Lightweight Laminated Glasses for Building Applications Without Compromises on Performances

Abstract

When a building glazing requires enhanced safety, security, or resistance to extreme weather conditions, laminated glass is typically the solution of choice. This type of glass is generally composed of two sheets of float glass bonded together with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer. While float glass thickness is usually a multiple of one millimeter, PVB layers are commonly available in fractional inch measurements (e.g., 0.38 mm, 0.76 mm). However, there is no inherent reason why optimal laminated glass configurations must adhere to these standard thicknesses. By thoroughly testing experimentally the impact resistance of laminated glass, we have optimized both glass and PVB thicknesses to develop a new range of lightweight laminated glasses. This innovation achieves up to a 50% reduction in weight and is compatible with usual manufacturer capabilities and industry standards. The breakthrough lies in identifying the ideal glass-to-PVB thickness ratio. This significant weight reduction is accomplished without compromising performance in terms of impact resistance (EN356 and EN12600 levels of performance are the same as in an usual -thicker- laminated glass), wind load resistance (stress and deflection are kept identical to the usual window compositions without laminated glasses) or processability (these new laminated glasses can be cut and assembled in Insulated Glazing Units without hardware modifications of the transformation lines).