Bent Glass

Bent glass is normal glass curved by a special process. Bent or curved glass is a great alternative to the conservative rectangular design of buildings as it is available in a wide range of sizes, allowing the creation of unique and unconventional shapes. Bent glass enhances aesthetics of architectural structures.

Production

Any form of bent glass starts with flat glass and is typically produced in a horizontal mould by slowly heating the glass to approximately 600°C. The heat makes the glass soften sufficiently, transforming flat glass into various shapes of the mould. The glass gradually takes the shape of the mould and is afterwards slowly air cooled to avoid any internal stress. The mould is very important because it alone determines what the glass would look like. The mould determines the quality and the angle of the curve.

Bent glass offers significant advantages over normal glass: the thickness of the glass can be significantly reduced and this obviously reduces the overall weight of the structure and thus its cost. The extra rigidity of bent glass allows for greater freedom in the architectural design, where more space can be covered with glass. This is an especially important advantage when it comes to designing skylights. The lighter the structures and frameworks are, the less material that is required, and lower the cost.

Bent Laminated Glass

Typical applications for bent laminated glass include railing systems, elevator and revolving door enclosures, skylights and overhead glazing, and interior partitions. In addition to minimizing risk of injury from broken glass fragments, bent laminated glass is effective in security areas, reduces sound transmission, blocks potentially harmful ultra-violet light rays, and is available in a range of color tints.

Applications

Bent glass adds a special touch to aesthetic design. Curved glass surfaces can be used as part of the building facade or to make up the whole façade as well as have different applications for external and sites. Some of the external, architectural and internal applications are listed:

External applications

1. Facades
2. Shop fronts
3. Windows
4. Panoramic lifts

Internal applications

1. Showcases
2. Shower doors and enclosures
3. Curtain walls
4. Refrigerator cabinets
5. Elevator glass panels
6. Partitions
Architectural applications

• Domes
• Solariums/Aquariums
• Barrel Vaults
• Revolving doors

Body-tinted Glass

Body-tinted glass is normal float glass into whose melt colorants are added for tinting and solar-radiation absorption properties. This tinted glass saves energy and reduces heat penetration into buildings and gives a striking visual effect. Coloured glass is an important architectural element for the exterior appearance of façades.

Tinted glass refers to any glass that has been treated with a material such as a film or coating, which reduces its ability to transmit light. Glass can be tinted with various types of coating, which block and/or reflect different amounts and types of light, according to the needs and preferences of the consumer. Glare reduction is another important property of tinted glass. Glare

The production process of body-tinted glass is similar to that of float glass. The only variation is in the colorants mixed at the beginning with the standard raw materials. Body-tinted glass is produced when colorants and iron are introduced during the glass manufacturing process. Different additives may produce differently coloured glasses. Bronze, dark grey and green are the commonly used tints.

The end product does not affect the basic structure of the glass itself, but does enhance its performance in relation to the (solar) electromagnetic spectrum. The colour is homogenous throughout the thickness of the glass. The solar energy transmission, shading coefficient and visible light passing through the tinted glass will vary according to the colour selected.

During the float glass melt process, chemical colorants can be added which tint the colour and increase absorption from the sun. This helps minimize the solar radiation that enters a building, keeping it cool from the inside and protecting furniture from fading. As an example of the colorants used - to create a purple exterior, manganese is added, while pinks and reds can be produced from selenium.

Colorants and colors

Some of the most-used colorants and the colours they produce are listed below:

Iron – Green, brown, blue
Manganese – Purple
Chromium – Green, yellow, pink
Vanadium – Green, blue, grey
Copper – blue, green, red
Cobalt – blue, green, pink
Nickel – yellow, purple
Titanium – purple, brown
Cerium – yellow
Selenium – pink, red
Gold – Red
Cadmium-Sulphide – yellow
Carbon & Sulphur – amber, brown

Double-Glazed with High-Performance Tinted Glass

Tinted Glass is intended for universal application. Either as single or double glazing for a basic level of solar control, and even in furniture, interior design, partitions, etc. It is also the base glass for many high performance comfort glasses.

Doubly-glazed tinted glass reduces solar heat gain to below that of bronze or gray tint but has a visible transmittance closer to clear glass. High-performance or spectrally selective tinted glass products are typically light green or light blue. The tint has no effect on the U-factor but reduces solar heat gain. Doubly glazed tinted glass allows 51 percent of solar heat gain and 69 percent transmission of visible light.

