Glass Bonding in Windows – What about the Insulating Glass?

Werner Wagner, Matthias Dick,Anton Ettlin, Ulli Mueller
Sika Services AG

In the automotive industry for more than 30 years glass panes have been used for reinforcing the chassis. The development of high strength adhesives lead to slimmer metal frame parts and even the possibility of bonding huge wind shields in busses, trucks and trains. Nevertheless in window glazing in the European market, claiming to be the technology leader, it is still common practice to stiffen PVC and wood window sashes with setting blocks leading to high peak stresses. In USA back bedding with low modulus sealants is a small step into the “automotive direction”. Nevertheless back bedding is just a soft version of sealing and doesn’t drive the possibilities of glass bonding to its extreme potentials. High strength glass bonding from automotive industry combined with long-term bonding experience in façade constructions will revolutionise window design and production. Besides the description of the advantages of bonded window this paper scrutinise both the impact of window bonding on the insultating glass unit and the consequences on the IG manufacturer as a partner of the window fabricator.

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The Authors

	Mr. Werner Wagner Doctor Sika Services AG Dr. Werner Wagner has been active in the Glass and Façade business for ten years. With chemical and technical background he has established the technical service of Wacker-Chemie (Germany) for façade ... Read more
	Ulli Mueller Sika Services AG Read more