Innovations in Chemistry Result in Stronger, Safer Windows
Whether in a car accident, terrorist attack, or inclement weather, windows serve as a protective barrier, and the security they provide is tremendously important. If glass shatters, it can severely damage property and inflict serious injuries. Over the last few years, this problem has garnered extra attention from the American chemistry industry, as they have led the way in creating sturdier, safer windows.
There are several solutions that have been implemented, including laminated glass, security window films, and tempered glass.
3M, an ACC member company, has used the power of chemistry to create a strong, original window film technology for guarding against wind, theft, vandalism, and accidents. Their window films provide a way to handle weather and security concerns for cars, homes, and businesses. According to the 3M website, their Safety and Security Films are “one of the most vigorously tested window films out there.” Their most durable system is the 3M Ultraflex system, which “combines the elasticity of the 3M Ultra Safety and Security Window Film and the Dow Corning 995 Silicone Structural Adhesive system to create a more flexible membrane to capture and absorb the impact energy.” The technology combines numerous, micro-thin sheets of film, which makes a stronger window film that bonds to the inside of windows. The end result is a penetration- and tear-resistant window that holds glass together, reducing the chance of shattered glass and injuries.
DuPont—also an ACC member company—has inspired stricter building codes in storm areas by taking glass protection to a new level with its laminated SentryGlas®. This invention uses pressure and heat to bond two or more pieces of glass together with a firm, polymer interlayer. For vehicles or buildings in heightened threat areas, SentryGlas® can also be devised with Spallshield® for blast- and bullet-resistance. According to the DuPont website, Spallshield® is “a three-layer composite structure of PVB/PET/hardcoat...that helps create a protective barrier between people and glass.” Both SentryGlas® and Spallshield® are effective because they combine the top features of glass with those of plastic.
WindowMasterUSA employs a similar approach when making their hurricane windows, as they use an insulating glass component with KeepSafe Maximum glass and double-strength tempered glass. Combined, their durable glass package gives homeowners a larger level of protection. KeepSafe Maximum glass is created by bonding a plastic interlayer called Saflex (manufactured by Solutia, Inc.) between two panes of glass under intense heat and pressure. The outcome is a material that has been shown in tests to resist hurricane-force winds and windblown debris.
CPFilms, a subsidiary of Solutia, Inc. (an ACC member company), has also used chemistry to improve window film technology, although they have focused their products more towards the automobile sector. They recently announced their new LLumar® Automotive Safety and Security Film, which, according to their press release, “is designed to provide a strong defense against the unexpected, including side-impact collisions and smash-and-grab theft.”
While these are by no means all the companies that produce high quality windows, these are a few that have implemented new technologies using essential innovations in chemistry. Each utilizes different strategies with the same goal of reducing shattered glass—and harm—in unfortunate incidents.
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