mineral / Glass / Processed Glass
Bent/Curved glass (6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 19mm)
Architecturally curved glass produced through hot bending, cold bending, or bent-tempering processes, available in multiple thicknesses for facade, balustrade, and specialty glazing applications.
Atlas code
MIN-GLA-PRO-014
At-a-glance signals
Architecturally curved glass produced through hot bending, cold bending, or bent-tempering processes, available in multiple thicknesses for facade, balustrade, and specialty glazing applications.
Overview
Executive summary
Bent or curved glass is processed flat glass that has been formed into cylindrical, spherical, or complex curved shapes through controlled heating and forming processes. Available in thicknesses from 6mm to 19mm, bent glass can be produced as annealed, heat-strengthened, toughened, or laminated products. The material offers architectural flexibility for creating dramatic curved facades, glass balustrades, shopfronts, and specialty applications whilst maintaining the optical and performance properties of flat glass.
Best when…
- Enables dramatic architectural curved forms
- Maintains optical clarity when properly manufactured
- Can be combined with coatings and treatments
- 100% recyclable material
- Zero VOC emissions (inert material)
- Non-combustible for fire safety
- Can achieve various radii and shapes
- Compatible with IGU fabrication
- Available in multiple thickness options
- Can be laminated for safety compliance
- Excellent weather resistance
- Long service life (30+ years typical)
Top advantages
- 01 Enables dramatic architectural curved forms
- 02 Maintains optical clarity when properly manufactured
- 03 Can be combined with coatings and treatments
- 04 100% recyclable material
- 05 Zero VOC emissions (inert material)
Top limitations
- 01 Significantly higher cost than flat glass (2-4x)
- 02 Requires specialised manufacturing equipment
- 03 Limited local Australian manufacturers
- 04 Potential for optical distortion if improperly formed
- 05 Transport and handling complexity
Technical
Physical ·9
- Density
- 2500 kg/m³ Soda-lime float glass base material
- Specific gravity
- 2.5 Relative to water
- Porosity
- 0 % Non-porous material
- Water absorption
- 0 % Zero absorption - impermeable
- Hardness
- 540 HV Vickers hardness
- UV resistance
- Excellent // Blocks ~99% UV-B, ~30% UV-A
- Chemical resistance
- Excellent // Resistant to most chemicals except hydrofluoric acid
- pH tolerance
- 1 – 14 Resistant across full pH range except HF
- Surface roughness
- 0.5 nm Ra Fire-polished surface typical
Mechanical ·7
- Tensile strength
- 41 MPa Annealed glass; 120-200 MPa if tempered
- Compressive strength
- 1000 MPa Theoretical strength
- Flexural strength
- 45 MPa Annealed; 120+ MPa if heat-strengthened
- Shear strength
- 20 MPa Design value per AS 1288:2021
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.22 Dimensionless
- Impact resistance
- Grade A If toughened to AS 2208
- Creep resistance
- Excellent // No creep at room temperature
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
- Embodied carbon
- 1350 kg CO₂e/tonne Cradle-to-gate, Australian average
- Carbon footprint
- 8.5 kg CO₂e/m² For 6mm glass including processing
- Embodied energy
- 15 MJ/kg Primary energy demand
- Water footprint
- 15 L/kg Manufacturing water use
- Recycled content
- 25 % Typical cullet content in Australian production
- Renewable content
- 0 % Mineral-based material
- Circular score
- 8 /10 High recyclability, long life
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·5
- Combustibility class
- Non-combustible // AS 1530.1
- Fire resistance level
- Non-combustible AS 1530.1 compliant
- Flame spread index
- 0 Will not contribute to flame spread
- Smoke dev. index
- 0 No smoke production
- Heat release rate
- 0 kW/m² Non-combustible material
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
- Material cost (range)
- 800 – 2500 AUD/m² Varies by complexity, thickness, and radius
- Material cost (per unit)
- 1200 AUD/m² Typical 10mm tempered curved glass
- Lead time
- 4 – 12 weeks Depends on complexity and quantity
- Lifecycle cost
- 45 AUD/m²/year Over 30-year life
- Annual maintenance
- 5 AUD/m²/year Cleaning and inspection
- Market availability
- Limited // Specialist product, limited suppliers
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 30 years With proper maintenance; can exceed 50 years
- Maintenance interval
- 6 months Cleaning and inspection cycle
- Warranty period
- 10 years Typical manufacturer warranty
Layer D
Where it's used
Curved building facades and curtain walls
Glass balustrades and barriers (AS 1288:2021 compliant)
Shopfront and retail display windows
Revolving door enclosures
Curved skylights and canopies
Architectural feature glazing
Double-curved glass structures
Curved insulated glass units (IGUs)
Heritage building restorations
Transportation glazing
Interior partitions and screens
Curved shower screens
Display cases and showcases
Specialty architectural elements
Acoustic barriers