Call us at 888.619.2226

Tunable glass goes opaque instantly

/in , /by

Tunable glass goes opaque instantly

Tunable glass goes opaque instantly

Tunable glass – glass that can transition from clear to opaque – isn’t new. This special type of glass is composed of nano-sized crystals and metals that work together when jolted with electricity. The current production method for tunable glass involves vapor deposition, a painstaking process that is neither rapid nor cheap.

New approach to tunable glass

Two Harvard researchers have developed an inexpensive alternative that converts glass from transparent to opaque in less than a second. Better still, the production methodology promises to be much less expensive to manufacture.

According to the researchers, their approach is based on a physical reaction rather than a chemical one, so it allows the glass to make the transition much more rapidly. The tunable glass consists of a sheet of glass sandwiched between two sheets of a soft elastomer. The elastomeric layers have been coated with silver nanowires and are transparent in the absence of electrical current.

Once a current is applied, the nanowires are attracted to each other and deform the elastomeric layers. The deformation causes transmitted light to scatter, rather than pass through the window. The opacity of the layer increases as the current increases. Sufficient current will cause the windows to become completely opaque.

Currently, the researchers’ approach to tunable glass is still in the tweaking stage. The researchers hope to create an even thinner layer of silver nanowires, which would allow the technique to use less current. They’ve also applied for a patent in the hope that their technique can soon be brought to market.
Being able to control light as it approaches glass is a key component of energy efficiency in modern construction. Opaque glass can also create privacy in urban areas, where dense construction is the norm.

Glassprimer™ glass paint offers the opportunity to do both affordably. Glassprimer™ glass paint is highly UV-resistant, which means it can be used to coat glass in a way that allows light to penetrate, but rejects the heat-producing UV-radiation. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be applied permanently to glass to create an opaque effect for about $1 per square foot. That’s less expensive than using traditional frosted glass. And unlike frosted glass, Glassprimer™ glass paint comes in virtually any color.

If you’d like more information about decorating with Glassprimer™ glass paint, or about its UV-resistance, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: tanakawho, via Flickr.com

Chanel store façade made with glass bricks

/in , /by

Chanel store façade made with glass bricks

Chanel store façade made with glass bricks

Dutch design firm MVRDV has remodeled the traditional brick façade of the Chanel store in Amsterdam using glass bricks. The building, which was built originally as a residential structure, still has private residences on the upper floors.

Glass bricks are strong, energy efficient

The unique brick façade took about a year to build, and makes the apartments above appear to be floating over the ground floor retail space. The private residences still have a terra cotta brick façade, as required by city building codes, so the glass bricks from the retail space appear to meld into the building’s traditional brickwork.

The new façade mimics the original building design. It allowed the designers to add interior space and augment the vertical height of the building to meet existing building codes. Poesia, a glassmaker near Venice, casted the glass bricks that were used in the building remodel. The bricks are held in place with a special UV-activated transparent glue developed in Germany.

Despite appearances, the glass bricks are actually stronger than concrete, as proven by strength tests conducted by researchers at the Delft University of Technology. The doorway frame, known as an architrave, is strong enough to withstand the impact of two SUVs. In addition, the team created a replacement and repair plan for the bricks, in the event that one or more are damaged. According to the designer, individual bricks can be removed and replaced as needed.

The building’s façade wasn’t the only point of upgrade during the remodel. The building was outfitted with a ground-source heat pump to optimize the indoor climate year-round.

Many existing buildings have traded their original designs to accommodate modern the needs of modern retailing. The designers aimed to retain the original character of the building façade. The new glass front design mimics the style of the building’s original door and window frames, while at the same time, creating an attractive space for high-end retail activity. Other tenants on the once residential street include Dior, Prada and Rolex.

Because the façade is made entirely of glass, it is completely recyclable. That is in keeping with the design firm’s commitment to incorporating environmentalism into its work. The firm says that during the building process, several imperfect bricks were melted down and reformed, conserving both energy and material. It also pointed out that the entire façade could be melted down and reformed in the future, if it becomes necessary.

