Balcony views magazine

Plenty of very interesting information in the magazine of galss balconies, curved doors and self cleaning glasses.

A further 10,000 copies are due to be distributed over the next few months at trade shows and to all new enquiries recieved by Balcony Systems.

We have started work on our next edition which is scheduled for publication in February 2011.

For further details, to request a copy, to download the media pack or a copy of the magazine go to www.BalconyViews.co.uk

Balcony Views s published by Balcony Systems together with an array of partners supplying high quality products to the building industry.

The glass has already been manufactured for the stock and is on route to the warehouse. We expect to have this ready for delivery mid July.

The glasses to be supplied are specially coated with a nano coating on both sided of the glass making them hydrophobic.

More information on the slef cleaning glass solution by Balcony can be found here on the self cleaning glass area of the website: http://www.balconette.co.uk/self-cleaning-glass/

Balcony Systems do not intend to raise the price of the balconies and thus this development will increase the Juliet balconies value for money and make them self cleaning Juliet balconies.

The self clening glass coating Balcony systems uses is a patented nano-coating and is based on an environmentally safe scientific process. The chemicals used in the patented process have been in use for over 55 years in the aviation industry, for different applications, and are not found in the “Clean Air Act” or the “Clean Water Act”. There are also no PELS (permissible exposure limits) set by OSHA.  They have implemented, with  extreme eco-friendly philosophy, the highest standards in the handling of chemicals so that any scientific process used is safe to the environment.

Thus, in the manufacture process and application process of the self clean coating an ultra efficient yet simple neutralization system has been implemented that renders the chemicals and their by-products completely safe and inert. We strive not only to protect the environment but to preserve it from any contamination or pollution.

In addition to this the coating itself will reduce the need for harful chemical in cleaning of the glass in future and in this manner will have a positive impact on the enviroment.

Nanoscale technologies are the development and use of devices that have a size of only a few nanometers. The prefix nano means ten to the minus ninth power (10 ‾‾ ⁹), or one billionth of a meter, a simple metric measurement.

However, what’s relevant is not the thickness of the coating itself (1-100 nanometers or some other “micro” measurement) but rather:

• What the coating actually is.
• What does it do?
• By what process does it work?
• What does it provide as an overall ADDED-VALUE product?

Therefore, just because something can be measured on the nanoscale level, it is not a guarantee of quality. Many chemicals can be spread out thin enough to be measured on the nanoscale, but it does infer a degree of inventiveness and does enable certain capabilities by virtue of being able to manipulate atoms at that much smaller levels.

An integrated permanent bond

In the case of the self clean coating Balcony systems uses, the chemical treatment itself provides, in chemical terms, a very durable “branched, cross-linked and capped” optically clear nano-film and a permanent bond is integrated into the glass itself as the nanofilm actually grows from the inside out and literally changes the molecular composition of the surface. This is truly a unique process unlike any other coating.

How will the coating stand over time

The KEY is durability and how the coating, nano or not, will stand over time, and how that “bubble” (water droplet), as defined by the contact angle measurement, will behave with the passage of time, namely normal wear and tear.

The nanotechnology behind the product

More specifically, this nanotechnology, patented worldwide, uses a two-stage chemical process. The chemical reaction created in the first stage causes the “cross-linked” and “branched” ultra thin silicone film (nanofilm) to be grown from below the surface out.

The second stage ‘caps’ the entire chain of atoms. This unique ‘capping’ substantially increases the hydrophobicity and durability, leaving, chemically speaking, no points of attachment for contaminants and creating a truly repellant charge. Through simple neutralization, all chemicals become inert within a few seconds. No curing time is needed since the chemical reaction itself occurs in less than 2 seconds.

The pyrolytic Self-cleaning glass consists of a hydrophilic coating with photocatalytic properties fused into the glass at high temperatures during the manufacturing process.

This type of coating typically reacts with the sun’s ultraviolet light and water (rain or induced water spray). Thus, these two elements (sunlight and water) must be present for the coating to be effective, creating a sheeting action so that water can easily rinse the loosened dirt away.

