After a quarter of a century – what is next for architectural glass surface protection?

Stephen Byers, Ritec International Limited

Twenty-five years ago, only glass technicians spoke about glass surface corrosion. Now it is increasingly known that, if unprotected, glass suffers surface corrosion – losing its original clarity, visibility and cleanliness. As a result, glass that meets industry performance standards “as supplied” may fail to meet the same standards in practice.

Glass is a marvellous substance but, like other materials of construction, does not have an “immune system” making it resistant to attack by its enemies. Similar to metal corrosion and “concrete cancer”, unprotected glass is open to direct attack by moisture, alkalinity and other enemies. Non-visible enemies or “hidden menaces” make matters worse by attracting and holding moisture from the atmosphere.

General recognition of glass surface corrosion began early in the 1980’s when a new technology pioneered surface protection by demonstrating strong resistance to natural weathering and chemical attack, two of the main causes of surface corrosion. This technology, based on a polymeric resin, protects the glass surface and makes it “non-stick”, low-maintenance and easy to clean.

From the mid-1980’s to the late 1990’s, several technologies entered the architectural glass marketplace with a focus on water-repellency, but most of these products have been limited in success or withdrawn from the market. Then, in 2001, titanium dioxide (TiO2)or photocatalytic technology developed in Japan was introduced by several glass manufacturers under the description of “self-cleaning”, however this technology is not promoted or suitable for glass surface protection.

This 25-year history demonstrates the need for any glass surface protection technology to be proven as fit for purpose for individual market sectors and applications. Proving fitness for purpose can only be done through a combination of laboratory testing, field trials and experience under actual conditions of exposure and use for periods of time sufficient to support any claims of performance or durability.

This paper describes ten enemies of glass that, separately or in combination, cause surface corrosion before, during and after construction, the “hidden menaces” that initiate the corrosion process and then follow glass throughout its life, and why surface corrosion can be non-visible at its early stages but, if not provided with a protective barrier, can easily develop into highly visible “glass skin cancer”.

To help architectural glass meet industry performance standards, not only at the time of supply but also in practice, a “risk assessment” should be made at the time of building design. An assessment will help to determine the type of glass surface protection required – temporary or durable. Then, similar to other materials of construction, glass processors and fabricators should be able to meet industry performance standards for a reasonable period of time past the date of supply.

Full text article [125 KB]

The Authors

Mr. Stephen Byers Managing Director Ritec International Limited Stephen Byers is co-founder of Ritec International Limited and winner of awards and other recognition for innovation in the development of new technologies for surface renovation, protection and maint... Read more