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Window glass could improve mobile signals

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Window glass could improve mobile signals

Window glass could improve mobile signals

A window glass developed by researchers at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) improves energy efficiency and readily admits mobile telephone signals. The glass, which is intended for use in passenger trains, is being installed in some train cars operated by BLS AG, a Swiss railway operator.

The high metal content of rail cars tends to frustrate cellular signals, making both phone and Internet connectivity difficult. Train windows are typically designed to help insulate the passenger compartment. Heating and cooling for the passenger compartments consume as much as one third of the energy used by a train during travel. Windows represent a significant source of energy loss. To combat this, train cars use double-pane windows coated with a very thin metallic coating. That increases the insulation and reduces energy losses.

The metallic coating on the window glass significantly diminishes a mobile device’s ability to detect and connect to available cellular networks. Train companies accommodate the signal degradation by installing and maintaining boosters and on-board network services. The specially designed mobile access equipment is expensive to maintain and must be replaced regularly to keep pace with improvements in telecommunications networks.

Researchers at EPFL suspected that by modifying the metallic coating between window panes, they could reflect heat waves that would otherwise make the cars uncomfortably warm while admitting telecommunications signals. By laser-scribing the metallic coating to remove a small amount of it, the researchers were able to admit cellular signals without compromising the energy-efficiency of the windows.

Full-sized prototype windows were created and tested under operating conditions. Researchers confirmed that cellular signals were able to pass through the prototype glass as easily as they pass through ordinary glass. The glass will reduce operating costs by eliminating the need for repeater equipment on trains.

In addition, the technique could be modified to allow the coating to be frequency-selective. This could allow the coating to be used on buildings to block outside Wi-Fi signals while still admitting other kinds of services.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specialized glass coating that bonds permanently to glass surfaces. GlassPrimer also makes a glass surface molecular activator that is designed to work with UV-inkjet glass printing processes. For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store

Photo Credit: Sarah Bickie, via Flickr.com

Iconic Glass Structures – Old Port Footbridge

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Iconic Glass Structures – Old Port Footbridge

Iconic Glass Structures – Old Port Footbridge

Normally, we think of buildings when we look at iconic glass structures. Today, we go a little off the beaten path, and with good reason. The Old Port Footbridge in Bremerhaven, Bremen Germany connects the Klimahaus and the Columbus Center in one of the oldest sections of this northern port city. The bridge, which is made primarily of glass, traverses the River Weser.

Because of its strategic location, Bremerhaven has long played an important role in both Germany’s military and maritime trade history. Although much of the surrounding city was destroyed during World War II, the port was largely spared because of its strategic value to Allied forces. In 2016, Bremerhaven is a key player in container shipping, and in fact, it is the 16th-largest container port in the world, and the fourth-largest in Europe, handling millions of containers from all over the world.

The area also pays homage to its maritime history. The city hosts several museum ships from various points in history. The oldest example dates back to the late 14th century and was excavated from the city in 1962. The city also hosts museum ships from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, as well as a World War II vintage U-boat. The city also hosts the Lloyd-Werft shipyard, which specializes in building and refurbishing ultra-large cruise ships.

The Old Port Footbridge connects the Columbus Center (a massive shopping mall) with the Klimahaus exhibition center, which was opened in 2009, the same year the bridge was put into service. The bridge itself can be swung to a 90° angle to permit maritime traffic to pass. This doesn’t regularly occur, but since the area hosts several museum ships, some of which still operate, the bridge needs to be able to move to allow the ships to pass. The middle section of the bridge is designed to be mobile.

