The full flat glass or float glass as we know it today was developed by the company Pilkington. In this process, raw materials are first melted in a furnace to about 1100°C. The mixture is then poured into a shallow bath of molten tin. Here the mixture floats (hence the term "float glass") and spreads evenly. The surface tension of glass and tin are so different that the liquid glass can float on the tin. The temperature of the glass gradually drops from 1100° to 600° Celsius when the glass leaves the tin bath in solid form. It is then automatically checked for quality and cut to the correct size.
Watch the videos below for a detailed explanation of the production process.