Advantages

• Saves energy, controls solar heat and gives a striking visual effect
• Meets the increasing demands for light in workplaces, creates attractive interiors and gives a feeling of spaciousness
• Offers a practical, stylish alternative to traditional materials when used in screens, partitions and furniture at home or in the office
• Gives designers the freedom to create attractive modern environments that are also economical and easy to maintain
  

Body tinted glass gives the added benefit of making a building look unique and contemporary, creating a lasting impression for business HQs.
Applications

The range of available thicknesses enable glass to be used where superior strength, greater spans, reduced deflection, higher daylight transmission and enhanced noise suppression are required.

Automobiles

One of the most common applications of tinted glass is in automobile windows. Almost all cars come with tinting at the top of the windshield to reduce solar glare when the sun is low in the sky. Apart from this, the windows of several cars are tinted either at the factory or as an aftermarket add-on by the consumer, to provide privacy to the car’s occupants, as also to reduce the build-up of heat in a car while it is parked outdoors.

Dwellings

Another popular use of tinted glass is in windows of homes and commercial buildings. Residential glass tinting is much easier to do than automotive tinting. It can even be done by the homeowner himself, with some practice. Tinted glass in homes serves many practical purposes, such as limiting ultraviolet light transmission through windows, and reducing overall heat gain inside the home by reflecting solar heat energy, thereby saving the homeowner money on air-conditioning.

Commercial Buildings

Tinted glass is also used in commercial buildings. Apart from keeping the interiors cooler, it gives the outside of a building a more uniform, aesthetically pleasing appearance. Depending on the creative use of different colours of tinted glass, the building can also take on a unique and interesting appearance while being insulated from the sun at the same time.

Self Cleaning Glass

Self-cleaning glass is a specific type of glass with a surface which keeps itself free of dirt and grime through photocatalytic decomposition. A nanometer-scale coating of titanium dioxide on the outer surface of the glass introduces two mechanisms which give it the self-cleaning property. Harsh chemicals that are used to clean normal glass are usually washed off into the soil and contaminate it. The use of self cleaning glass eliminates this environmental hazard.

Dual Process

Self cleaning glass cleans itself in two stages. The first stage is called photo-catalysis which is the action of light on the surface of the glass to basically chomp away or eat the dirt on the surface. The next is a process known as hydrophilicity. This basically ensures that any water that falls on the surface forms sheets and washes away dirt uniformly. The glass spreads the water evenly over its surface, without forming droplets.

Working process of the Self Cleaning Glass


Self Cleaning Glass has a coating of titanium dioxide on its outer surface. Titanium dioxide is an inorganic pigment which is widely used in a several products: everything from sunscreen where it reflects away some of the sun’s UV rays through to toothpaste through to the whitener responsible for the white colour in white paint or even in paper.

Titanium dioxide is present as a very thin coating on the outside surface of the glass. It has a thickness of about 25mm. The action of sunlight on the titanium dioxide generates a species known as electrons and holes. These electrons and holes, along with a specific property of titanium dioxide migrate to the surface and start a process known as oxidation of any organic material which is present. Effectively, the titanium dioxide absorbs the UV component of sunlight and causes the degradation and break-down of any organic material, dust or debris which are on the surface of the glass - It converts them into carbon dioxide and water. One of the best features of this is that it works on the bottom of the dirt outwards and so loosens the dirt on the material coating by destroying the contact layer of the dirt and the glass.

Any rain water impacting the surface will form a very smooth sheet which washes down foreign particles uniformly. This happens through the action of sunlight on titanium that produces a surface which is highly hydrophilic, or water-loving. Water loves wetting the surface and the action of sunlight generates hydroxyl species on the surface effectively.

Everything that settles on self cleaning glass is washed down at the same rate, but this property primarily works on surfaces which have some form of slant. If the surface is perfectly horizontal then it would struggle because of a lack of gradient for the water to run off.
Only a small amount of sunlight is required to activate the coating, which ensures that self-cleaning property will function even on cloudy days. A simple rinse with water during dry spells will help keep the surface clean.

Performance

The performance of self-cleaning glass can vary depending on the environment and the location of the glass. The other factors in play are:

1. The type of dirt
2. The amount of dirt
3. Total exposure to light and rain
4. The incline of the installation

Optimum performance is obtained when the glass is installed in a vertical position, and receives maximum exposure to direct sunshine and rain.

