Smart glass or electro-chomic glass is a switchable glass or glazing that allows the user to control the amount of heat or light that passes through the glass. It gives you the ability to regulate temperature and privacy at the flick of a switch. It is a modern innovation in building glass and can be used in windows, skylights, partitions and sunroofs etc. This Eglass works on the principle of electrochromism, which allows certain substance to change color or opacity when voltage is applied. While electricity is required only to change the effect and not to maintain it. It is produced by laminating it to one or more glass or polycarbonate sheets.
Trends
Smart glass is not in much use yet but the technology has been there for quite a few years. Some of the recent advancements in smart glasses are:
1. SPD Smart Glass: Suspended particle device has a thin film lamination of rod like particles suspended in fluid and sandwiched between two glasses. It can control the amount of light, heat and glare passing through the glass when voltage is applied. This product create comfortable indoor spaces by eliminating solar heat, glare and UV exposure. This helps you to save money on heating and air conditioning devices.
2. LC Smart Glass: Liquid crystals are dissolved in liquid polymer followed by solidification of polymer. This mix is then placed between two glass or plastic. The surface of LC smart glass can be transformed from crystal clear to opaque when a burst of charge is applied. This provides you with instant privacy or intimate wide areas.
3. Micro-blinds: Micro – blinds are produced of rolled thin metal on glass. It controls the amount of light passing through in proportional to the voltage applied.
Benefits
Smart glass can serve many purposes and can be put to use in various places. Like, hotel rooms and bathrooms, offices and boardrooms, hospitals, railways, security areas, house exteriors and interiors and your four wheelers. This can provide the user instant privacy, dimness and comfort. These glasses also improve the aesthetic view and are easy to maintain. It also protects the user from direct exposure to UV. Smart glass use is very cost effective as it reduces the need for air-conditioning, heating and lightning devices.
Lowdowns
Smart glass has its limitation in terms of high installation charges, electricity usage and life span. There are certain critical aspects in the functional features as well like the control of speed, degree and the number of different possibilities available for dimness and heat regulation. While the main drawback of this smart glass, that is energy consumption to change the mode, can be controlled by integrating transparent solar panels in the glass, which can then generate all the energy that is required to switch the glass from transparent to opaque mode.
Impact
Smart glass is able to harvest natural daylight better, improves the privacy and comfort of the occupant, reduces electricity load required for artificial lightning, heating and cooling devices. It also facilitates the security system. Thus, Smart glass transforms a conventional building into modern high performance one.