The bridge consists of 336 individually crafted glass panels, which are specially designed and placed to minimize heat gain inside the tunnel. In addition, operable windows at the top of the bridge provide additional ventilation.
A cement sidewalk is found in the center of the path. Both sides of the path are surrounded by glass flooring, which is safe to walk on. The glass floor is laminated with a special slip-resistant screen printing, and is lit from below at night.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specialized glass coating that bonds permanently to glass surfaces. GlassPrimer also makes a glass surface molecular activator that is designed to work with UV-inkjet glass printing processes. For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store

Photo Credit: Herr Olsen , via Flickr.com

Schott Award Recognizes Glass Researchers

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Schott Award Recognizes Glass Researchers

Schott Award Recognizes Glass Researchers

The 14th annual Otto Schott Research Award, given to glass and glass ceramics researchers, has been awarded to three researchers for their groundbreaking research on glass strength. Dr. Sheldon Wiederhorn (National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD); Professor Satoshi Yoshida (University of Shiga Perfecture, Hikone, Japan); and Dr. Jean-Pierre Guin from the Université de Rennes, France are the 2016 award recipients. Their discoveries may eventually lead to the creation of unbreakable glass.

Although the researchers work in three different countries and for three different institutions, they collaborate to share their research discoveries. Wiederhorn’s research focuses on the tensile strength of glass, and microscopic cracks that naturally occur in glass. Satoshi’s research examines the elastic behavior of glass surfaces when they encounter mechanical stress. Guin researches the growth of cracks in glass at the nanoscale level, as well as fatigue thresholds, and properties like hardness, toughness and scratch resistance.

The award, which is given by the Ernst Abbe Fund, seeks to maximize the potential of glass and improve its strength. To improve the overall performance of glass, the Abbe Fund supports basic research and technological improvements related to glass and glass ceramicsIndividuals and small research teams are eligible for the award, and are selected from candidates worldwide who engage in qualifying glass application research in healthcare, telecommunications, optics, renewable energy and other similar fields.

Significant work has been done at the nanoscale level to take advantage of the properties of glass. For example, Glassprimer™ glass paint is specially engineered to create nanoscale bonds with glass surfaces. By modifying the glass surface, Glassprimer™ glass paint adheres permanently to the glass surface. In addition to offering a permanent coating, Glassprimer™ glass paint offers superior UV resistance. Glassprimer™ glass paint won’t chip, fade or peel, even in direct sunlight.

UV resistance is an important benefit. Beyond preserving the appearance of the coating, Glassprimer™ glass paint’s superior resistance allows you to control the amount of UV radiation that penetrates a glass surface. Controlling UV radiation is key to achieving energy conservation in spaces that make heavy use of exterior-facing glass.

If you’d like more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our website. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Ryan McGilchrist , via Flickr.com

Australian Researchers Develop Glass Coating

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Australian Researchers Develop Glass Coating

Australian Researchers Develop Glass Coating

Researchers at the Australian National University have developed a new coating that allows materials like glass to be “self-cleaning.” The new coating is a combination of a polyurethane acrylic and a super hydrophobic nanoparticle solution. The combined coatings are sprayable, and are effective in low temperatures. They also resist direct abrasion, UV radiation and chemical exposure.

The notion of self-cleaning glass is attractive, and if the coating is scalable to large-form glass, it could help reduce both interior and exterior building maintenance. The fact that the coating can be spray applied is another plus. A simple application technique could support mass-production.

The coating also works on other durable surfaces, including metal, brick, masonry, wood, plastics and even paper. The nanoparticle surface causes liquids to bead, much like they would on a super-heated surface. (Minus the boiling, of course!) In addition to construction glass, the coating could be applied to airplane parts to discourage the formation of ice, or the hulls of ships to prevent corrosion. On a smaller scale, the coating could also be used to waterproof electronics and other small objects.

The technique used by the researchers can be tweaked to produce specialized coatings that resist corrosion or abrasion. Other formulations may result in coatings that offer self-cleaning properties or resistance to oil. The newly developed coating is very strong, which means that coating can be used in hostile environments. It is also UV resistant, so it won’t break down when it is exposed to sunlight.

