Call us at 888.619.2226

Is glass a solid after all?

/in , /by

Is glass a solid after all?

Is glass a solid after all?

For years, scientists have argued about the nature of glass, since it has characteristics of both a liquid and a solid. The molecular structure of glass is unlike any other solid. The molecular structure of every other solid is organized in a specific, orderly way; the molecular structure of glass is completely random. In fact, if liquid glass molecules were able to organize in the same orderly way as every other solid, the resultant substance wouldn’t be glass.

Now some scientists are looking at hardened glass in a different way, and that allows them to reach the conclusion that hardened glass is, in fact, a solid. Molecules in liquids flow easily over each other. They have no specific order. One of the traditionally accepted reasons that glass “can’t be” a solid is that without that ordered molecular structure, cooled glass molecules continue to “flow” just as liquid molecules would do.

Cooled glass molecules don’t flow easily, like they do when they’re heated. They move almost imperceptibly, but they do move. Researchers at the University of Bristol and Kyoto University worked together to model the movement of glass molecules at very low temperatures.

They discovered that at extremely low temperatures, the molecules in glass organize themselves in geometric shapes – not quite the crystalline structure that characterizes all other solids – but they did organize into a predictable pattern. They also determined that given enough time in the right conditions, the geometric patterns would grow to encompass all regions of the glass. At that point, the material would be considered a true solid.

The solid nature of glass was actually predicted by a researcher at the University of Bristol in 1952, but at the time, the theory was impossible to prove. Advances in microscopy and computer modeling allowed the research team to confirm the 64-year-old theory.

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. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used in both interior and exterior applications and can help reduce solar heat gain in some applications. 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: frankeleon, via Flickr.com

Glass can tell a forensic examiner a lot

/in , /by

Glass can tell a forensic examiner a lot

Glass can tell a forensic examiner a lot

Modern forensics can tell investigators a lot about a crime scene. DNA testing, blood spatter analysis, footwear impressions and ballistics can all help an investigator determine what happened and who might be responsible for a crime. Add glass examination to the list of tools available to a forensic examiner.

Forensic glass examination? As it turns out, broken glass can reveal a lot. While glass might not identify whodunit (unless the guilty party left fingerprints behind), the way a glass breaks can reveal a lot about how the break occurred, and what might have (or must have) happened at the time the glass broke.

For example, the way broken glass lands can reveal the direction from which the breaking force came. Stress fractures that eventually break a piece of glass can help investigators determine the height at which a bullet or other projectile was fired, the force needed to break the glass, and the direction from which the projectile came. This information can support other findings at a crime scene.

Further, glass can be examined and compared microscopically. That’s helpful because small fragments of glass can be transferred from a scene to a victim, or to the perpetrator. Being able to prove that a small sliver of glass connects a person to a crime scene can be exceptionally valuable. Typically, glass is produced regionally, so glass from different regions has different characteristics. Forensic examination can reveal the region from which the glass originated. That can also be helpful in placing a perpetrator or victim in the presence of glass that may have a unique composition.

Like other forensic techniques, forensic glass examination has become more sophisticated, and is increasingly being used to confirm other findings at crime scenes.

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. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used in both interior and exterior applications and can help reduce solar heat gain in some applications. 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: Jasper Nance, via Flickr.com

Iconic Glass Structures – General Motors Technical Center

/in , /by
Iconic Glass Structures – General Motors Technical Center

Iconic Glass Structures – General Motors Technical Center

This week in our ongoing series on glass construction, we look at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, MI. The GM Technical Center was one of the very first buildings to make heavy use of architectural glass, when it was initially designed in 1949.

The Technical Center was designed by neofuturistic architect Eero Saarinen. Saarinen studied architecture in Paris, beginning in 1929. He completed his studies at Yale University in 1934. Saarinen’s design style was influenced by Bauhaus designers and architects, including Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Although he did not study at the Bauhaus, Saarinen often designed furniture, some of which –like his Tulip Chair – is considered iconic for its time period.

