Energy saving e living comfort they are two fundamental parameters for the construction sector, which relies on the improvements promoted by the construction sector glass to increase the efficiency and properties of glazing and other construction elements. To satisfy these characteristics, a process called coating, through which the surface of the glass is coated with nanometric thin films thanks to different deposition techniques.
Types of processes
The coating process, also known as coatization, occurs in two ways, the basic required optical-energetic properties.
- Il magnetron coating (or off-line) occurs through cathodic pulverization of metals and metal oxides on one of the two faces of the glass plate.
- Il pyrolytic coating (or online) consists of the application of oxides along the sheet production line. This process allows the metal oxides to be incorporated directly into the sheet, a characteristic which promotes considerable resistance to atmospheric agents.
Magnetron glass, compared to pyrolytic glass, guarantees greater thermal insulation.
A further distinction: selective glass and low-emissivity glass
Depending on the different deposit technique, the following distinction is also generated:
- selective glasses: they limit incoming solar radiation, while maintaining high light transmission;
- low-emissivity glass: they moderate heat transmission, avoiding the dispersion of radiation towards the outside.
Coating is therefore a process that gives glass some additional properties and performances to meet specific needs in multiple applications.
The potential offered by coating
Il solar control it is certainly a key property offered by the coating, since it allows you to calibrate the quantity of solar rays that are introduced into an environment, without the obligation to install additional shielding that would limit the entry of light or create excessively shaded areas.
Linked to this characteristic, albeit with substantial differences, is that ofthermal insulation, aimed at maintaining a comfortable and energy-efficient temperature.
In the construction sector, the following qualities promoted by coating also take on strategic importance:
- antireflection → improves transparency and allows clearer vision through windows and screens.
- Scratch and abrasion resistance → protects the glass from surface damage, prolonging its life and reducing the need for replacements.
- Water repellent → limits the formation of drops on the glass surface, aiding visibility and cleaning operations.
But the coating process is also essential for sectors that require different conditions, such as high hygiene control. L'healthcare industry exploits the potential of coatings to prevent the growth of bacteria or microorganisms on the glass surface (antibacterial and antimicrobial properties).
In conclusion, coating processes make glass increasingly versatile and functional, contributing greatly to durability of the material as for improvement of the quality of life.
Sources: artevetrogrignasco.com, taccalandingpage.wordpress.com, fotovoltaicosulweb.it
