The Disintegration of Thermally Toughened Glass by Nickel Sulphide Inclusions

John Bowler-Reed, PhD DIC, FICorrST, ARICS, BSc

It seemed appropriate, on my recent retirement from active consultancy work, to set down my considered personal views
on the role of nickel sulphide inclusions in the disintegration of thermally toughened glass.

My introduction to this subject occurred in December 1974 when I had the good fortune to be present at a site meeting
when the late independent consultant, Dr S M Cox, acting for Pilkington Glass, gave an account of his conclusion that the presence of nickel sulphide in the body of the glass had contributed significantly to the disintegrations of toughened enamelled glass panels at a large office block and forecast the frequency of future disintegrations.

The Centre for Window and Cladding Technology at Bath University (CWCT)
has assembled a committee, of which I have been a member, for the writing of a report with the provisional title of "Nickel Sulphide in Toughened Glass a Guide to Good Practice", but although good progress has been made it is not yet ready for publication.

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