Under normal circumstances, glass is transparent. For some glasses, under the irradiation of ultraviolet or visible light, it can produce light absorption in the visible light region, which reduces the transparency or changes the color of the glass, and then automatically returns to the original transparent state after stopping the irradiation. This kind of glass is called photochromic glass.
Generally speaking, photochromic glass is made by introducing photosensitizer into ordinary glass components. Commonly used ordinary glasses include aluminoborosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, borate glass, phosphate glass and so on. Commonly used photosensitizers are silver halide, copper halide and so on. Usually, photosensitizers are uniformly dispersed in glass in the form of microcrystals, which decompose under the irradiation of sunlight, reducing the light transmittance of glass. When the glass is in the dark, the photosensitizers recombine to restore transparency. The coloring and fading of glass are reversible and permanent.
The decorative characteristic of photochromic glass is that the color and transmittance of glass automatically change with the intensity of sunlight. Strong sunshine intensity, dark glass color and low transparency. On the contrary, the sunshine intensity is low, the glass color is light and the light transmittance is high. Decorating the building with photochromic glass not only makes the indoor light soft and colorful, but also makes the building colorful and unpredictable, which is in harmony with the sunshine environment of the building. Generally used for building doors and windows, curtain walls, etc.
3. Electrochromic glass
Liquid crystal material is sandwiched between two layers of glass. Under the control of electric field, the arrangement direction of liquid crystals changes, so as to achieve the purpose of dimming transparent and opaque glass. This kind of glass is called electrochromic glass.
The usual method of making electrochromic glass is to coat two pieces of glass with conductive film to form two parallel conductive plates, and then pour liquid crystal material in the middle, and then seal the edges and connect the electrodes.
The decorative feature of electrochromic glass is that the transparency of glass depends on people's will, and people can change the indoor light environment and the color and appearance of buildings anytime and anywhere. The window glass made of electrochromic glass is as concealed and convenient as the curtain with electric control device. When it is necessary to block the line of sight, just cut off the power supply, even if the glass is opaque, then the glass is like a frosted glass, eliminating the tedious work of drawing curtains. Mainly used in places that need to be kept secret. It is also used in billboards, display screens, doors and windows, indoor partitions, etc.
At present, electrochromic glass is expensive and has not yet entered mass production. With the improvement of production technology and the reduction of cost, it will be widely used.
4. Embossed glass
Embossed glass is also called knurled glass. By calendering method, the required pattern is carved on the roll surface of the double-roll calender, and the glass ribbon is calendered into embossed glass when passing through the press roll. There are many kinds of embossed glass, and the pressed pattern can be divided into single-sided embossed glass and double-sided embossed glass. According to color, it can be divided into white, yellow, blue, red, olive and so on. According to the pattern, it can be divided into plant patterns, such as plum blossom, chrysanthemum, sunflower, pine flower, begonia, grape, hibiscus and bamboo leaves. Decorative patterns, such as night sky, galaxy, stripes, cloth patterns, etc.
The surface of embossed glass produced by calendering method is uneven, and when light passes through it, it will diffuse and lose its transparency, that is, the embossed glass is transparent and opaque. Because of the pattern, the light transmittance of embossed glass decreases. Generally, the light transmittance of embossed glass is between 60% and 70%. The decorative features of embossed glass are various patterns, rich colors, light transmission without perspective, and soft and hazy indoor light, so it has a strong decorative effect and is widely used in the decorative projects of modern buildings such as hotels, office buildings, conference rooms, bathrooms and toilets, making it magnificent.
5. Float glass
Flat glass produced by float method is called float glass. Float process is: under the protection of protective atmosphere, molten glass continuously flows into molten metal tin bath from melting kiln. Because of the different densities of molten glass and tin, molten glass floats on the surface of tin. Due to the simultaneous action of gravity and liquid surface tension, molten glass is freely flattened on the surface of tin, thus becoming a glass ribbon with flat surface and uniform thickness, and moves to the back of tin bath under the action of external force. In the process of moving, it is polished, thinned, cooled and hardened by the flame from the top of the furnace, and then guided to the transition roller table. The rotation of the roller sends the glass ribbon into and out of the kiln, and after cooling, annealing and cutting, the flat glass product is formed.
Float glass has good thickness uniformity, purity and transparency. Through the smooth action of tin surface and fire