If you’re looking for a glass coating that’s already on the market, Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specially engineered nanoscale coating that bonds permanently with glass surfaces. The paint, once cured, will not chip, fade or peel, even in direct sunlight. Glassprimer™ glass paint offers exceptional UV resistance, and can be used to control solar heat gain, or to create a frosted effect on glass for about $1 per square foot. It can also be tinted to match virtually any paint manufacturer’s paint palette.

If you’d like more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our website. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: TimOve, via Flickr.com

No bird safe glass in Chicago suburb

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No bird-safe glass in Chicago suburb

No bird safe glass in Chicago suburb

Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago announced last month that it will not require new construction to use bird safe glass. City council members had been considering the measure, but decided that requiring bird safe glass might stifle development projects that involved new construction.

According to wildlife experts, birds cannot decipher reflections of sky and trees in glass structures. Birds fly into the structures, which annually account for anywhere between 100 million to nearly a billion bird deaths. About 50% of all bird-window collisions are fatal.

Highland Park mayor Nancy Rotering said that the city has not abandoned the concept of using bird safe glass, but will attempt to educate architects and contractors about the value of taking a conservation approach to new building projects. The issue of bird conservancy is important because Highland Park is a north-south migratory pathway for a large number of bird species in the Great Lakes area. The city’s proximity to water means that a large number of birds congregate in the area in the summer time.

The city’s Natural Resource Commission and the Plan and Design Commission both supported the proposal. Initially, the city had considered requiring developers to meet the bird friendly standards specified by the Green Building Council’s LEED certification program.

The city council heard evidence from other cities that have put bird-friendly glass requirements in place. Those cities include Oakland, San Francisco and Sunnyvale, CA and Toronto, Ontario. According to officials in those cities, the bird friendly glass requirements have not had a measurable impact on staff workload or even development plans.

A number of techniques are identified as “bird safe.” One of the most common is striping that is applied to windows no more than 10 inches apart. The pattern allows birds to “see” the building as a solid object. In addition, screens and other design elements that break up reflections can also decrease bird deaths.

Glassprimer™ glass paint makes a UV-inkjet glass surface primer that prepares glass surfaces for UV-inkjet printing. The molecular activator allows inkjet printing to adhere permanently to the glass surface, and can be used in both interior and exterior applications.

For more information about Glassprimer™ glass surface molecular activator, or Glassprimer™ paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store

Photo Credit: Steve, via Flickr.com

Decorating a small space? Think glass

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Decorating a small space? Think glass

Decorating a small space? Think glass

Each space, no matter how big or small, poses its own design challenges. The adept designer has tools in the toolbox for just about every occasion. Glass tends to be one of those tools that works in all spaces no matter their size.

Generally, the smaller the space you’re working with, the more practical a space needs to be. Larger spaces tend to invite clutter, and make it possible to avoid making decisions. Smaller spaces don’t tolerate clutter, but they may have limitations imposed on them by the structure of the space. One of the toughest challenges of working in a small space is the feeling of being cramped.

To open up a small space, you’ll need to put in a little effort to fool the eye. One of the best ways to expand a space is to make it as “visible” as possible. That means allowing the eye to see the walls, even through objects.

Furniture that rests on legs, for example, lets you “see through” it. Lifting objects up off the floor opens up a smaller space and helps to relieve even the most cramped or claustrophobic spaces. Avoid furniture that sits directly on the floor. That goes for end tables, chairs, cabinets and shelves. Look for furniture that allows the eye to make contact with the baseboards as much as possible.

Glass is another great way to allow someone to look through a space. Glass furniture – coffee tables, end tables, desks, glass cabinets – works to open the space. Glass can be used cleverly to create room dividers and other similar discrete divisions in small spaces.

Glass doors can also be superstars in small spaces, and you can find a wide range of interior doors that incorporate glass. Some interior doors are now taking their cues from commercial frameless doors. A frameless glass door in a residential space can add a touch of elegance. A glass pocket door can make the best use of limited floor space by eliminating the need for “swing space.”

