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Iconic Glass Structures – Aldar Headquarters

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Iconic Glass Structures – Aldar Headquarters

Iconic Glass Structures – Aldar Headquarters

This week, we look at the Aldar Headquarters (also spelled Al Dar) in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The circular glass building was completed in 2010 and rises 110 meters above grade. If you’re thinking that the building is a round tower, you’re not thinking about this correctly. It looks more like a glass and steel Oreo standing on its side.

The building features 23 interior floors, but because of its unique design and size, it offers about the same floor space as a 40-story building. The completed structure offers about 62,000 square meters of office space, and the building can hold 120,000 people at one time. The outer façades curve, but they’re actually created from a series of triangular flat glass pieces. The façades face east and west to allow sunlight to penetrate the building.

Despite the significant sun exposure, the building earned a silver LEED certification, and features efficient lighting and water systems. In addition, the building features a vacuum-based waste disposal system. Refuse is vacuum-extracted from the building and deposited in a nearby waste transfer station.

The glass and steel building design was influenced by a fanciful design drafted by French architect Etienne-Louis Boullee in 1784 as an homage to Sir Isaac Newton. The Cenotaph for Newton was never built or attempted. The working design for the Aldar Headquarters was created by MZ Architects. Principle architect Marwan Zgheib said he modeled his design for the building after a clam shell, since Abu Dhabi is heavily influenced by its proximity to the sea.

The building was the first diagrid structure to be built in the UAE. The diagrid construction eliminates the need for support columns. This in turn opens a wide range of options for the building’s interior design.

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: Ahmed Al Harthi, via Flickr.com

Your beer glass could be spying on you

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Your beer glass could be spying on you

Your beer glass could be spying on you

With all the talk about who makes the best beer, another beer-related battle is brewing – who makes the best beer glass? A startup called Glassify says that it will soon bring its “smart glass” to a corner brewery near you – if you live in Europe or North America.

The glass is outfitted with a NFC chip and QR code combo that’s been embedded in the base of the glass. In theory, the consumer bellies up to the bar, introduces his brew to his smartphone (which is loaded with the Glassify app) and a little bit of marketing magic happens. The customer’s identity, age and location is transmitted to the brewery. In exchange, the customer receives a free beer or other promotion.

Patrons can “charge” their glasses with money to spend at the bar, and can transfer drinks to friends. In addition to receiving promotions at the bar they’re currently visiting, patrons can also receive promotions for nearby establishments. The app also keeps track of what a person orders, so bars can already see a patron’s preferences.

Never heard of a smart glass? Not surprising. Right now, there are only a few thousand glasses in use as part of a pilot program in the Europe and US. The smart glass invasion is expected to heat up in earnest in the first half of 2017. Based on the results of the pilot program, bars say that sales have increased substantially because of the glass. The programming limits the number of promotions to five per visit for each drinker. The app can also interface with Uber to help bar patrons avoid DUIs.

The smart glass just goes to show that there are a lot of things you can do with glass, including increasing drink sales!

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: Glassify

Japanese glass makers push heat blocking glass

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Japanese glass makers push heat blocking glass

Japanese glass makers push heat blocking glass

Japanese glass makers are trying to increase the use of heat-blocking glass in buildings under construction. The goal is to reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings throughout the country.

Asahi Glass Company makes a heat shielded solar cell unit. The unit collects solar energy but allows people to see through it. The glass blocks heat generating light wavelengths and absorbs incoming light to reduce glare and the need for air conditioning.

Another heat blocking glass product made by the Nippon Sheet Glass Company is transparent until it absorbs heat. When it absorbs heat, it darkens to prevent additional heat from being transmitted through the glass. The glass operates in both directions, so it can block heat transfer from a building to the outside. This helps reduce heat loss in the evening and during the winter. The color-changing glass eliminates the need for curtains or mechanical shades, which makes it ideal for public spaces, unattended spaces and for windows that may be difficult to reach, but that could otherwise transmit significant heat.

The idea of heat-blocking glass is certainly not new, and it’s possible – using transparent films applied to the glass surface – to block the transfer of heat or the transmission of light. The heat blocking glass products simply build this capability directly into the glass. The integrated glass will last longer than applied films will, and work well in special circumstances.

