Exploding glass tumbler

ripplyuk

A few days ago, I bought some Duralex glass tumblers which are made from toughened glass. This morning, doing the washing up, one exploded whilst just sitting on the drainer. The noise was impressive, a huge 'Bang' like a shotgun going off, and then bits of glass flew everywhere, including into my hair.

Could anyone tell me if this is a fault with the product or is it just something that can happen? I thought toughened glass would be safer and it has shocked me the way it sprayed everywhere.

HappyMJ

ripplyuk wrote: »

A few days ago, I bought some Duralex glass tumblers which are made from toughened glass. This morning, doing the washing up, one exploded whilst just sitting on the drainer. The noise was impressive, a huge 'Bang' like a shotgun going off, and then bits of glass flew everywhere, including into my hair.

Could anyone tell me if this is a fault with the product or is it just something that can happen? I thought toughened glass would be safer and it has shocked me the way it sprayed everywhere.

It's something that can happen. Something to do with sudden temperature changes and a slight fault in the glass.

The toughened glass is safer. The shards of glass are not sharp they are safe to pick up.

You can get a replacement if you can be bothered to go back to the shop with your receipt.

ripplyuk

Thank you. So does this also happen with normal glass, not just toughened? I'm all nervous about them now . If it's less likely to happen with regular glass then I'd rather replace these.

The pieces were certainly sharp. I've small cuts on my hands from removing the stuff from my hair.

HappyMJ

ripplyuk wrote: »

Thank you. So does this also happen with normal glass, not just toughened? I'm all nervous about them now . If it's less likely to happen with regular glass then I'd rather replace these.

The pieces were certainly sharp. I've small cuts on my hands from removing the stuff from my hair.

If there's a small fault in normal glass it's more likely to break silently in the hot water and be a single very sharp piece of glass so always be careful when washing glasses. They can break without much effort. The slightest knock and change of temperature can trigger a break.

bris

Well it is clearly safer as you aren't cut to pieces.

ripplyuk

I think I'll buy some plastic ones.

Alienna

Definitely something that can happen!

It's happened to me twice - when emptying dishwashers at work, and also on holiday as a waitress was pouring a drink into my glass.

It's something to do with the temperature change.

unforeseen

Arcoroc glasses and cups in the 70s had a reputation for spontaneously exploding.

bod1467

It can even happen with oven doors. We've had threads here about that before.

paddyrg

Toughened glass is designed to do just that - it's a lot safer, if slightly dramatic, when it fails! And it handles temperature gradients extremely well by having exceptional thermal conductivity.

Normal glass won't be so dramatic, but is more likely to break unsafely.

ripplyuk

paddyrg wrote: »

Toughened glass is designed to do just that - it's a lot safer, if slightly dramatic, when it fails!

It sure is dramatic. I think it's given me a phobia! Now I've started worrying about my Corelle plates which are made of some sort of glass.

I'm still finding pieces all over the kitchen. I think I'd prefer regular glass. At least it won't terrify me by exploding everywhere.