If you’re looking for additional inspiration for decorating with glass, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: jpmm, via FreeImages.com

Bio glass might help regrow cartilage

/in , /by
Bio glass might help regrow cartilage

Bio glass might help regrow cartilage

The passage of time and injuries can take their toll on the cartilage in the human skeleton. The body’s capacity to repair itself is well known, but certain tissues don’t self-repair very well or very easily. Cartilage – that flexible, semi-rigid tissue that cushions joints, and gives noses and ears their distinctive shapes – is among those tissues that don’t really regrow. Bio glass developed by scientists at the Imperial College London and the University of Milan Bicocca may change that.

Bio glass could revolutionize joint replacement

The bio glass material acts like cartilage in load-bearing joints in the body, including the knees and spine. It offers the potential to help people who have lost cartilage due to injury or illness, and could help patients avoid having spinal fusion surgery. Spinal fusion is a typical treatment for people who have experienced the degradation or destruction of cartilage between vertebrae. The loss of cartilage causes significant pain, but spinal fusion reduces the patient’s ability to move freely.

The bio glass material, which is a combination of silica and a polymer called polycaprolactone. The compound is exceptionally interesting because it can be made into a biodegradable ink, which could permit 3-D printing of replacement cartilage. The substance can also be used to create a structure that encourages the growth of natural cartilage. It is resilient and shows some ability to “self-heal.”

The ultimate goal for bio glass is to develop a formulation that has the same mechanical properties as natural cartilage, but does not require any additional supportive structure. This would allow the bio glass to be implanted easily in a joint during reconstruction.

Bio glass isn’t new. The initial formulation was developed in then 1960’s as a way to help heal badly damaged bones. The new material is a reformulation of the initial substance, and is designed for both strength and flexibility. Don’t look for the new material just yet, however.

Scientists still need to refine their manufacturing techniques, test the material in humans, and develop ways to implant the material safely. They estimate that the treatment could be perfected and approved for use in about a decade.

While you may have to wait until 2026 for a replacement knee, you can get Glassprimer™ glass paint right now. Glassprimer™ glass paint is an industry leading product formulated especially to bond permanently to glass. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be tinted to match the palette of 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: Jerry Edmunson, via Flickr.com

Oregon still wrestles with art glass question

/in , /by
Oregon still wrestles with art glass question

Oregon still wrestles with art glass question

The State of Oregon is nearing a decision on final rules for the production of colored art glass. The state’s major producers came under closer scrutiny after regulators discovered higher-than-acceptable emissions of toxic metals from their operations.

Art glass producers under regulatory microscope

The state’s largest producers of colored glass and colored glass supplies have installed filters to capture chromium, arsenic, cadmium and other toxic heavy metals. Smaller producers are asking the State of Oregon to exempt them from the filtration requirements. They’re seeking to apply regulations only to producers that generate more than 10 tons of colored glass per year.

The State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has been monitoring the companies’ reduced emissions since it put temporary restrictions in place earlier this year. According to the state, its testing revealed that even at the reduced production levels, processed chromium still poses a major problem.

Glass producers melt trivalent chromium in a furnace as part of the colored glass making process. By itself, trivalent chromium does not pose a significant health hazard. After smelting, however, chromium that isn’t trapped the glass emerges as hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen. Even worse, according to the state, the filtration systems currently in use by the glass manufacturers capture only two-thirds of the carcinogenic chromium emissions. The rest is released into the surrounding air.

The DEQ has temporarily prohibited the glassmakers from using any chromium in their glassmaking processes. Chromium is a standard additive in making green glass. It can also be used to make black glass. Chromium is also mixed with other metals, including tin oxide and arsenic, to make emerald green.

The problem isn’t a small one, and it isn’t limited strictly to artistic glass. Green glass is commonly used in food containers. While ordinary soda lime glass has a greenish tint, that coloration comes from iron oxide. Darker green containers – such as those used for storing wine and oil – would also be affected by the ban.

Arsenic, when combined with other metal oxides, is used to create imitation porcelain. Cadmium, which is toxic by itself, is used to create intense yellow glass and various glazes. When it is combined with other additives, like sulphur and selenium, it produces deep colors that range from orange to red.

