I’ve always wondered about glass and its various applications. There are so many objects or home features made of glass: windows, shower doors, mirrors, skylights, kitchen bakeware, light fixtures, older TV screens, and more.
What prompts me to write about glass? Yesterday, while working on my computer I heard a strange sound, as if something had plinked around in my tub in the bathroom. I got up to investigate but found nothing other than the ring I keep meaning to clean, but that’s a story for another day.
Then as I walked through the living room to get to the kitchen something caught my eye. As I turned my head I suddenly gasped. What did I see?
This…
That glass totally shattered, and yet it didn’t just fall all apart. Fortunately no one was hurt and I didn’t have a fire going at the time.
So what kept it all together? Why didn’t the glass just fall apart?
It is tempered glass; not regular window glass as you might expect. Here are a couple of links that explain what tempering is all about.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toughened_glass
and
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-tempered-glass.htm
I keep thinking, “I’m sure glad I didn’t have a fire going in the fireplace.” Can you imagine the scene with all the smoke etc.?