One way to control the accumulation of heat through glass is by applying a coating like Glassprimer™ glass paint. Glassprimer™ glass paint is formulated especially for use on glass. It forms a permanent bond with the surface of the glass, and will not chip, fade or peel, even when exposed to direct sunlight.

Its exceptional UV resistance allows you to control heat transmission while still allowing light transmission. In addition, Glassprimer™ glass paint can be tinted to match any paint palette from any major paint manufacturer. 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: Jon Rawlinson, via Flickr.com

Researcher develops glass antenna

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Researcher develops glass antenna

Researcher develops glass antenna

A researcher at the Utah State University has developed a transparent glass antenna. The antenna, developed by Dr. Reyhan Baktur is printed on glass and could replace the current heavy antennas used on satellites and other structures.

According to Dr. Baktur, an antenna could be printed on solar panels, which would allow sunlight to penetrate the antenna and reach the solar panel easily. That could be important for a space application because it could allow a device to have an antenna that doesn’t interfere with solar energy collection, and that reduces the overall weight of the device at the same time.

In addition, the transparent antenna can transmit data t a higher rate than conventional antennas. The project is still in development, but NASA will be reviewing the work and may apply the technology to an active mission in the future. The research that led to the development of the technology was partly funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA.

The printed antenna could be used in other applications that are closer to home. Baktur says that antennas could be printed on building windows, automobile glass and even clothing. In construction, printed antennas could be used to replace rooftop antennas. In automotive applications, printed antennas could assist in crash detection and other vehicle based telemetry.

The versatility of glass opens opportunities, not just for space-age applications, but also ordinary ones. Glass has been produced for thousands of years, but we’re just now examining the potential of glass.

Glass coatings extend the versatility of glass. For example, Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specialized glass coating that bonds permanently to glass surfaces. It can be tinted to match the paint palette of any major paint manufacturer, and will not chip, fade or peel, even in direct sunlight. GlassPrimer also makes a glass surface molecular activator that is designed to work with UV-inkjet glass printing processes. If you’d like to learn more 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: Kordite, via Flickr.com

Did Portland glass factory pollute groundwater?

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Did Portland glass factory pollute groundwater?

Did Portland glass factory pollute groundwater?

Oregon state environmental regulators aren’t done looking at Bullseye Glass, the Portland glass factory at the center of an air quality issue in that city. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality now says that rainwater runoff from the factory’s roof may have deposited toxic heavy metals into the soil and groundwater near the furnace.

Investigators sampled the contents of dry wells on the company’s property and found some contaminants in concentrations as much as 33 times as high as federal limits for drinking water. While the runoff is not used for drinking, it does eventually filter into the groundwater, which may be used for drinking. Regulators are sampling the groundwater around the facility to test for the presence of heavy metals.

The roof runoff has been directed into the company’s dry wells for years, leading to the possibility of substantial contamination of the soil around the glass furnace. In addition to the toxic runoff, regulators also found about two feet of highly contaminated sediment at the bottom of the dry wells. Some of the concentrations of contaminants in the sediment were found to be thousands of times higher than the maximum allowable federal standards.

According to test results, the sediment in the dry well contained excessive levels of cadmium, lead, arsenic, hexavalent chromium and selenium. The dry well has been capped for some time, however the sediment in the well accumulated there over a period of more than 20 years. Bullseye Glass built the dry well in question in 1992, during an expansion of the company’s facilities.

The investigation was spurred by complaints that the glass furnace was improperly disposing of unwanted materials. Investigators found glass from the factory in manholes adjacent to the company’s property. The company was fined $600 and warned not to deposit any impermissible items in the city sewers. As part of the investigation, the city also looked at how materials, including rainwater runoff, are disposed of.

The company was also cited for faulty equipment cleaning practices that caused powdered glass fragments to be deposited on the company’s roof. Glass crushers were routinely cleaned out with compressed air, and the pulverized glass particles from the crushers was exhausted to the roof. The pulverized glass particles were then dispersed into the air, and washed off the roof into the sediment layer of the company’s dry wells.

Pending the outcome of the investigation, it is likely that Bullseye Glass will be required to develop a treatment plan for rainwater runoff that addresses the collection of heavy metals. The findings are significant because it is at least somewhat likely that other glass furnaces have contaminated soil around their facilities by improperly treating or discharging rainwater.

