Effect glass
Effect glass is the name given to various materials for effect props in theaters and in film and television productions that are used to represent splintering glass . Until the 1980s, so-called sugar glass was used for this , a large-scale crystalline sugar mass that is very similar to real glass. In the meantime, plastic glass has established itself instead , which can be purchased in specialist shops under various names (film glass, theater glass, broken glass effect, crash glass).
use
Effect glass is used on stages and in film and television productions as a glass replacement to minimize the risk of injury. On the one hand, the splinters produced when they break apart have no sharp edges, on the other hand, effect glass has a much lower fracture hardness than real glass. If a bottle is smashed on a head in the theater or in a film, it is always made of effect glass.
Sugar glass
Sugar glass objects can be made as flat discs, but also in any other form of typical objects such as bottles, glasses or dishes .
- A sugar glass disk is relatively easy to make. As a basis for a sugar glass slice z. B. half a kilogram of sugar dissolved in 100 ml of boiling water . Poured as a thin layer into a rectangular bowl , the bottom of which is lined with non-stick coated paper , this results in a pane of glass after cooling.
- To produce hollow sugar glass objects (bottles, vases ), a two-part casting mold is required, into which the warm starting material is poured and must be swiveled out until it cools and solidifies. Individual pieces can also be made by hand , in that the raw material is processed in a manner similar to that in glass blowing .
The coloring can be influenced by adding various substances, provided that these do not affect the crystallization of the sugar (and do not themselves form crystal lumps). Distilled water is used to make the sugar glass as clear as possible ; hard tap water creates a milk glass tone.
Plastic effect glass
While there is a large catalog of standard shapes, shapes can also be made according to customer requirements. In contrast to sugar glass, it is also possible to produce more complex shapes and larger surfaces. There are hardly any limits left in terms of color either, from a complete coloration of the product, e.g. B. in white as a ceramic replacement, up to individual color gradients in clear glass, everything is possible.
The components of the plastic used are over-hardened, resulting in an extremely brittle and fragile product. There are two common methods for producing plastic-based effect glass, which differ fundamentally.
Manufacturing
- Cold manufacturing process
The base material is mixed from a multi-component plastic, evacuated by air and poured into the appropriate mold. After curing, which usually only takes a few minutes, the product can be removed from the mold and another pour can be made.
- Hot manufacturing process
The plastic base material is heated to a certain point and placed in a preheated mold. After the plastic and mold have cooled down, the product can be removed from the mold and another cast can be prepared. Compared to cold production, this type of production takes longer and is more difficult to handle because the casting temperature is precisely maintained.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Peter F. Schmid: Made to break: glass for filming or simulating. Peter F. Schmid, June 20, 2016, accessed June 9, 2016 .