You can also paint glass to create a uniquely designed, colorful space, or a protective surface in a kitchen or bathroom. Glassprimer™ glass paint provides exceptional, permanent coverage for about $1 per square foot, and can be tinted to match the paint palette of virtually any major paint manufacturer.

For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: hto2008, via Flickr.com

Glass fiber development aids aviation

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Glass fiber development aids aviation

Glass fiber development aids aviation

Airbus and Fokker have teamed up to further develop an aviation material known as fiber metal laminate (FML). FML was developed for use on airplane fuselages to lighten the weight of the aircraft. FML is made from alternating layers of aluminum and glass fibers. The material is used in strategic areas of the aircraft, and can reduce the finished weight of a vehicle by about 15%.

The companies intend to develop high-volume production methods and tweak the material formula to incorporate newer glass fibers into the mix. According to the companies, “smart” production – which could be conducted primarily by robots – will lower the cost of the material and make it more attractive to aircraft manufacturers. FML has been used successfully on the upper fuselage and the tail structure of the Airbus A380 since it was developed.

FML was originally created by Fokker, a Dutch aviation company along with researchers from the Technical University of Delft and the National Dutch Aerospace Laboratory about 20 years ago. It was successfully integrated into A380 production in 2005. It is attractive because it offers a high degree of strength and can be produced more sustainably and at a lower cost than more traditional airframe materials. It also offers a viable lightweight alternative to traditional components, and has a fire safety rating that

The first generation material is known as GLARE (glass laminate aluminum reinforced epoxy). During manufacturing, the glass fiber layers can be oriented to produce a finished material with a highly predictable stress response.

GLARE can be repaired using traditional metalworking techniques, another plus for an industry that’s highly dependent upon field-based repairs. It has a better tolerance for damage than aluminum, as well as better corrosion resistance. It also provides a good demonstration of the versatility of glass.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specialized glass coating that bonds permanently to glass surfaces. GlassPrimer also makes a glass surface molecular activator that is designed to work with UV-inkjet glass printing processes. For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Greg Hounslow , via Flickr.com

Glass was an ancient status symbol

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Glass was an ancient status symbol

Glass was an ancient status symbol

An archaeology researcher from the University of Leicester in the UK believes that early civilizations used glass as a status symbol rather than as a practical material. Dr. Chloe Duckworth says that ancient civilizations invested in technologies like glassmaking more as a display of power.

She bases the hypothesis on the examples of early glasses, most of which were opaque or heavily colored. They often resembled semi-precious and precious materials like lapis lazuli and carnelian, which were used extensively by the wealthiest and most powerful people in society. Early examples of glass were almost exclusively used in decorative applications, and as containers for perfumes and oils that would not have been available to ordinary citizens.

Duckworth looked at the evolution of glass blowing and determined that it was a response to societal needs rather than a driver. She believes that glass may have originally been envisioned as a way to fill a social need, and did not morph into a useful material that was available to the masses until much later in the material’s history. She points to modern uses for glass, including fiber optic cables and precision lenses, and says that early developers of the material did not see the practical uses of glass, even for more mundane applications like windows and practical storage containers.

Today, we tend to look beyond the decorative capacity of glass and focus on its most practical applications. In reality, glass can be both practical and decorative. One characteristic of glass is its impervious surface. On one hand, it allows light to flow freely through it. On the other hand, opacity is sometimes preferred.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specialized glass coating that bonds permanently to glass surfaces. GlassPrimer also makes a glass surface molecular activator that is designed to work with UV-inkjet glass printing processes. For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store

Photo Credit: Daniel Jolivet, via Flickr.com

Iconic Glass Structures – Crystal Cathedral

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Iconic Glass Structures – Crystal Cathedral

Iconic Glass Structures – Crystal Cathedral

No discussion of iconic glass structures would be complete without looking at the former Crystal Cathedral, now known as Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA. The cathedral was originally built between 1977 and 1980 for the Garden Grove Community Church. The building has an area of about 75,000 square feet and seats about 2,750 people. The building was originally designed by architect Philip Johnson and was built at a cost of about $18 million. The church was dedicated in 1980 by Robert Schuller, a minister in the Reformed Church of America.