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: Pearl Pirie, via Flickr.com

China’s fascination with glass may have gone too far

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china-glass-bathrooms-300x225

China has been the site of many recent, high-profile glass attractions – bridges, walkouts, observation platforms and the like. The goal of these attractions are usually entertainment, but China may have taken its love affair with glass just one step too far.

Tourists at Shiyan Lake in the country’s Hunan Province can take full advantage of the park’s public restrooms, which are made entirely of glass, but at least on the facilities’ first day in action, most visitors chose not to.

The bathrooms are perched above the area’s spectacular forests, and feature glass-walled stalls and glass floors. The glass walls and stall doors are not heavily frosted, so it’s possible for other park visitors to see inside each cubicle, and there’s not much visual separation between the men’s and women’s restrooms. The floors in the treetop lavs are made from clear glass.

Most tourists have expressed a great deal of reservation about using the all-glass lavatories, and the concept gives new meaning to the French phrase, “natural break.” Nonetheless, some brave visitors have made good use of the treetop potties, while others have said that their need to go outweighed their need for privacy.

If you’re considering a frosted glass project, you might consider an alternative that produces similar results. Glassprimer™ glass paint offers a frosted finish on its paint that creates a frosted effect without the cost associated with frosted glass. And unlike frosted glass, which is created using a chemical or mechanical abrading process, Glassprimer™ glass paint comes in virtually any color. You don’t need to settle for traditional white, although virtually any shade of white is available!

Glassprimer™ glass paint provides excellent coverage for about $1 per square foot, which is less expensive than traditional frosted glass. In addition, Glassprimer™ glass paint bonds permanently with glass surfaces, so it won’t chip, fade or peel, even in direct sunlight.

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: South China Morning Post

Shanghai researchers develop bone-repairing bioglass

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Shanghai researchers develop bone-repairing bioglass

Shanghai researchers develop bone-repairing bioglass

Researchers from the Shanghai Jiaotong University and the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology have developed a new bioglass compound to repair fractured bones. Using bioglass compounds to repair fractures isn’t new, but current bioglass mixtures are not very effective when working with major fractures and bone displacements.

The Shanghai researchers have combined mesoporous bioglass with a compound called C3S, one of the materials used in Portland cement. The resulting material is then used as a 3-D printing media to generate “scaffolds” that the body can use as a building block for new bone repairs. The bioglass eventually degrades, but not before it spurs the growth of new bone.

By itself, C3S doesn’t mesh very well with the growth rate of new bone in the body, which explains why it’s not very helpful in repairing major fractures. It also doesn’t work well with 3-D printing, because it sets very fast. To prevent curing, which limits its usefulness in bone repairs, the scientists added a binding agent to the C3S, and the mesoporous bioglass mixture. Following 3-D printing, the resulting “scaffolds” were cured in a water bath.

The hybrid scaffolds, which in some cases were mixed with stem cells, were better at supporting bone growth and created a variety of different cells within the new growth. The material has not yet been tried in human or living animal subjects, but has only been used in the lab. The results so far have been promising, but more work will need to be done before it can be tested on humans.

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: John Lillis, via Flickr.com

Iconic Glass Structures – R&F Yingkai Square

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Iconic Glass Structures – R&F Yingkai Square

Iconic Glass Structures – R&F Yingkai Square

This week, we look at R&F Yingkai Square a newly constructed glass and steel tower in the Guangzhou Province in Zujiang. Its shifty shape is a visual treat because it’s a departure from the standard “four square” building. The tower is a mixed-use environment, and it’s nearly full.

The tower’s design is inspired by bamboo plants. It features asymmetrical “corners” that, when combined with the steel strips on the outside faces, make the building appear to move. The steel facing at the base gives way to glass at top of the building. The change in texture and the building’s faceted corners draw the eye ever upward, also lending to the notion of a building in motion.

The building tenants include the Park Hyatt Guangzhou on the upper floors, and a host of offices on the lower floors. The building also includes residential spaces. The tower extends 66 floors (nearly 1,000 feet) up and five floors below grade, and overlooks the Pearl River. Hotel guests can take advantage of spectacular views from the hotel’s infinity pool, and enjoy a meal in the hotel’s rooftop eatery and garden.

