Dortech was contacted by the NHS in Newcastle in respect to a glass breakage and replacement.
Dortechs Maintenance team attended site and determined that the nature of the breakage was as a consequence of Nickle Sulphide inclusion within 16 toughened glass panes.
At short notice, Dortech was commissioned to attend site, take measurements and replace the glass. glazing refurbishment work at Regent Point in Newcastle.
Glass may contain nickel sulphide impurities, in the form of small crystals (ref CWCT). As glass is heated during the toughening process these impurities change state. The high temperature a-state of the impurities may be frozen when the glass is quenched, and recovery to the low temperature b-state may then take several years. Spontaneous breakage of the glass may follow, as the low temperature of the nickel sulphide
impurities occupies a slightly greater volume and so generates a local stress concentration.
Nickel sulphide breakage of glass exhibits a characteristic fracture pattern. Assuming that the fractured pane remains in place, at the origin
or epicentre of the fracture there should be located two fragments which are larger than the rest and which form a ‘figure of 8’ or ‘butterfly’,
image. In the centre would be located the inclusion which is a small, round, shiny, yellow-black particle which may be as small as 0.05mm in
diameter.
As part of the results of the normal float glass process, one large reputable manufacturer has reported that only 1 critical inclusion occurs in every 13 tonnes of glass that they produce, and that 90% of the inclusions will cause premature breakage during their heat soaking process. This means that only one nickel sulphide inclusion will ‘get through’ for each 8,470 m2 of 6 mm heat soaked toughened glass.