Float glass is flat glass made by allowing molten glass to spread across a bath of molten tin. The process produces a continuous ribbon with smooth, nearly parallel surfaces and a consistent thickness suitable for windows, furniture, architectural panels, and mirrors.
How Does the Float Process Work?
Raw materials are melted in a furnace and the molten glass flows onto the tin bath. Because glass is lighter than tin and the two materials do not readily mix, the glass floats and forms a level ribbon. It then moves through controlled cooling before being inspected and cut into sheets.
Modern float production replaced many older methods that required extensive grinding and polishing to create flat surfaces. Different thicknesses, colors, coatings, and performance characteristics can be produced from or added to float glass.
Is Float Glass Already a Mirror?
No. Clear float glass transmits light and does not provide an ordinary mirror reflection on its own. To become a silver mirror, one surface is cleaned and coated with a reflective metallic layer, followed by protective backing materials.
The reflective coating creates the mirror; the float glass provides the smooth substrate and viewing surface. Standard float glass usually contains enough iron to show a slight green tint, while low-iron float glass is manufactured for greater visual clarity.
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