern.