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Colored electrochromic glass may be available soon

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Colored electrochromic glass may be available soon

Colored electrochromic glass may be available soon

The desire to make glass buildings more energy efficient is strong. By itself, glass isn’t a very good thermal insulator. Heat can pass easily through glass, so whether you’re talking about heat loss or heat gain, the end result for glass isn’t promising.

Scientists have gone out of their way to develop coatings and technologies that can help glass become more energy efficient. Electrochromic glass is one of those technologies that changes the tint on glass from clear to dark, but it also offers the benefit of keeping the inside temperatures manageable.

When the glass switches from transparent to tinted, it rejects the infrared light frequencies that generate extra heat. Currently electrochromic glass comes in one “color” – which happens to be blue. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam-Golm have developed a new technique for creating electrochromic glass in colors other than blue.

The project is being underwritten by the German government, and could create a range of decorative colored glasses that offer the same or similar energy-saving properties. Currently, electrochromic glass is created by applying a thin film of indium tin oxide or fluorine tin oxide to a single pane of glass. This first coating makes the glass conductive. A second glass pane is similarly prepared, and coated with an additional layer of tungsten oxide, which will change color when voltage is applied. The glass panes are put together face-to-face with a thin electrolyte layer between them.

When a low voltage is applied to electrochromic glass, the tungsten oxide coating darkens enough to reject heat-generating IR lightwaves, but not enough to eliminate visible light transmission. The switch can take some time – between 15 and 20 minutes. That’s true whether the glass is darkening or lightening.

The German researchers are investigating a different production technique that eliminates the second coating of tungsten oxide and using a UV cured resin filling in place of the electrolyte. A direct current to the surface causes form an electrochromic polymer. The technique has a few significant advantages over traditional electrochromic glass. First, a color shift can take place using much less voltage and second, it allows the addition of organic colorants that can produce colors other than blue. Finally, a switch from a transparent state to a colored one can take place in about 30 seconds.

The new manufacturing method also produces glass tiles that are strong enough to be mounted overhead or under foot. It could also be installed in vehicles, like ships or cars.

The new colored electrochromic glass is still in development, but Glassprimer™ glass paint can offer a highly economical substitute for creating colored glass. Glassprimer™ glass paint bonds permanently to glass surfaces and could be used to coat either interior or exterior projects. For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our website.

Photo Credit: picsessionsart, via Flickr

Could China Be Moving Away From Glass Architecture

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Could China Be Moving Away From Glass Architecture

Could China Be Moving Away From Glass Architecture

Last month, the Chinese government issued a new edict regarding construction in the country: going forward, no “weird” architecture will be approved. “Weird” architecture includes landmark buildings like the China Central Television Headquarters. CCTV is a giant glass and steel structure that’s affectionately known as “Big Pants.”

In addition to putting the kibosh on eccentric construction, the State Council also eliminated gated communities and illegal structures on the mainland. According to the State Council, all urban architecture must be “suitable, economic, green and pleasing to the eye.” It called out buildings that are “oversized, xenocentric and weird” saying that they expressed a “lack of cultural confidence” and “distorted attitudes about political achievements.”

The State Council is trying to curb a growing trend in some cities to build impractical or bizarre buildings that don’t fulfill a public need, yet consume public resources. The impractical nature of some buildings inflate their operating costs and some buildings are torn down relatively soon after their completion.

The State Council also directed cities to identify and remove illegal structures in their jurisdictions within five years. Cities have also been directed to regulate the safety and quality of new building projects.

The directive doesn’t specifically call for an end to the use of glass in architecture, however traditional architectural glass may not meet the State Council’s “economic” requirement. Additional focus is being trained on coating technologies to improve the energy performance of glass.

Glassprimer™ glass paint could factor into strategies to make glass more energy efficient. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used to control light and heat in a building. Its UV resistance means that the color of the paint will remain fresh and vibrant for years, even when exposed to direct sunlight. In addition to blocking out UV light, GlassPrimer™ glass paint can be used on a variety of interior decoration projects. If you’d like more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site.

Photo Credit: Bjarke Liboriussen, via Flickr

Solar glass research may improve greenhouses

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Solar glass research may improve greenhouses

Solar glass research may improve greenhouses

Australian researchers from Edith Cowan University have received a $1.6 million grant to improve the development of a type of solar glass that could improve food production in greenhouses. The glass currently generates 50 watts of power per square meter of surface area.

The glass allows the researchers to selectively control light radiation. Controlling solar radiation within the greenhouse enables growers to maximize crop yields. The generated power is stored and used for desalinization, irrigation, heating and cooling. Those activities could allow greenhouses to work at maximum production outside of the natural growing cycle and independent of their environment.

An independent greenhouse could allow food production to take place in areas that are naturally too hot, too cold or that lack water, and could not otherwise sustain agriculture. According to the researchers, worldwide greenhouse agriculture generates as much production as 1.2 million acres of natural agricultural land. In Australia, greenhouses account for about 20% of the country’s annual vegetable production. In other areas of the world, independent greenhouses could provide enough sustainable agriculture to address chronic food shortages.

The glass is interesting not only from an agricultural perspective, but also for its ability to generate power under other circumstances. The glass that makes the power production possible includes an active IR and UV resistant layer sandwiched between two panes of glass. The interlayer allows the transmission of visible light through the glass, but harvests the non-visible frequencies and redirects them toward energy production.

The makers of the glass, ClearVue, hope to see the glass included in construction projects, and in areas where power is needed but isn’t readily available.

Glass coatings can really improve the look or function of glass. A coating like GlassPrimer™ glass paint can help control light, or give a unique look and feel to a room. For more information about GlassPrimer™ glass paint, and how you can use it in your home, please visit the rest of our site.

Photo Credit: Marian Dork, via Flickr

Iconic Glass Structures – The Mapparium

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Iconic Glass Structures – The Mapparium

Iconic Glass Structures – The Mapparium

If you’re ever in Boston, one “must-see” iconic glass structure is definitely the Mapparium in the Mary Baker Eddy Library. The Mapparium is a permanent exhibit featuring a three-story stained glass globe that shows the world as it looked on Rand McNally maps in 1934.

The Mapparium first opened to the public in 1935. Although the political divisions have changed significantly in the intervening 82 years, the Christian Science church, which operates the library, has so far resisted making changes to the panels that make up the Mapparium. As a result, the map still shows historically “exotic” places “Siam” and defunct alliances including “the Soviet Union.”

The Church sites the cost of changing some of the Mapparium’s 608 stained glass panels as one motivator for leaving well enough alone. Another, perhaps more compelling reason is that the Church recognizes the historical value of looking at the world as it was in another era.

Chester Lindsay Churchill is credited with the designe of the Mapparium. It symbolizes the global reach of the church, and was inspired by the New York Daily News’ spinning globe. Churchill’s design is a scale representation of the countries of the world as they would be seen from the center of the Earth. Viewers see the stained glass maps from a 30-foot bridge that traverses the interior of the exhibit.

The Mapparium is more than just an exhibit. It allows viewers to see the size and distance relationships between countries and continents, land features and the oceans. The visuals aren’t the only unusual features visitors experience in the Mapparium. Because of the exhibit’s shape, the acoustics in the globe enable visitors at opposite ends of the 30-foot bridge to hear each other’s whispers perfectly.

A four year-long renovation and restoration project closed the Mapparium in 1998. It was reopened in 2002, fully restored. The renovation also included the addition of sound-and-light shows that “update” the map virtually. The Mapparium is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and tour guides escort visitors through it every 20 minutes while the library is open.

A visit to the Mapparium may inspire you to decorate the glass in your home. If so, consider using GlassPrimer™ glass paint. It is specially formulated to bond permanently with glass, and can be matched to any major paint manufacturer’s palette. Please visit the rest of our site for more information about glass paint.

Photo Credit: Imran Ali, via Flickr.com

Could Glass Spoon Improve Food Taste?

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Could Glass Spoon Improve Food Taste?

Could Glass Spoon Improve Food Taste?

The developers of a new spoon say that their creation actually improves the taste of food. The Goûte, which could be made from either glass or wood, is designed to improve the user’s dining experience. Changing the enjoyability of eating improves the diner’s perception of taste.

The Goûte was roughly modeled after the shape of a human finger. Taking into account that a food’s weight, color and size also have a major impact on the enjoyment people derive from eating it, the designers attempted to use the utensil to modify the diner’s encounter with food.

The resulting form is a teardrop shaped device that resembles a honey-dipper or a pestle. The initial designs were fabricated using glass and wood. According to the designer, glass was chosen for its sensory properties. The Goûte can also be made from pear, olive or maple woods.

The designers tested study participants’ perceptions of the same food, eaten with either a plastic spoon or a Goûte. According to the research, diners perceived yogurt as being creamier and better-tasting when they used a Goûte.

Clearly, the Goûte isn’t a one-to-one replacement for a spoon, since the design won’t help you eat cereal or soup, but the designers intend to continue researching the effects of their utensil on people’s perceptions of the food they eat. The Goûte isn’t being mass marketed just yet, but interested users can purchase one from the designer’s website. Glass Goûtes can be yours for about $30 per piece. Wooden versions are available for about $20.

GlassPrimer™ glass paint won’t improve the taste of food, but it can definitely improve the look of glass surfaces in your home. It’s a versatile glass coating that offers UV resistance and durability. For more information about GlassPrimer™ glass paint, please visit our site.

Photo Credit: Joe Sarah

Glass may be used to fight bacteria

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Glass may be used to fight bacteria

Glass may be used to fight bacteria

The medical community is facing a virtual crisis regarding antibiotic-resistant drugs. The large-scale use of antibiotics over time has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant strains of bacteria. Developing new strategies to combat these “super-bugs” is a high priority for scientists.