Saarinen also designed buildings and other structure. One of his most recognizable designs is the iconic St. Louis Gateway Arch. In addition to the General Motors Technical Center, Saarinen designed a number of corporate buildings, including headquarters for IBM, Bell Laboratories, CBS and John Deere. He also designed the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport in New York, and the main terminal at Dulles International Airport.

The GM Technical Center is situated on a 700-acre campus and contains dozens of buildings. Its main building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and has also been designated as a National Historical Landmark.

One of the features of Saarinen’s original site design is the “Design Dome,” a 185-foot diameter dome that is capped with interlocking aluminum panels and glass walls. Every GM product produced since 1956 has been introduced on the dome’s shadowless design floor. GM recently refurbished the Design Dome. One of the upgrades includes computer controlled white and colored LED lighting to accentuate the products on the Design Dome floor.

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. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used in both interior and exterior applications and can help reduce solar heat gain in some applications. 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: Gabriel Jorby, via Flickr.com

Electricity generating coating applied to flexible glass

/in , /by

Electricity generating coating applied to flexible glass

Electricity generating coating applied to flexible glass

SolarWindow Technologies announced last month that it will begin applying its electricity generating coating to ultra-thin flexible glass. According to the company, the market for its coated glass could exceed $25 billion annually.

Flexible glass has applications in a variety of industries, including automotive, military and aerospace. Flexible glass is preferred in certain applications because it combines flexibility that’s characteristic of plastics with durability and scratch resistance that’s associated with glass.

Electricity generation is critical in certain applications, like aerospace and military. Devices in those industries may have specific power requirements and may need to operate in areas where additional power sources aren’t available.

In addition to having application in challenging environments, flexible glass that also generates electricity could prove useful in electrochromic windows, transportation applications and “smart” buildings.

According to the company, the return on investment could be achieved in as little as one year for buildings of at least 50 stories. SolarWindow also says that its electricity-generating coatings can generate more electricity than a conventional rooftop solar array.

The company isn’t limiting its coatings to ultra-thin flexible glass. The company also envisions markets for coated flat and large-format glasses. The electricity-generating coating is not yet on the market, but testing for the coating has progressed well. To date, the coating appears to be able to survive high-pressure, high-temperature production methods. That’s good news because those methods are the most common mass-production methods for applying surface coatings.

Glassprimer™ glass paint doesn’t generate electricity, but it does provide a stable, durable coating that’s designed especially for glass and other impervious surfaces that typically don’t accept paint. Glassprimer™ glass paint works at the nanoscale level to make a permanent bond with the glass surface. Once cured, the paint will not chip, fade or peel, even in humid conditions or in direct sunlight.

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. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used in both interior and exterior applications and can help reduce solar heat gain in some applications. 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: Ted Lappin, via Flickr.com

New paint-on coating improves glass efficiency

/in , /by
New paint-on coating improves glass efficiency

New paint-on coating improves glass efficiency

Researchers at Berkeley National Labs are working to develop a paint-on coating that reflects heat. If successful, the coating could be added to existing windows for about one-tenth the cost of conventional heat-reflective glazes. The researchers even speculate that the coating could be applied by homeowners as a do-it-yourself project.

The coating will be designed to selectively reflect infrared light waves without significantly reducing visible light. Like many energy-efficient coatings, the Berkeley coating will also be designed primarily for use in southern and western climates. These buildings tend to use a significant amount of electricity for air conditioning.

The goal of the development is to create an inexpensive, easy-to-use coating. If they succeed, the coating could reduce energy consumption by as much as 35 billion KWh and 24 billion pounds of CO2 emissions annually. The team’s goal is to create a coating that could be applied for about $1.50 per square foot.

To create the coating, the team will work with a type of polymer known as a “bottlebrush” polymer. The unique shape of the polymer – a rigid spine with bristles that extend from the sides – could help reflect infrared light, while allowing visible light to pass unimpeded.

The work is being funded by the US Department of Energy, and will allow the team to develop, refine and test the coating. Another element of the project is to determine how best to scale production, maximize the coating’s efficiency and distribute the finished product.