The question of emissions in Oregon has spurred a larger debate, and has prompted the US EPA to examine glass factory emissions more closely. Glassprimer™ glass paint offers an option for creating colored glass. Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specially engineered glass coating that is applied directly to the glass surface. It can be tinted to match the paint palette of any major paint manufacturer and makes a permanent bond to the glass surface. Once cured, it will not chip, fade or peel, and performs well, even in harsh environments.

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: Nancy McClure, via FreeImages.com

Antimicrobial glass market is growing

/in , /by
Antimicrobial glass market is growing

Antimicrobial glass market is growing

If you haven’t heard of antimicrobial glass, you’re not alone, but Corning is cornering the market on it. Glass has a number of hygienic properties, not the least of which is that it doesn’t absorb or harbor bacteria. Bacteria can certainly live on the surface of the glass, but unlike porous surfaces, a little “spray and wipe” removes the growth.

Antibacterial glass combats germs on mobile devices

That makes glass an ideal surface for places where a high degree of hygiene is required – like kitchens and bathrooms. But other places may also require a high degree of hygiene. Phones, tablets and other mobile devices outfitted with touch screens get handled a lot. The more hands that handle them, the more likely it is that germs can be passed from person to person.

Enter Corning. Corning’s Gorilla Glass is the go-to choice for mobile devices and high-use touch screens, so it makes sense to find ways to keep Gorilla Glass “clean” from a microbial perspective. In 2014, Corning introduced antimicrobial Gorilla Glass – a version of the company’s super-tough flagship that is coated with ionic silver.

Thanks to silver’s natural “killer instinct,” touch screens that sport the coating are naturally toxic to microbes and germs that might otherwise lie in wait on unprotected glass surfaces. Scientists have long known about silver’s anti-microbial properties. According to the company, antimicrobial Gorilla Glass will put the hurt on hapless algae, mold, mildew, fungi, and bacteria that find their way to a silver-coated touch screen.

The standard approach to cleaning up a grubby touch screen is a liquid cleaner or foam that must be applied periodically. The cleaner kills the unwanted biotics that have been deposited on the screen, but the cleaners don’t persist, so a clean screen will get loaded up again with a veritable living zoo during use. In contrast, the antimicrobial Gorilla Glass is always toxic to living crud, so it works all the time.

Demand for smartphones is expected to be a major driver for the sales of antibacterial glass. Glass is also becoming a preferred surface in decorating for its hygienic properties. If you’d like some inspiration for using glass in your home or commercial space, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: AJC1, via Flickr.com

Glass data storage preserves data indefinitely

/in , /by
Glass data storage preserves data indefinitely

Glass data storage preserves data indefinitely

If you know anything about glass, you know that glass lasts forever. It may break, but it will always be glass. It doesn’t deteriorate like organic materials do. A bottle in the landfill today will still be a bottle in the landfill 2,000 years from now. So glass data storage makes a lot of sense.

Glass data storage could preserve all of human history

Researchers at the University of Southampton have created a new way of storing digital data using the nanostructure of glass. The glass data storage process uses a technique known as 5-dimensional data storage, which was first described just three years ago.

A 1-inch disk can store about 350 terabytes of data with no degradation over the disk’s estimated 13.8 billion year lifespan. The disk can also stand up to some downright inhospitable temperatures, retaining the data intact at temperatures of up to 375° F.

The system takes advantage of a much richer data encoding scheme to preserve a higher volume of data in a smaller space. Unlike traditional binary data encoding schemes that can only record one of two states, the 5-dimensional encoding scheme can record five states on tiny structures inside the glass disks known as nanogratings. The nanogratings can encode information using their orientation, refraction, and its location in space on the x, y, and z axes, providing much more “space” for information storage.

Glass is an attractive medium because it is stable in a wide variety of environments. It does not warp or change, nor does it break down or interact with other chemicals in the atmosphere. UV radiation does not affect the glass medium, either.

The data is written to the glass disk by special lasers that aren’t likely to be commercialized very soon, but reading devices could be made relatively inexpensively. Hitachi is also working on a glass data storage system, and liquid data storage is also in the works.

