ITO Coated Glass Windows
ITO coated glass windows, or ‘smart glass’ as it might be more commonly known as, is an exciting concept. You have probably seen smart glass in a stack of movies and TV shows – Iron Man, Captain America, Skyfall, Blade Runner and 24 to name just some appearances of smart glass where the glass transforms from clear to black.
The concept of being able to change the state of a glass window or partition from clear to opaque is very ‘cool’, one of the reasons it has been used in the films above.
ITO coated glass windows do have other applications other than the clear to opaque options – because of their electrical conductivity, they are used in the production of transparent EMI / EMC / RFI shielding applications, heating and de-icing windows, to name some uses.
ITO Coated Glass – How does it work?
In basic form, a thin layer of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is applied to glass. ITO is transparent yet conductive, meaning an electrical charge can pass over the glass. Molecules in the glass layer are then forced to align, which creates transparency. When the electric charge is removed, the glass reverts back to being opaque.
An adjustment in voltage also allows for the glass to dim, whilst retaining an element of transparency.
Why is smart glass important?
There are clear aesthetic benefits here, such as no need for blinds or curtains, but this privacy glass also offers a much wider benefit.
From an eco perspective, the glass has the potential to save huge amounts of electricity by absorbing light and heat in the winter and reflecting it away in the summer.
Heated ITO coated windows
One of our specialisms at Diamond Coatings is heated ITO coated windows. These are used primarily in the public transport industry within airplanes, trains and the automotive industry. By providing an electronically conductive screen which remains totally clear, the windows can have heat applied.
This results in perfect views whatever the weather, allowing the windows to de-ice and de-mist. For the aviation industry, in particular, this is a real plus – with temperatures fluctuating during flights, there is a risk that the cockpit or canopy windows would mist up which obviously causes an issue for pilots. Our ITO coated windows ensure that this never occurs.
For more information on our heated windows and ITO glass, please get in touch with us today.