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. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used in both interior and exterior applications and can help reduce solar heat gain in some applications. 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: Myxi, via Flickr.com

NYU’s Billion-Dollar Glass Building

/in , /by

NYU's Billion-Dollar Glass Building

NYU’s Billion-Dollar Glass Building

Construction is expensive anywhere, but construction costs in New York City are astronomical. It should come as little surprise, therefore, that NYU’s newest academic building will cash out at a cool $1B. The building, known as 181 Mercer Street, will have nearly 750,000 square feet of space and will feature a swimming pool, a gym, multiple theaters, student and faculty housing, classroom space and practice space, all tucked behind an all-glass façade.

The all-glass façade is both practical and symbolic. When the university sought to expand its footprint beyond its current campus, its plans were met with stiff opposition from its nearby neighbors. The issue was litigated and the University prevailed. The all-glass façade is meant to help heal the rift that was opened between the University and the surrounding community, some members of which wanted the land to be used as a park. As a nod to the community, the building will also feature about 8,000 square feet of space designated for community or public use.

The University acquired the space on which the new building will sit in the 1960’s. To create enough space for the new “super building”, the University needed to demolish an existing recreation building, which was completed in August 2016.

Even though the new building’s size seems immense, it’s actually only about 80% of what the city would allow on a parcel of that size. The building’s glass façade will provide a significant amount of natural light. It will also have a “green roof” and low-flow plumbing, as well as a rainwater runoff retention system.

According to NYU, the building is much needed and long overdue. While the facility does replace an athletic and recreation building, it also expands the available instructional space and relieve currently overcrowded classrooms. According to NYU, the building will be ready for use in 2021.

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. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used in both interior and exterior applications and can help reduce solar heat gain in some applications. 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: Joe Mannion, via Flickr.com

Glass tile offers endlessly customizable displays

/in , /by
Glass tile offers endlessly customizable displays

Glass tile offers endlessly customizable displays

Decorating – or redecorating – can be both expensive and time-consuming. That’s one reason people don’t often undertake major redecorating projects. Some Italian scientists may have found a way to remove both the inconvenience and expense associated with redecorating. They’ve created Lumentile, a ceramic glass tile that can be used to redecorate a room virtually, and as frequently as the user likes.

The ceramic tile uses embedded electronics and innovative display technology to display photos, patterns and colors on the surface of the tile. Each tile can be used as an independent segment of a display screen. When the electronics are off, the tile appears to be a standard ceramic tile.

Users can display virtually any image or color on the tile using a computer, smartphone or tablet. A Lumentile wall can be yellow one day and blue the next. In addition, the tiles can display pictures, videos and patterns as the user desires. Each tile is the size of a standard A3 paper – about 11.7″x 16.5″ and contains its own independent power supply.

When the tile is unpowered, it can appear in one of three standard colors – black, white or silver. The tile is specially engineered to emit a uniform level of light across the surface of the tile. The designers don’t just envision Lumentile as a decorative surface for interiors. They believe that the tile system can be used for exterior and mobile applications, saying that the system could provide vehicles or other moving objects with a camouflage surface or a mobile billboard.

Lumentile applications aren’t limited to vertical surfaces, either. The designers say that the tiles can be installed on floors to support security and safety applications, or to provide directional assistance. Currently, tiles are in an advanced development phase, and could be on the market by 2020.

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. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used in both interior and exterior applications and can help reduce solar heat gain in some applications. 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 .

Could body armor be made from glass?

/in , /by
Could body armor be made from glass?

Could body armor be made from glass?

Stopping projectiles and weapons in close combat has often been left to super materials like Kevlar, but some researchers think that new metallic glass formulations could find their way into the next generation of body armor and shields. Research teams from the University of California, San Diego, the University of Southern California and the California Institute of Technology reported the development of a metallic glass (amorphous steel) alloy that can withstand an impact without permanently deforming.

The discovery is generating significant interest because the material’s ability to withstand external forces exceeds those of any other steel alloy in existence. Metallic glasses have captured the attention of materials engineers because they are exceptional hard without being brittle. The material was designed specifically to survive extreme conditions. That means it can be created under extreme conditions without being damaged.

The material, which is currently known as SAM2X5-630, was created by mixing metal powders, which were then subject to extreme pressure and exposed to a 10,000-amp current at nearly 1,200° F. The production process is known as spark plasma sintering. That production method is preferred because it produces finished materials in a matter of minutes.

