nacarson,
Every so often, someone asks an online question that I don't recall ever having seen asked online before - yours fits that category. Good question.
Most laminated glass manufacturers offer a five-year warranty on laminated glass. Cardinal offers a 10 year warranty on SGP, but (I believe) five year on PVB. That said, I am assuming that you are looking at windows with an SGP laminate based on the 10 year warranty that you stated.
I admit that I had to do a bit of research on the specifics of the warranty and delamination. Cardinal warrants to the window company, not the consummer. Your warranty comes from the window company, not Cardinal.
The delamination portion of the warranty states that the glass "...will not have defects in material or workmanship that cause delamination of the laminated glass..."
So, there is a warranty against delamination; but again, this warranty is to the window manufacturer and not to the window buyer.
If you are considering a laminated IG window primarily for sound attenuation, then you want to use a PVB interlayer and not the SGP interlayer. While SGP is a stiffer and stronger product than PVB, that same stiffness (and density) make it less effective than PVB at blocking sound.
In addition, there are acoustic PVB's that are a bit better than standard PVB at blocking sound and that are often specified for sound attenuation applications.
An IGU does not delaminate. An IGU can lose its seal, but that isn't the same as delamination.
Laminated glass can potentially delaminate under the right conditions. Delamination occurs when the stresses trying to force the laminated glass panes apart exceeds the bond strength of the bond strength of the laminate. Typically, if there is laminated glass delamination then there is some sort of contributing mechanical stress involved.
You don't want to expose the edge of PVB laminated glass to water or heavy moisture because PVB is hydroscopic - meaning that it will suck up moisture. While moisture absorption won't specifically cause delamintion, the rising moisture level in PVB can result in a lower adhesion level (or bond strength), which means that less stress may be needed for delamination to occur.
I wouldn't worry abour installing laminated glass in any case. It is a mature technology that is under control.
Please feel free to ask about anything that wasn't clear.
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