R&F Yingkai Square is currently the 9th tallest building in Guangzhou and the 49th tallest structure in China. It’s brand new construction, having been designed by Goettsch Partners of Chicago in 2008. Construction on the building was completed in 2014 and the building was formally opened earlier this year.

The building is owned by Guangzhou R&F Properties Co., Ltd., which also provided structural engineering services and was the primary contractor for the building’s construction.

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: 1st image via CTBUH

Tesla S Gets A Glass Roof

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Tesla S Gets A Glass Roof

Tesla S Gets A Glass Roof

Tesla Motors announced earlier this month that the Model S will come with an all-glass roof option. The new all-glass approach one-ups itself. Tesla had previously offered a panoramic sunroof that included a center cross member. The new all-glass sunroof can be yours (or anyone else’s) for about $2,000 extra per month on a buy, and about $24 per month on a lease.

The panoramic sunroof, which is currently still available, can be had for about $1,500 if you buy, $32 extra per month if you lease. The panoramic sunroof with the center cross member is required if you also want the roof rack and satellite radio.

If you’re worried that a glass roof will treat you like an ant under a magnifying glass on a sunny day, don’t. The glass roof (panoramic or otherwise), blocks about 98% of UV light and more than 80% of the heat that might otherwise be generated. In short, you won’t get roasted!

According to the car’s website, there is no sunshade available for the glass-roofed car (yet), but the car does have a built in “overheat” protection. Owners can also turn on the air conditioning in the car via a smartphone app before returning to the vehicle.

Earlier this year, Tesla announced the Model 3, which incorporates virtually uninterrupted glass from the windshield to the rear deck. While the Model 3 doesn’t use a single piece of glass, it does make heavy use of glass throughout the passenger cabin. The Model 3 isn’t even in production yet, and is unlikely to be consumer-ready before the end of 2017, but other manufacturers are taking note of consumer preferences for glass.

If you don’t think a car in the $75,000 – $100,000 range will work well for your wallet, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia, Lincoln, Mini Cooper, Toyota and Volkswagen all have panoramic sunroof or moonroof options on some of their vehicles.

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: Steve Jurvetson, via Flickr.com

Solar energy from ordinary windows?

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Solar energy from ordinary windows?

Solar energy from ordinary windows?

Developing clean energy sources is a major priority for environmentalists, and solar energy has emerged as a clean source with high potential. Solar energy is usually created in large scale “solar farms.” They are ground based arrays of solar collectors. While they generate a lot of clean energy, they also take up a lot of space.

In rural areas, space isn’t a major problem. In cities, there’s virtually no space available for solar energy production. Rooftop arrays are one possibility, but even then, many buildings don’t have enough space to host collector arrays.

Enter the researchers from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, who have developed a new glass coating that could turn ordinary windows into solar energy collectors. The new approach uses “quantum dots” that collect solar energy and then direct it to a separate solar cell. (Most solar collectors are self-contained units that have the collector and the solar cell in one package.)

The coated window acts as a concentrator for UV light energy. The quantum dots can be customized to accept certain light frequencies and reject others. A traditional solar cell has a life expectancy of about 20 years, whereas the quantum dot coating lasts only about 14 years. The coating is about 2% efficient and it’s very easy to apply to the glass surface.

Using various combinations of cadmium, selenium, zinc and sulfur, the researchers are able to create a collector that accepts only high-energy photons and allows them to migrate from the concentrator to the edge of the glass. The migrating photon is captured and directed to a solar cell.

The researchers believe that the coating is very stable, and could even be removed and reused in a remanufacturing process. The coating is not ready to move into production. It’s efficiency level is still too low to make commercialization worthwhile, however, the researchers believe that by tweaking the coating formula, they can increase the efficiency of the coating to make it economically viable.

Low cost photovoltaics may allow significant energy production from existing glass surfaces in urban areas. While this coating is applied in the manufacturing stage, it’s possible that a method could be devised for applying the coating to glass that’s already in place.

Reducing the need for additional energy production could help in the fight against global warming, reduce operating costs and make energy more widely available in urban areas.

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: David Strom, via Flickr.com