In recent years the large area glass coating business experienced a clear trend towards more complex layer stacks. In Architectural (AG) and Automotive Glass (AutoG) the production share of multiple LowE coatings has been growing continuously and the introduction of Triple LowE coatings generated a new dimension of complexity. Both markets are driven by demand for glazing products with better Selectivity (ratio of light over energy transmittance) to reduce energy consumption of cars and buildings by minimized cooling loads. Apart from the energy performance also color appearance of such top-quality products is very important. Architects and car designers must fulfill end-customer requirements for modern aesthetics. The two markets share a specific challenge in this respect. The glazing products with the above mentioned complex layer stacks are typically viewed from different and very often inclined angles. This is obvious for modern automotive windshields and large office building facades (just imagine standing in front of a high-rise building or a wind-resistance optimized upper-class car). It turns out that these circumstances have to be taken into account in the development of coating solutions and they impose a growing challenge with the growing number of silver layers within the coating stack. We will show theoretical concepts and practical examples to fulfill the market demand for performing and aesthetically convincing coating solutions together with examples of suitable hardware to meet the corresponding technical requirements.
展开▼