At GlassPaint.com, we’re big fans of the nanoproperties of glass. Glassprimer™ glass paint is specially designed to interact with the nanosurface of glass to create permanent bonds. When you work with Glassprimer™ glass paint, you can be certain that you’ll get outstanding coverage, and a tough, UV-resistant surface for your glass projects. For glass inspiration, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: University of Southampton

Iconic Glass structures – 30 St Mary Axe

/in , /by
Iconic Glass structures - 30 St Mary Axe

Iconic Glass structures – 30 St Mary Axe

Another entry in our series of Iconic Glass Structures is 30 St. Mary Axe in London. This 41-story commercial building is located in the financial district. Designed by architect Norman Foster and built by Skanska, the building was opened in 2004 on the site of two former buildings that were razed after being badly damaged by an IRA bomb. The building was originally designed for insurance firm Swiss Re, but today it serves a number of diverse tenants.

30 St. Mary Axe, named after the building’s address, is informally known as The Gherkin because of its distinctive shape. The building, which has a circular floor plan, tapers as it rises, and appears to come to a point. The building’s curved appearance is deceptive. The glass panels on the outside are all flat, with a single exception at building’s top. It is extremely energy efficient. Its unique design provides natural ventilation and natural lighting, and incorporates passive solar heat in the winter.

30 St. Mary Axe has won numerous architectural awards and quickly became an iconic landmark in London. The building was sold in 2014 to its current owners for 700 million pounds, making it the most expensive commercial property in London. A number of highly visible clients lease space in the building. In addition, the building provides space for retailers and restaurants.

30 St. Mary Axe has more than 150,000 square feet of office and retail space. Unlike many commercial designs, 30 St. Mary Axe does not rely on central columns for internal support. This allows the office spaces to incorporate open floor plans. The 40th floor of the building hosts a bar with 360° views of the city.

With all tall buildings, wind can cause them to sway. To control sway, many buildings employ braces or dampers to counteract forces generated by the wind. The design of 30 St. Mary Axe makes it sufficiently stiff to resist wind-induced sway, so the building does not have any additional bracing or dampers to control wind movement.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your next glass project, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Aurelien Guichard , via Flickr.com

Metallic glass increases light transmission

/in , /by
Metallic glass increases light transmission

Metallic glass increases light transmission

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have created metal-coated glass that increases light transmission by as much as 10% compared to traditional window glass. Although glass is transparent, metallic inclusions allow more light to flow through the treated glass.

Metallic glass means conductive glass

In addition to increasing light transmission, the metallic inclusions also make the glass conductive. Ordinary glass is not just non-conductive; it’s used as an insulator in a variety of applications. Making glass conductive opens up some new possibilities for energy conservation, including the creation of “programmable” windows that can either reflect or absorb heat, based on the needs of the occupants.

Using windows to control heat gain or loss is especially interesting in Canada, where 70% of the country’s energy usage is devoted to maintaining the temperature in buildings. The experimental glass was created using a vacuum deposition technique, and added a metallic layer just a few nanometers thick.

You can use Glassprimer™ glass paint to help control heat gain and loss in building interiors. Ordinary glass allows UV-radiation to pass through it virtually unimpeded. In the winter, any additional heat is welcome, but often the angle of the winter sun doesn’t lend itself to heat gain via glass. On the other hand, you can also use coatings on the glass to help retain heat during the winter.

Glassprimer™ glass paint allows natural light to penetrate the glass, but provides exceptional UV resistance. Glass coated with Glassprimer™ glass paint will resist solar heat gain, and can also help prevent heat loss at night and during the winter months.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is economical as well. You can apply Glassprimer™ glass paint and achieve complete coverage for a cost of about $1.00 per square foot. Because Glassprimer™ glass paint makes a permanent bond with the glass, it will not chip, fade or delaminate, even in direct sunlight.

No one knows how well “smart” windows will work, or even if they’re practical, but we do know that Glassprimer™ glass paint offers a practical, affordable solution for limiting heat gain and loss. 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: Drew Mackie, via Flickr.com

Wired Glass: Safe or not?

