Unwanted material present on a glass or coating surface that is not part of the intended glass construction.
GlassRenu media library · Image source · Image source
Meaning and boundaries
Contamination may be loose, adhered, dissolved in moisture, or present as a very thin film. Its presence does not by itself prove that the glass substrate has been damaged.
Why it matters in glass restoration
The first diagnostic decision is whether the observed condition is removable material on the surface, permanent alteration of the surface, or both.
Related terms
References
- ASTM International — ASTM C162-23: Standard Terminology of Glass and Glass Products
Publisher’s original source - ASTM International — ASTM C813-20: Hydrophobic Contamination on Glass by Contact Angle Measurement
Publisher’s original source - ASTM International — ASTM C912-17(2022): Designing a Process for Cleaning Technical Glasses
Publisher’s original source