Due to its integral characteristics, there are many limitations to this concept of “self-cleaning”, such as the following:

• glass must receive both sunlight and water
• it is not applicable to all kinds of glass
• cannot be applied in the field but rather at manufacturing level only (making repair or replacement a lot more expensive)
• it’s typically a lot more expensive than hydrophobic coatings.

By contrast, hydrophobic coating requires no ‘activation’ since it chemically reacts during its own process in less than 2 seconds and immediately bonds to the surface. Although othertheories refer to the “self-cleaning” glass as those coatings with contact angles in excess of 105º, where the mechanical action required is virtual unnecessary and no accumulation of contaminants occurs.

This is probably the single most relevant question one can ask about any hydrophobic easy-to-clean coating and perhaps the MOST HIDDEN fact by most coating suppliers as it truly uncovers the truth behind the quality of the product. Yet, most coating suppliers will typically evade this critical issue with all sorts of misleading statements and false claims:

The unequivocal and irrefutable scientific FACT

The important fact to know is not necessarily the initial contact angle measurement after the glass surface is treated but rather how it will perform over time or, in other words, how will the contact angle behave with the normal tear and wear once the surface is exposed to the different environments.

Most hydrophobic easy-to-clean coatings have an initial contact angle anywhere from as low as 80 degrees to 120 degrees. The ones that are on the low end, especially under 95 degrees, are not interested, for obvious reasons, in disclosing any measurement thus they downplay or completely disregard any value to contact angle measurements, as they would not want to lose any “marketing edge” vs. any higher contact angle coating.

The contact angle measurement varies over time

You may hear a supplier calling this issue “the war of the bubbles” and the lack of relevancy they allocate since it really “doesn’t matter”, they claim. NOT quite so as it does matter and you should know why to therefore make a smart decision when choosing a coating for your own use, whether you are the owner of a building, business or simply for your own household or automotive use.

Specifically, the important aspect is to know how the contact angle measurement varies over time, thus if your coated surface still remains at a relatively high contact angle AFTER a significant period of time, let’s say after 1,2, 3 and more years to then be able to TRULY ASSESS the quality of the coating without the need to re-apply every few months, which is the case with MOST other coatings as they do not have a PERMANENT BOND.

Mediocre, good and excellent hydrophobic coatings

This is simply a matter of accuracy and disclosure of scientific facts that DO affect your every day life by having access to improved performance. The same way anyone likes having the best cleaner in the house, or perhaps the best paint for the living room walls, one should know the difference between mediocre, good and excellent hydrophobic coatings to enhance your glass surfaces and keep it cleaner for longer periods of time thus reducing the required maintenance.

The measurement that defines how water-repellent a surface is after being treated with a hydrophobic coating is called “contact angle”, also called ‘wetting angle’, which is the angle formed by the material’s surface and the tangent of the interface between the fluid (i.e.: water) and the environment at the point of contact (the glass surface for example).

Visit this Wikipedia webpage or further “contact angle” information

We have been researching this area for almost two years and at present a new line is being constructed at the factory:

A patented system

A new and patented system using a specially constructed chamber using CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition – where a chemical coating is applied in a closed chamber by vaporizing it). This special chamber or room measuring 4.0m X 4.0m X 3.0m in height is almost completed and will be tested and licensed in the next month.

A significant value

We believe that this new coating system to the glass offers a significant VALUE with an easy-to-clean feature, more like the Teflon® concept on a cooking pan, plus all other benefits of our coating such as:

• added brilliance
• impact and scratch resistance

As we have realized through our research we do not believe in the concept of SELF-CLEANING as it is clearly misleading and unrealistic and its marketing has been actually a failure.

There’s no such thing as truly  self-cleaning since the required “sheeting effect” of the hydrophilic (water attracting) coatings, as opposed to the “hydrophobic” (water repellent) coatings, works under a completely controlled environment and not as such in real life applications when you have the different variables of precipitation intensity and gravity, sunlight effects, etc.

