The strongest glass in the world
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Glass can be made to withstand heavy impacts. Explore the sturdiest specimens the world has seen so far.
What does glass need to be?
The answer you give will depend on context. The type of glass needed for a tumbler, for instance, will be different from that needed for a glass elevator.
But there are certain qualities that all glass should have. It should be aesthetically pleasing, whether clear, translucent or opaque. It should be manufactured in line with industry regulations. And above all, it should be strong.
Yes, strength is important in all applications. In some contexts, however, it's non-negotiable.
This is true whether you're installing a window where there's a risk of falling glass or constructing a structural feature like a facade, partition or balustrade. Skimping on strength means skimping on safety.
The good news is that if you work with a reputable and experienced processor, then you're working with high-quality, high-strength, fit-for-purpose products.
There's
toughened glass,
laminated glass,
heat-strengthened glass and variations on all three.
Security glass, for instance, can be made to withstand bullets, manual attacks and even
bomb blasts.
These products are strong. Very strong. But they're not the strongest in the world. That accolade goes to AM-III, a material invented in China in 2021.
H3: AM-III: the strongest glass in the world
Graphene. Aerogel. Carbon nanotubes. All are examples of new, lab-made materials – and we can add to that list AM-III, the strongest glass in the world.
Developed in China, AM-III is hard and strong enough to scratch diamond crystals. It's 113 gigapascals (GPa) when measured by the Vickers hardness test. It's hard to put this figure in context, but let's just say it's
very strong.
Its strength derives from its molecular structure. Diamond crystals get their strength and hardness from their organised molecular structures. AM-III, by contrast, gains strength from a combination of order and disorder in its molecules.
"Our measurements," say the scientists, "demonstrate that the AM-III material is comparable in strength to diamond and superior to the other known strongest materials."
And unlike diamonds, which are highly expensive and oxidise above 800 degrees, AM-III could have industrial applications. We ماي, for instance, one day see the strongest glass in the world used in solar cells.
What is a gigapascal?
A gigapascal is a unit of pressure. It's used to denote extremely high pressures in materials. One gigapascal or GPa is equal to a billion pascals!
Prince Rupert's drop
AM-III is a recent innovation. But super-strong glass has been sitting around without smashing for years. Take the curious case of Prince Rupert's drop – a toughened glass bead that looks like a tadpole with a long, thin tail.
Hit it with a hammer or shoot it with a bullet, and the drop will stay intact. Snap the tail, however, and the whole thing will burst into smithereens.
These contradictory properties are a result of the manufacturing process. Molten glass is dripped into cold water, creating high stress within the bead.
Also known as Dutch or Batavian tears, these fascinating specimens are named after Prince Rupert of the Rhine. He brought them to England in 1660, although they probably existed before then. The Royal Society and other scientists quickly set to work on studying their properties.
Without these studies, glassmakers may never have hit upon toughened glass – a product used in everything from car windows to shopfronts.
Gorilla Glass
Now in its ninth generation, Gorilla Glass is the proprietary name for a type of thin, light, super-strong glass primarily used for smartphone covers.
It's a kind of glass toughened by a process called "ion exchange". This involves submerging the glass in molten alkaline potassium salt at a high temperature.
When this happens, sodium ions swap places with bigger potassium ions. These make the glass stronger and more resistant to cracking.
Despite its strength – and use in everything from smartphones to smartwatches to TV screens – Gorilla Glass faces stiff competition from rival products. These include Dragontrail, Xensation and synthetic sapphire.
How strong is toughened glass?
Toughened glass (also known as "tempered glass") is known for its strength. It's typically four to five times stronger than standard annealed glass of the same thickness.
This strength is one reason why it's classed as safety glass. The other reason is its unique breaking pattern.
When toughened glass breaks, it doesn't split into great, sharp shards. Instead, it creates a shower of tiny, relatively harmless glass pebbles.
This makes it an ideal choice in applications where there's a risk of falling glass.
How strong is laminated glass?
Laminated glass is made by bonding two sheets of glass with a plastic interlayer. This makes it much stronger than annealed glass. And like toughened glass, it breaks in a way that maximises safety.
If you drub a laminated glass unit, it won't shatter. Instead, it will crack along the surface in a pattern like a spider's web.
You may have seen this in car windscreens where laminated glass is standard. It's also used for structural glazing and glazing in hurricane zones.
How do you measure the strength of glass?
The strength of glass is measured through tests. Most of the time, this consists of bending the glass until it breaks.
It's slightly different in the case of security glass. This is glass built to withstand heavy manual attacks from firearms, explosives and other powerful impacts.
In the case of bulletproof glass, this literally consists of firing a gun at the glass. Other types of glass are attacked with axes and hammers and dropped from specific heights.
These measurements are important because all of these products are meant to increase safety. If a toughened or laminated glass product hasn't been adequately tested, you could be putting building users and passersby at risk.
Looking for strong glass, tested in accordance with BS EN standards? Explore our range of laminated and
toughened glass products today or
get in touch for a quick, competitive quote.
