GLASS BRICK
Glass brick, also known as glass block, is an architectural element made
from glass. Glass brick was first invented by The French in early 1900's.
PROPERTIES OF GLASS BRICK
The texture and color of glass blocks can vary in order to provide a
range of transparency. Patterns can be pressed into either the
inner void or the outside surface of the glass when it is cooling in
order to provide differing effects.
They have high thermal insulation values. Glass blocks act as a
thermal barrier, significantly reducing heat loss in winter and heat
gain in summer.
Glass blocks are used in walls, skylights, and sidewalk lights.
glass blocks also offer excellent acoustic properties. Varying
acoustic ratings can be achieved by using different types of glass
blocks. This makes glass blocks a great solution for blocking noise
from busy roads, noisy neighbours, or even under commercial
flight paths.
the glass bricks are tough. They're stronger than concrete, and are
capable of withstanding the force of a car crash. The glass bricks
are potentially an eco-friendly construction innovation too.
Glass walls offer a high degree of light transmission; up to 79% of
the available light. This is equivalent to normal double-glazed
insulating panes.
Glass blocks have a high level of resistance to human impact,
making them a safe alternative to glass.
MANUFACTURING GLASS BRICK STEP BY STEP
Step 1
There are 4 ingredients required in order to make glass blocks and they
are limestone, soda ash, sand and cullet. Each ingredient is added in
certain amounts by a computerized system and after that they’re fed
into a large furnace that heats them up at twenty seven hundred
degrees Celsius. After the ingredients get mixed together and molten,
they will be poured in molds. The glass will then be spread in the molds
and a pattern will be imprinted on them.
Step 2
However, they also need to be cooled down and that is why a blast of
ambient air will get them from eighteen hundred degrees Celsius to
eleven hundred degrees Celsius in just a few seconds. This will help
them keep their new shape. Next, they will be laid on a conveyor belt
and transported into a sealing machine that joins the blocks together in
order to create a complete block. In order to ensure the glass
temperature is kept constant, the block will then need to pass through
several burners.
Step 3
The blocks will continue to be reheated until the edges start melting
under. After that, they will enter the squeeze station where a machine
will force the bottom half and top half together. As a result, the molten
edges will create a single block by fusing together. As expected, the
blocks will now have to be cooled down to about 175 degrees Celsius
after which they are going to be inspected. The inspection is done using
digital alignment gauges to ensure that both halves are completely
flush.
Step 4
When it comes to building with glass blocks, it is a process that bears
many similarities to using bricks and mortar. However, instead of
mortar, a special type of liquid binder is going to be used in order to
bind the glass blocks together. Lastly, a product code will be applied by
a special inkjet printer which contains info about the QC department,
the time when the blocks were produced and the manufacturing date.
The seal between the 2 halves and the strength of the sidewall is also
going to be checked by a worker just to make sure that the glass block
falls within certain quality standards. When the inspection is over, the
glass blocks will be packaged using cardboard boxes and loaded into
trucks so they can be transported to the clients who ordered them.
Given the fact it’s easily malleable, glass can be designed in a wide
range of shapes, sizes and patterns to fit the needs of anyone who
wants to decorate their home in a unique and beautiful way.