Researchers tested the material by firing high-velocity copper plates at it. The test projectiles traveled at rates between 500 m/s and 1,300 m/s. While the SAM2X5-630 samples did deform on impact, the deformations were not permanent. The test material is nearly 60 times stronger than ordinary stainless steel, and about 2.5 times stronger than tungsten-carbide ceramic.

Despite its promise, the new material doesn’t take the crown for being the most elastic. Diamonds are about 5 times stronger than the new metallic glass material, but researchers are looking for ways to make the SAM2X5-630 even better at absorbing more impact. The most likely way to accomplish that involves increasing the material’s weight.

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. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used in both interior and exterior applications and can help reduce solar heat gain in some applications. 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: Program Executive Office Soldier , via Flickr.com

New glass coating blocks heat, but not light

/in , /by
New glass coating blocks heat, but not light

New glass coating blocks heat, but not light

Researchers at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) in Singapore have developed a new glass coating that rejects infrared light, but transmits visible light. Infrared light waves generate heat and can cause buildings to consume more energy. According to the researchers, the coating will be of most use in equatorial countries, which receive the greatest amount of full-spectrum light exposure.

The coating blocks most infrared light waves, which means that it could virtually eliminate solar heat gain on coated windows. That would translate into a significant reduction in energy consumption, which is the largest operating cost associated with buildings in areas that are close to the equator.

The coating consists of tin-oxide particles that are doped with small amounts of antimony. The scientists varied the concentration of antimony throughout the coating to optimize infrared rejection. Currently, the experimental formulation blocks about 90% of infrared light waves, while admitting 80% of visible light.

Commercial coatings that use tin-oxide and antimony are already on the market, but the ASTAR researchers used antimony particles that are about half the size of the commercially available coatings, and varied the particle concentrations to improve infrared light control.

An added benefit of this formulation is that it may be possible to add the coating to windows that are already installed. The ability to add the coating as an after-market process could help older buildings reduce their energy costs without the expense of complete window or architectural glass replacement.

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. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used in both interior and exterior applications and can help reduce solar heat gain in some applications. 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: Science Activism , via Flickr.com

Iconic Glass Structures – Flame Towers

/in , /by

Iconic Glass Structures – Flame Towers

Iconic Glass Structures – Flame Towers

When you think of iconic modern architecture, you don’t automatically think of Baku, Azerbaijan, but a steel and glass building complex known as the Flame Towers may just change that. Designed as a mixed-use office, residential and hotel complex, the Flame Towers tower over Azerbaijan’s capital city.

In Azerbaijan, historians have found evidence of human habitation that dates back 100,000 years. Roman inscriptions dating back to the first century AD have been found there. Azerbaijan has been a political crossroads throughout its history, and has intermittently been controlled by European, Asian, Soviet and Middle Eastern influences.

The discovery of rich oil reserves in Azerbaijan combined with the eventual fall of the Soviet Union left the country with a burgeoning economy and a desire to build. Construction on the Flame Towers began in 2007 and was completed in 2012. The buildings opened to tenants in 2013.

The complex consists of three curvaceous buildings, referred to as the South, North and West towers. The glass façades of each of the three buildings can be turned into massive display screens, thanks to more than 10,000 LED luminaires. The displays, which often take the visual appearance of fires or the Azerbaijan national flag, can be seen from any point in the city of Baku.

The three towers range in height from 161m to 182 meters. The tallest of the three towers, the South tower, is a 33-story residential facility. The North tower offers 30 stories of hotel space and the West tower, which is the smallest of the three buildings at 28 stories, is used for commercial office space. In its entirety, the complex contains more than 2.5 million square feet of usable space.

US-based Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK) designed the buildings. The buildings’ signature curves, which pay homage to the region’s historical worship of fire, are not just for aesthetics. Fierce winds blow through Baku, and the region is seismically active. The continuous curves of the buildings help them withstand the forces they encounter.

The glass used in the building façades is tinted both blue and orange, which allows the buildings to show a fire motif during daylight hours.

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: Firuza, via Flickr.com