You may have seen a lot of establishments you have visited having large slabs of translucent glass that enhance the décor of its surrounding environment. This type of glass is known as frosted glass and its popularity has seen it adorn a lot of restaurant walls, office spaces or bar counters. It is also used in residential houses to add a little bit of warmth and style, which is further complemented by lighting.
There are a lot of processes involved in making a frosted glass. While other glass types which include high performance glass or heat proof glass are made through techniques like coating and glazing, the frost effect on the glass is achieved through a process called sandblasting. This process is the reason why the light gets scattered when it falls on the glass’ surface, thereby creating a blurring effect while keeping its level of opacity intact.
Process of Manufacturing
The frosted glass is a type of annealed glass which means that it undergoes a process of rapid heating and cooling to toughen it and make it a strong and durable glass. While a lot of people think that frosted glass is brittle, it is quite the opposite.
The formula which gives the glass its frosting is made in a specific way. The ingredients include a certain kind of wallpaper paste, a white powder pigment of payment and a sort of PVA glue which is acid free. After the addition of water, all the items are mixed vigorously, apart from the glue which is added later. After the mixture settles down, the glue is added to the glass mixture so that it applies onto the glass perfectly.
There are various ways you can get a frosty appearance on your glass. While you can cover it with a mixture of magnesium sulphate and a thin coating of acacia, the use of white lead and oil is also not uncommon for a more permanent frosting solution. In fact, the use of the latter mixture feels more pleasing to the eye and its frosting can subtly mix with its surroundings.
It is very important to have the glass completely clean of any kind of impurities before the process of frosting begins. The final touches of the frosting are put using a stencil and a painter’s type with the mixture being applied using a stiff brush so that it does not spill. This is done till the whole glass is covered with the mixture. It is left to dry after which the glass is ready to use.