/in , /by
Wired Glass: Safe or not?

Wired Glass: Safe or not?

You’ve seen wired glass. It’s used in doors and windows, and has an open wire mesh built into it. Many people assume that it’s safety glass, but it’s not. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, traditional wired glass doesn’t meet the organization’s glass safety impact standard.

Wired glass isn’t safety glass

In the late 1970’s, the CPSC determined that wired glass posed a serious danger and imposed size restrictions on its use. The size restrictions recognized that the glass had a very limited ability to survive impact stresses. The glass, which is weaker than safety glass, wasn’t banned outright because at the time the rule was made, wired glass was the only fire-rated glass product on the market. Because of this, wired glass was granted a compliance exemption for impact strength, specifically for academic and athletic applications.

By the early 2000’s, new safety glass had become widely available, and traditional wired glass lost its impact strength exemption. Any replacement glass in these locations had to meet the new strength requirements, and glass used in athletic environments had to meet an even more stringent safety standard. Traditional wired glass can be used as door lights, as long as it does not exceed the maximum size limits allowed by the CPSC standard.

The debate about wired glass is not about its relative safety in a fire. Wired glass – especially traditional wired glass – is weaker than regular glass and was installed liberally in schools, largely for its fire rating. Unfortunately, wired glass is responsible for more than 2,500 injuries annually in schools alone. Most injuries occur when a child accidentally impacts the window and the glass breaks.

School building codes do not permit the installation of traditional wired glass in certain areas, and limits the permissible size of wired glass windows in other locations. At the same time, building codes do not require the glass to be removed, either. Generally speaking, insurers and building inspectors recommend that wired glass be removed from areas where impacts are possible or likely.

Alternatives to wired glass exist, including a wired glass that incorporates a safety film. The film improves the impact resistance of glass and reduces the potential for serious injury in the event of a catastrophic impact. Other fire rated options that are more aesthetically pleasing are also available.

At GlassPaint.com, we can’t offer an improved safety rating, but we can definitely improve the aesthetics of glass. Glassprimer™ glass paint is specially engineered to bond to the surface of glass. Once cured, Glassprimer™ glass paint is permanent, and resists UV light damage, chipping, peeling and fading. We can also match any 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: Frank Servayge , via Flickr.com

Glasses can correct color blindness

/in , /by
Glasses can correct color blindness

Glasses can correct color blindness

Color blindness is a common vision deficiency that affects about 8% of men and 0.5% of women. The most common type of “color blindess” is red-green color blindness. Affected individuals cannot distinguish red from green. A scientist who was trying to develop protective eyewear for surgeons has developed a pair of glasses that can correct red-green color blindness.

Glasses funded by NIH

Don McPherson, a researcher at Alfred University, was trying to develop eyewear that could protect physicians’ eyes during laser surgery. McPherson was playing a game of Ultimate Frisbee with a friend, and let him try the glasses on. The friend happened to be color blind – a condition that McPherson doesn’t suffer from. McPherson’s friend reported that his color vision changed when he wore the glasses.

McPherson applied for funding from the National Institutes of Health to help perfect the design of the glasses. He teamed up with a computer scientist to refine the design. In 2010, the pair formed a company called EnChroma, which sells the corrective lenses for $269-$349 per pair. The glasses don’t offer a permanent correction for the condition. Color blindness is a genetic deficiency and could only be “cured” with an effective gene therapy. None currently exist, but at least one promising treatment is seeking permission to conduct human trials.

EnChroma’s glasses aren’t the only eyewear available to correct color blindness. Several other companies offer color correction lenses. A Maryland optometrist offers both contact lenses and glasses that can allow the wearer to pass color vision tests that are required for certain types of employment. EnChroma does not guarantee that its lenses will allow the wearer to pass a color vision test, but says its glasses can help color blind people experience color vision.

At GlassPaint.com, we can’t correct color blindness, but we can help correct the absence of color – especially around glass! Glassprimer™ glass paint offers a highly UV resistant, durable paint that comes in virtually any color and forms a permanent bond with glass. 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: JoJo 77 , via Flickr.com