House Windows – Self-Cleaning Glass?
With several recent additions, Pilkington North America continues to expand the availability of the world’s first self-cleaning glass. “The latest window manufacturers and glass fabricators to offer Activ™ Self-Cleaning Glass only reinforce the fact that self-cleaning glass is seen as a significant benefit by homeowners and building owners,” said Jim Gildea, director of marketing for Pilkington North America’s Building Products operations. The window manufacturers and glass fabricators who have signed agreements to purchase Activ™ Glass direct from Pilkington North America distribute their windows and IG units to countless window dealers, distributors, specialty contractors and even home improvement centers across Canada and the U.S. Since Pilkington Activ™ Glass was introduced and made available in North America in June 2001, it has been used in window replacement and new home construction across the U.S. and Canada, as well as specified and installed in numerous commercial and multi-family projects. “While other glassmakers have announced their plans to sell a self-cleaning glass some time in 2002, none of them have the availability of Pilkington Activ™ Glass and/or offer the three features that make a glass truly self-cleaning,” Gildea explained. The first feature is a pyrolytic surface. Essentially it means that the titanium dioxide applied to clear glass in the manufacturing process is integrated into the glass – not just a coating on the surface. This makes Activ™ Glass durable, long lasting and is easily heat-treated without affecting its appearance. The second and third features are the self-cleaning properties. Its PhotoActiv™ properties use the sun’s ultraviolet light, which occurs naturally during daylight, to continuously attack and dissolve dirt. This is the “dirt-destroying” action of the glass. Then, when it rains or water is sprayed on Activ™ Glass, the titanium dioxide surface makes water sheet down to wash away any undissolved dirt. This action prevents streaks and water spots from forming, and is called the hydrophilic or “water sheeting” effect. After installed, windows with Pilkington Activ™ Self-Cleaning Glass need to be exposed to natural sunlight (either directly or indirectly) for several days to activate the PhotoActiv™ and hydrophilic properties. Once activated, the self-cleaning process will continue to work at night and even on cloudy days. Pilkington Activ™ Glass can be used in new and replacement windows, sunrooms, transoms and skylights in homes, apartments and condominiums. It can also be used in commercial and institutional buildings, such as offices, schools and universities, retail stores, etc.
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Author Notes:
Wendy Angel contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.replacement-windows-n-shutters.com.
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