Applications

Self cleaning glass is very effective in highly polluted areas. The areas of its application are as follows:
• Glazed facades, exterior shop fronts, display windows, overhead & atria glazing
• Conservatories, balconies, overhead glazing
• Windows & patio doors

Advantages

1. Less frequent cleaning – facade stays cleaner for longer
2. Much easier cleaning - less dirt and grime adheres to the glass
3. Save money - the cost of facade cleaning is reduced
4. Clear vision through the facade - even when it is raining
5. Neutrality and transparency is the same as that of normal glass
6. Less frequent use of detergents – saves the environment.

R128 – Green in Glass

That all architectural structures are covered by solid opaque walls on all four sides to maintain privacy and security is a given. So, a home with walls of glass that offer a clear view of the inside is bound to create more than just a ripple, and 128 Werner Sobek does just that. This rather novel concept in residential architecture seems to have broken through all conventions and set a new - if not higher - standard in innovative construction.

R128 Werner Sobek is four-storey house, floating high on a hill overlooking the city of Stuttgart, Germany. Inside this curious creation, there are no doors, switches, interior walls or partitions and no closed rooms. But what takes the cake is that the home generates its own energy. The construction material used to create R128 is one hundred percent eco-friendly and recyclable.

R128 has a most attractive glass façade and is devoid of a basement. High quality triple-glazed glass with inert gas filling is in use. The use of a modular design, complete with glass panels and steel frames ensured easy assembly and disassembly of the construction. The insulated glass panels prevent overheating of the interior during summer and loss of energy and warmth during winter. The supporting steel frame comprises of 10 tons of steel.

The ceiling of the Werner Sobek glass house consists of prefabricated panels overlaid by plastic. Beneath the unscrewed floor, aluminium ceiling panels are affixed by clip connections. Lighting, heating and cooling systems are fitted into that layer and this acts as an acoustic absorber pattern.

Sensor controlled doors have been installed on the upper and lower levels of the house. All appliances and environmental systems are also controlled by motion sensors and voice commands. The front door has a voice recognition feature which allows it to open automatically on a voice command. Water faucets in the bathrooms are regulated by sensors. Windows are controlled by touch screen technology.

Every floor has two folding windows each, which allow natural daylight and fresh air to enter the house. During summer, cool water running through the floor elements removes excess heat from the entire house with the help of a heat exchanger. Thus surplus energy is stored for use in winter. This ensures minimal energy consumption. 48 solar powered modules with a total capacity of 6.2 KW are installed on the rooftop, which are responsible for supplying all the power required by the pump system.

This green show-house is expected to go a long way in promoting energy-efficient architecture.

Ryugyong Hotel with a Sound Facelift

Ryugyong hotel in North Korea, once known as the worst building in the history of mankind, now made a history by stamping itself as the prettiest glass building with glistening glass façade. The construction of this building started in 1987 and then it got stopped in 1992 due to the government’s financial difficulties. Again the construction work got started in April 2008, nearly 16 years later. This building is shortly known as “105 hotel” and “The 105”.

This hotel covers an area of about 3, 900,000 sq.ft. This 105-story hotel rose to a height of 330 meters and its height simply dominates the Pyongyang skyline. Moreover this building is expected to be the world’s tallest hotel, after its completion in 2012. This building contains three wings rising at 75 degree angles and it is supposed to have five revolving restaurant and an observation deck.

The façade of this hotel is constructed with very shiny and amazing reflective glasses and glass windows on one side of the concrete giant. Mirrored glass has to be fixed at the other side of the muddish-grey concrete structure. The old 3000-room hotel is made up of concrete formed and molded by cement masons. This new Ryugyong hotel resembles a blossoming flower and the concrete shell is covered by a blue sheet of glass.

Ryugyong hotel is going to incorporate glass paneling and telecommunication antennas. The openings of the building are used for the vegetable garden and orchards. Two water basins at the central wing are used to collect rain water and the collected water is used for the irrigation facilities of the vertical garden. The rest of the ground and the unused part of the basement will be occupied by green slopes and wooden zones. This hotel also incorporates sanitary installations and kitchens, plugged into the central shafts.

This building is also intended to contain a hospital, a bowling alley and seven revolving restaurant/night clubs. This hotel also included an elevator shafts. Amazingly there are many safety equipments hanging from the bottom to top of the building including harnesses, ladders and safety nets. It is estimated that the revamping plan will cost nearly $2 billions. Hopefully, this revamping plan will result in great success and will make the Ryugyong hotel a notable icon.