Application of glass in building materials
About 5,000 years ago, in ancient Egypt, it was known that sand, lime and soda powder could be used to make glass, that is, soda lime silicate glass. However, earlier artificial glass appeared around 2500 BC. Until the late twentieth century, glass materials finally ushered in a period of rapid development due to the appearance of a completely smooth appearance and more advanced glass manufacturing technology. Glass is a fragile, hard, usually transparent material. But the nature of most glass materials can be changed by adding other substances. For example, the amount of boron in the glass determines the electrical and thermal insulation properties of the glass. As a result, more and more different types of glass have been invented and manufactured, and light is used in different fields.
Advantages and disadvantages of glass
Advantage
1) The assembled glass can greatly enhance the aesthetic appearance of the building on the exterior wall of the building.
2) The light weight of the glass can reduce the weight of the building and the pressure of the building on itself and the foundation.
3) The durability of glass is superior to other building materials.
4) Glass is a more environmentally friendly material. The amount of light entering the building can be controlled by glass. It can save energy used in buildings and truly achieve a friendly and harmonious coexistence between buildings and the environment.
Disadvantage
1) The area suitable for the construction of glass structures is very limited.
2) Glass is more expensive than other traditional building materials.
3) Comparison of glass materials and traditional building materials.
Compared to traditional building materials, the openness of the glass allows people in the building to enjoy the outdoor greenery and beauty. This allows users to return to nature and create an incredible work environment and atmosphere. Compared with traditional architecture, the glass structure can make the building and the environment more harmonious. On the other hand, the physical properties and chemical properties of glass are easily changed. Due to this property, glass materials are more widely used and are suitable for more applications. Glazed glass, fireproof glass, hardened glass, etc. have been developed and put into use due to the needs of different fields. They are used as decorations, windows, walls, and even columns and beams. However, glass materials have advantages and there are some problems that need attention. Surveys have shown that the transparency of glass can sometimes lead to some personal privacy issues. The British Mirror reported that the glass part of the London Tower Bridge air corridor was cracked by the drop of a beer bottle. This case pushed the safety of glass materials to the cusp.
Although glass has become one of the more common materials in the construction process, its special properties and growing demand still drive the development of glass products and applications.