What type of glass may crack under pressure, but tends to remain integral, adhering to the plastic vinyl interlayer?

Laminated glass is designed with a durable plastic vinyl interlayer positioned between two or more layers of glass. This construction allows the glass to crack under pressure yet remain intact, as the vinyl interlayer holds the shattered pieces in place. This feature enhances safety, as it reduces the risk of injury from falling glass shards and maintains the structural integrity of the glass itself.

In contrast, plate glass is typically a single layer of glass that, when broken, can shatter into sharp pieces. Annealed glass is also vulnerable to cracking and breaking without any interlayer support, which does not offer any adhesive capability to hold pieces together. Tempered glass, while stronger and more resistant to impact, will shatter into small, blunt pieces when it fails, providing no adherence or stabilizing feature like that of laminated glass. Thus, laminated glass's unique characteristics make it relevant for applications requiring both strength and safety.