Mechanical Methods of Producing Frosted Glass

Glass products generally attract our attention - decorative lighting fixtures, souvenirs, vases, various tableware - these items are in significant demand, very often chosen for a gift. We are attracted by frosted sconces, salad bowls, and glasses. Imagine how well matte glass doors are combined with such the decoration of the apartment.

Frosted Glass with a Design
Frosted Glass with a Design

The most common are mechanical methods for obtaining a matte surface of the glass, such as engraving, faceting, grinding and sandblasting the glass.

Glass engraving is a drawing on its surface of a picture, inscription or ornament by cutting out manually or mechanically. This is how in-depth and even visually prominent figures are created.

Glass faceting is a decorative treatment of glass, in which with the help of a multitude of polished and matte planes arranged in a specific sequence, conditions are created for refraction, dispersion, and reflection of light.
Frosted Glass Doors for a Sliding-Door Wardrobe
Frosted Glass Doors for a Sliding-Door Wardrobe

Glass grinding is a mechanical or manual glass processing operation, a type of abrasive treatment. The basis of the grinding tool are grains of abrasive material that perform the functions of micro-cutters, which realize micro-cutting of the material being processed and plastic deformation of its surface layer.

Finally, sandblasting of glass is also used for decorative glass matting - cold abrasive treatment of the glass surface by damaging its surface with sand or other abrasive powder sprayed by the air flow, and during hydro-abrasive treatment with a stream of water or other liquid.

Historically, plain sand was used in sandblasting, washed and sieved to a homogeneous fraction. Now, in addition to sand, steel shot, glass beads, corundum powder, and other synthetic abrasives can be used as an abrasive.