Soda-Lime HS (Heat-strengthened)
Additive grade
also Float Glass, Window Glass
Pick when you need roughly double the annealed strength and large-shard breakage (spandrel, laminate plies) rather than full safety fragmentation.
Values for the HS condition
Other Soda-Lime tempers and conditions
Soda-Lime is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at Soda-Lime.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed GlassDefault as-produced float glass, slowly cooled (stress-free) | Default choice when the part must still be cut, drilled, ground or edge-worked, and strength/safety demands are low. | — | 40 | 0 | 550 HV | 1 W/m·K |
HSThis page Heat-strengthened | Pick when you need roughly double the annealed strength and large-shard breakage (spandrel, laminate plies) rather than full safety fragmentation. | — | 70 | 0 | 550 HV | 1 W/m·K |
fully thermally toughened safety glass (EN 12150 / ANSI Z97.1) | Pick for safety-critical or thermally cycled glazing: ~4× annealed strength and dicing fragmentation, but all cutting/drilling must be done before tempering. | — | 150 | 0 | 550 HV | 1 W/m·K |
What is Soda-Lime HS?
Soda-Lime HS is Soda-Lime in the HS grade — pick when you need roughly double the annealed strength and large-shard breakage (spandrel, laminate plies) rather than full safety fragmentation. Soda-Lime HS has a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi), stronger than 76% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 72 GPa (10.4 Msi). Soda-Lime HS has a density of 2.5 g/cm³ (0.0903 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of glass grades. It melts at 726°C (1,339 °F). Annealed Glass is the default condition FabDigit quotes; HS is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 96% of glass grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 2/100, worse than 98% of glass grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 88% of glass grades
- Poor heat conductor — 1 W/m·K (0.578 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of glass grades
Soda-Lime HS properties
Typical room-temperature values for Soda-Lime HS; 13 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Soda-Lime reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among glass grades.
Physical5
Soda-Lime HS has a density of 2.5 g/cm³ (0.0903 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of glass grades. It melts at 726°C (1,339 °F).
Mechanical13
Soda-Lime HS has a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi), stronger than 76% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 72 GPa (10.4 Msi).
Thermal5
Soda-Lime HS is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 1 W/m·K (0.578 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of glass grades. Thermal expansion is 9 µm/m·K (5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Soda-Lime HS is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 13 kV/mm (330.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), better than 58% of glass grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Soda-Lime HS takes about 15 MJ of energy and emits 1.3 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of glass grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability3
Soda-Lime HS's machinability is not recommended (2/100, worse than 98% of glass grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Soda-Lime HS
Is Soda-Lime easy to machine?
Score-and-snap or waterjet for cutting; drilling and edge work with diamond tooling and flood coolant only — never machine after tempering.
Can Soda-Lime be welded?
Not weldable in the metal sense; joined by flame/laser fusion sealing, frit sealing or adhesive/structural silicone bonding.
Can Soda-Lime be formed, bent or molded?
Formed from the melt by the float process; secondary shaping by slumping/bending at 600–700 °C, then annealed or tempered.
What surface finishes work on Soda-Lime?
Options include acid-etch or sandblast frosting, cerium-oxide optical polishing, screen-printed ceramic frit, and sputtered low-E/AR or hydrophobic coatings.
Soda-Lime chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Na2Oflux | 12 – 16 | 13.5 |
| CaOstabilizer | 5 – 12 | 8.5 |
| MgOtypical in float glass | 0 – 5 | 4 |
| Al2O3durability | 0 – 3 | 1 |
| K2O | 0 – 1 | 0.3 |
| SO3refining agent residue | 0 – 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Fe2O3iron content sets green tint; low-iron grades <0.02 | 0.02 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| SiO2network former | ≥ 69 (balance) | — |
Soda-Lime HS — frequently asked
What is Soda-Lime HS used for?
Soda-Lime HS is typically used for window panes, bottles and mirrors. In short: standard architectural glass.
What is the tensile strength of Soda-Lime HS?
Soda-Lime HS has a typical tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — stronger than 76% of glass grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Soda-Lime HS easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (2/100, worse than 98% of glass grades). Score-and-snap or waterjet for cutting; drilling and edge work with diamond tooling and flood coolant only — never machine after tempering.
Can Soda-Lime HS be welded?
Not weldable in the metal sense; joined by flame/laser fusion sealing, frit sealing or adhesive/structural silicone bonding.
What surface finishes work on Soda-Lime HS?
Options include acid-etch or sandblast frosting, cerium-oxide optical polishing, screen-printed ceramic frit, and sputtered low-E/AR or hydrophobic coatings.
Can Soda-Lime HS be formed, bent or molded?
Formed from the melt by the float process; secondary shaping by slumping/bending at 600–700 °C, then annealed or tempered.
What is the maximum service temperature of Soda-Lime HS?
Soda-Lime HS is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- EN 572-1 Glass in building — Basic soda lime silicate glass products: definitions and general properties — CEN (2016)
- ASTM C1036 Standard Specification for Flat Glass — ASTM (2021)
- EN 12150-1 Thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass — CEN (2019)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4 — Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Float glass / soda-lime substrate property sheets — Schott, Corning, Saint-Gobain (2023)
- Float glass EPD (embodied energy and carbon) — Glass for Europe (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.