In 2010, the congregation ran into severe financial trouble, and ultimately declared bankruptcy, claiming more than $43 million in liabilities. The church was purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange for about $57 million, and is undergoing major interior renovations. The exterior of the building will remain largely unchanged. The Diocese of Orange intends to move its operations onto the campus wjem reconstruction is complete.

The outer structure of the building is made from steel and more than 10,000 rectangular glass panels that are not mechanically fastened to the structure. Instead, the panels are glued in place using a silicone adhesive. The building was designed to withstand an 8.0-magnitude earthquake. The 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake remains the strongest recorded earthquake in California. That quake had a magnitude of 7.9. The largest-ever recorded earthquake is the 1960 Valdivia earthquake, which occurred in Chile. That quake had a recorded magnitude of 9.5.

One issue the renovations address is solar heat gain, which can be intense in the building. The new interior design will feature quatrefoil shades and tall walls that will line the sanctuary area. The interior has been completely redesigned in part to shift the focus of the worship from the pulpit to the altar. The walls and floors will be made of walnut and limestone, and the altar will include travertine and Italian marble.

As a side note, the building houses the fifth-largest pipe organ in the world. The organ was actually constructed from two different organs and was prominently featured in the Hour of Power television show that was produced by the Garden Grove Community Church. The organ will continue to occupy its traditional space, but the Diocese took the opportunity to refurbish the organ during construction. The organ was dismantled and sent to Italy to be repaired. It has since been shipped back to California and will be re-installed following the completion of the interior construction.

The construction of the worship space is expected to be finished in 2018, and final construction on the campus is expected to be complete by 2019.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specialized glass coating that bonds permanently to glass surfaces. GlassPrimer also makes a glass surface molecular activator that is designed to work with UV-inkjet glass printing processes. For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: radiobread , via Flickr.com

Graphene helps eliminate glass corrosion

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Graphene helps eliminate glass corrosion

Graphene helps eliminate glass corrosion

Researchers at the Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials have discovered that graphene can help glass resist corrosion. Glass is highly resistant to corrosion by itself, but certain substances can weaken and corrode glass. Under certain conditions, like high humidity and high pH, glass can corrode. When that happens, the glass weakens and loses its transparency.

A complex chemical reaction that occurs at the nanosurface is responsible for the corrosion, so glass coatings that can resist the beginning stages of this reaction are much sought-after. Graphene is chemically inert, and it can be applied in a thin film. In addition, it is transparent, so it’s an ideal coating for glass.

Graphene coatings can protect against a wide variety of conditions including corrosion, oxidation, friction, bacterial infection and electromagnetic radiation, so the coatings could protect a variety of other surfaces, in addition to glass.

The researchers developed a two-atom-thick coating of graphene on copper, and transferred it to glass. After submerging the glass in 140° F water for 120 days, scientists noted that the uncoated glass showed significant material changes to its surface, while the coated glass was in virtually the same condition it was in prior to being submerged. Although the test coating was two atoms thick, the researchers say they can achieve the same results with a one-atom thick graphene coating.

Nanoscale changes to the surface of the glass have a number of uses. It’s the principle on which Glassprimer™ glass paint was engineered. Glassprimer™ glass paint bonds directly and permanently with the surface of glass. In addition, it offers exceptional UV resistance, which means it won’t fade, even in direct sunlight.
Glassprimer™ glass paint can be tinted to match the paint palettes of all major paint packages, so you can incorporate it easily into any decorating plan.

If you’d like more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Geek2Nurse, via Flickr.com