Used  by advanced glass companies

This coating system is already in use by some of the most advanced glass companies in Europe and has been used on some large projects;

• Barcelona convention center (Spain)
• New York 40 Bond st project (USA)
• Montreal convention center (Canada)
• Guadalajara shopping center (Mexico)

Not a traditional CVD

An important point on the CVD chamber process is that it is NOT a traditional CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) as it does NOT require Vacuum, which makes it that much more efficient and cost-effective. Our system then has:

• NO vacuum
• NO curing time (the reaction is instantaneous, under 2 seconds)
• NO special cleaning other than removing grease or oily residues
• A coating on BOTH sides of the glass at the same process!

More for our customers money

This is a significant investment for the company but we believe that this aligns with giving the customer more for their money and the reduced cleaning requirement is “greener” in the fact that less chemicals will need to be used in the cleaning process.

The dream and the truth:

Isn’t it a dream come true, glass that cleans itself? No more dust, grime, calcium deposits and dirt to ruin the views?

One of the most tedious tasks in life is maintenance and cleaning. Just the words “self cleaning” will sell almost anything. There is no need to get into asking if this is a required trait or not. I think its quite obvious that most consumers will pay a bit more, within reason, for “self cleaning” glass.

We would like to believe that there is a glass that cleans itself but it seems again that, like life, there usually is a compromise and “self cleaning” should actually be renamed into “lower maintenance” to limit customers surprise when they wake up to dirt on their glass that should have cleaned itself.

What is self cleaning glass?

Well I would divide this area into two categories:

1. Glass coated or applied with hydrophilic layer that uses photocatalytic decomposition
2. Glass coated or applied with a hydrophobic coating. Also known as the “lotus effect”.

Now before you fall asleep from the words I will explain in simplicity what these terms actually mean and do and try to point out the important pluses and minuses of each type.

Lets start with the two major differences; hydrophilic and hydrophobic.

• Hydrophilic simply means that the glass will attract the water and make it spread out like a thin film.
• Hydrophobic means the glass will repel water and any water that comes in contact with the glass will tend to have a minimum amount of contact with the glass and will create spherical droplets on the surface.

Hydrophilic

this is glass that is based on having a film of titanium dioxide coating. The glass works in two stages. The “photocatalytic” (simply meaning the accelerated process of using the ultraviolet light to break down the organic dirt on the glass) and makes the glass hydrophilic, During the following “hydrophilic” stage rain washes away the dirt, leaving almost no streaks, because hydrophilic glass spreads the water evenly over its surface.

Pluses:

1. Under the right conditions, meaning frequent sun and rain, or if hosed down regularly will reduce the cleaning cycle required of glass.
2. The coating is stable and has a long life span.

Minuses:

1. Titanium dioxide-based glass cannot decompose inorganic dirt, thick non-transparent deposits, such as paint or silicone, waterstop fingerprints, or dust produced during construction.
2. This glass also negatively reacts with silicone and will require specialist glazing.
3. If damaged will require replacement of the glass as no onsite application is possible.

Hydrophobic

The second type of self cleaning glass is glass applied with a hydrophobic coating also known as having the “lotus effect” which refers to the very high water repellency exhibited by the leaves of the lotus flower. Dirt particles are picked up by water droplets due to a complex micro- and nanoscopic architecture of the surface which enables minimization of adhesion. This form of glass works in a similar way to “Teflon” on a frying pan. It produces a non stick surface and water will run off of this surface quickly and not streak. Glass, despite looking like a smooth surface, has on a microscopic scale, peaks and valleys which on untreated glass attract and deposit dirt and grime. The coating or applications of this type are silica based and create a nano scale film that covers these valleys or troths.

Pluses:

1. Works on organic and inorganic dirt alike.
2. Scratch resistant and will reduce the need for use of chemicals in any cleaning required as dirt will easily wash off.
3. Protects the glass from graffiti and paint.
4. Can be reapplied on site if required.
5. Cost wise the hydrophobic coatings and applications are usually about half the cost of the hydrophilic type glasses.

Minuses:

1. This application, depending on the exact product, has a life span of 5 to 10 years in external conditions.

In summing up we can say that to date there still is no ideal self cleaning glass or a glass that requires zero cleaning but there certainly are some great advantages to the use of these two types of glass products which will both greatly reduce the cleaning chore and cycle.