Gorilla Glass vs Soda-Lime Glass
Glass · grade comparison
Gorilla Glass and Soda-Lime Glass are both glass grades. Gorilla Glass is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) against 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) for Soda-Lime Glass, about 7.8 times as much. Gorilla Glass is harder — 620 HV against 550 HV for Soda-Lime Glass — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Gorilla Glass is lighter (2.42 g/cm³ vs 2.5 g/cm³ for Soda-Lime Glass) and Gorilla Glass runs hotter in service (200°C vs 110°C continuous). On the shop floor, Soda-Lime Glass machines more easily (poor vs not recommended) and Soda-Lime Glass sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Gorilla Glass (standard, $$).
Gorilla GlassChoose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
Soda-Lime GlassChoose it when the part is machined in volume, or when cost is the deciding factor.
Gorilla Glass vs Soda-Lime Glass: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all glass grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all glass grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Hardness, Vickers
Hardness, Knoop
Hardness, Mohs
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 72 GPa10.4 Msi · Shear Modulus 29.5 GPa4.3 Msi · Elongation at Break 0% · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 0.75 MPa·√m0.68 ksi·√in
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Refractive Index
Light Transmission
Same in both: Porosity 0%
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 1 W/m·K0.58 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Strength
Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)
Volume Resistivity
Same in both: Dielectric Constant (1 MHz) 7.2
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Same in both: Polishability 95 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.5 mm²/s
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every glass grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Gorilla Glass | Soda-Lime Glass |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | Chem Strengthened | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Gorilla Glass vs Soda-Lime Glass — frequently asked
Is Gorilla Glass stronger than Soda-Lime Glass?
Yes. Gorilla Glass has a typical tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) against 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) for Soda-Lime Glass — about 7.8 times as much.
Which is cheaper, Gorilla Glass or Soda-Lime Glass?
Soda-Lime Glass is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Gorilla Glass is standard ($$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, Gorilla Glass or Soda-Lime Glass?
Soda-Lime Glass. Its machinability rates poor (20/100) against not recommended (5/100) for Gorilla Glass.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Gorilla Glass and Soda-Lime Glass side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.