The The Effect of Heating Temperature Variations in the Quenching Process in the Manufacture of Tempered Glass from Clear Glass on the Toughness of Glass Materials

Abstract

Glass is a hard yet brittle inorganic material that faces the risk of sudden failure from impact loads in construction, industrial, and automotive applications; thus, optimizing heating parameters is crucial to enhance safety and material lifespan. This study aims to analyze the effect of variations in heating temperature during the quenching process on the impact strength of tempered glass. The research method began with preparing clear glass specimens, which were then heated in a furnace at three different temperatures: 480°C, 565°C, and 650°C. Upon reaching the target temperature, the specimens were rapidly cooled (quenched) using an oil medium with an immersion time of 10 seconds. The final stage involved impact testing using the Charpy method to measure the specimens' absorbed energy based on the ASTM E-23 standard. The results showed that the increase in heating temperature was directly proportional to the increase in the glass's impact strength. The untreated specimen had an average impact energy of 2.20 joules, while the specimens treated at 480°C, 565°C, and 650°C produced 3.03 joules, 3.23 joules, and 3.33 joules, respectively. The most significant increase in impact strength was found at 650°C, with a 51.36% rise compared to the raw material. This study concludes that heating temperature plays a vital role in determining the amount of impact energy tempered glass can absorb, as the quenching process is proven to significantly improve the mechanical quality of clear glass against impact loads. These results can serve as a technical reference for industries in establishing optimal heat treatment procedures to produce glass with high safety standards.