Researchers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology are working with a special type of bioactive glass to limit bacteria’s ability to spread among humans. The glass is a fibrous material that can be used to help dress chronic or slow-healing wounds.

The glass fiber is a promising treatment, since wounds that are covered by it don’t tend to develop infections. By preventing infections from taking hold in the first place, doctors can limit the need for antibiotics while a patient is most vulnerable. The glass fiber has a second beneficial effect; wounds treated with the glass fiber heal faster than open wounds that are treated with more conventional dressings.

The bioactive glass could have additional applications for medical treatments. In addition to wound dressings, bioactive glasses could be used as coatings for medical implants. Patients who receive medical implants – including replacement joints and mechanical bone repairs – could benefit from the technology, since coated implants would be less likely to introduce bacteria into the body when they are installed.

The research team also believes that surfaces in hospitals and nursing homes that are prone to bacterial exposure could be coated with the bioactive glass to discourage the spread of resistant bacterial strains. While many types of hospital-acquired infections are declining, doctors are seeing a much lower rate of decline among certain bacterial strains, including multi-drug resistant staph (MRSA) and C. difficile infections. These two strains are currently recognized as being the most difficult infections to treat.

Glass is an exceptionally versatile medium. It can be used for everything from disease prevention to decorating. GlassPrimer™ glass paint is a special coating that can help you decorate glass surfaces safely and beautifully. For more information about GlassPrimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site.

Photo Credit: Umberto Salvagnin, via Flickr

More major cities dump glass recycling

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More major cities dump glass recycling

More major cities dump glass recycling

Add Alpharetta, GA and Sante Fe, NM to the growing list of cities that are removing glass recycling from their curbside collection programs. While some cities are dropping glass recycling altogether, Apharetta isn’t throwing in the towel on glass just yet.

The city is halting collection of glass from its single-stream curbside collection program in April. The reasons, according to the City Administrator, are just what you’d expect. Glass is hard to collect, sort, store and ship, which makes it unattractive (read: unprofitable) to incorporate into a single stream waste recycling program.

The city is asking its residents to chime in on what they want to do about their glass, however, and promises to work the results of a citywide survey into its long-term glass collection plan. The city has drafted three options for residents, and it’s asking them to identify their preferred course of action.

According to the city, Option A is to put glass in the trash. This option won’t sit well with people who value the idea of recycling materials. With Option A, residents would simply drop their glass containers in the trash and they would be landfilled, along with the rest of their non-recyclable garbage. The reality is that most glass that is currently collected in the city’s single-stream recycling program ends up in the landfill now. Glass containers are pulverized and used as “daily cover” on the surface of the dump to reduce odors and flyaway trash.

Option B provides a drop-off container collection area that residents could use as their time permits. Residents would store glass containers at home, and periodically take them to a centralized collection location. The city has not said what will become of the collected glass under this option.

Option C is the continuation of the curbside recycling program with a few modifications. Glass containers would be sorted into a separate bin by residents and set out at the curb on collection day. A separate truck would collect the glass containers. This option would add $36 per year to each household’s waste service bill.

The results of the survey will be presented to the Alpharetta City Council in April, and based on the findings, the City may modify its current glass collection plan.

One great way to reuse glass is to “upcycle” it with GlassPrimer™ Glass Paint. GlassPrimer™ glass paint is easy to use, looks great and comes in virtually any color. For more information about GlassPrimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site.

Photo Credit: born1945, via Flickr

Apple patent may deliver bad iPhone news

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Apple glass patent may deliver bad news

Apple glass patent may deliver bad news

Earlier this month, the Patent and Trademark Office published a new patent application from Apple that may be the bearer of bad news for your iPhone. The application, submitted by Apple, offers insight into technology the company has developed that will tell you when your glass cover screen is cracked. Read more

Why is glass transparent?

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Why is glass transparent?

Why is glass transparent?

Glass is one of the most common materials manufactured today. We use it (or can use it) in just about everything. It has a lot of special qualities that make it exceptionally useful, but why is glass transparent?

Glass has a lot of things going for it. First, it’s made from common materials. Sand, limestone, silica and oxygen are all abundant in just about every place on earth. It’s infinitely recyclable. Glass can be melted down and reshaped over and over again, with virtually no loss in the original quantity or quality of the finished product. Read more

Glass experiments may reveal Martian secrets

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Glass experiments may reveal Martian secrets

Glass experiments may reveal Martian secrets

Man has been interested in Mars for thousands of years, largely because the planet seems to be similar in size and composition to Earth. Unlike Earth, the Martian environment can’t support complex life, but scientists are uncertain about what happened during the planet’s evolution to differentiate it so remarkably from its terrestrial neighbor. Recent explorations are raising more questions about the Red Planet than they’re answering. One observation about Mars is that there appear to be significant glass deposits on or near the surface of the planet. How did the glass get there, and what does the glass reveal about the history of Mars? Read more