The flight of imagination of architects is often limited by strict technological requirements. Openwork and air towers made of glass and steel are not always possible to build in our climate due to the fact that it is required to use structures that can reliably retain heat inside the building. Classical glass is not very suitable for this purpose.
Low-emissivity glass has been developed to meet the demands of today's energy efficiency movement. The introduction of this material into production allows you to fully use all its aesthetic and economic advantages.
Operation principle
The concept of "emission" means the ability to reflect thermal radiation. With low emissivity values, the room will lose less heat. This indicator - the surface emitter (E) of energy-saving glasses is 4 times less than that of ordinary ones. To create such a heat-reflecting surface, a layer of metal oxides is applied to the glass. Electrons inThis thin film is so tightly packed that the long wavelengths of infrared radiation simply cannot pass through, and most bounce back.
As a result, low-emissivity glass transmits short ultraviolet solar radiation, and the heat inside the room is accumulated. Outward infrared waves of thermal radiation are no longer emitted, reflected from the surface.
K-glass
Low-emissivity glass has two varieties. Hard coated material - K-glass. Surface plating is carried out when the glass is in a hot state. As a result of a chemical reaction, metal oxide molecules penetrate into the structure of the glass itself. The result is a coated material that successfully resists abrasion and wear. It can be processed like ordinary glass and stored for as long as you like.
The disadvantage is its high cost, so glass is used in facilities where stringent operational requirements are put forward - in greenhouses, conservatories, winter gardens.
i-glass
The more common type is soft coated i-glass. Silver oxides are sprayed onto surfaces using high vacuum equipment. I-glass is much cheaper than its predecessor and retains heat one and a half times better. However, this material has many disadvantages. The low-emissivity glass coating is sensitive to damage, so the surface is easily scratched. Metal oxides actively react with oxygen, so the shelf life in the open airpretty limited. This problem is solved by the fact that it is used in double-glazed windows with a polarized surface inside or used in a multilayer glass coating.
Glazed windows
Insulating glazing with low-emission glass will help to significantly reduce heating costs. Calculations have shown that in this way it is possible to save up to 700 liters of equivalent fuel per year.
In this case, you can change the scheme of space heating. On the surface of a window with ordinary glass, the temperature is not higher than +5 degrees at an outside temperature of -20 degrees. Windows with low-emission glass help to achieve an indicator of +14 degrees. That is, it becomes possible to redistribute heat sources, since the structure will no longer be a pronounced cold zone. Now you can safely spend time at the window without fear of freezing. The risk of condensation also disappears, as moisture only forms on a cold surface in a warm room.
Window single-chamber double-glazed windows with low-e glass are more efficient than double-glazed windows from the classic one. This makes it easier to design and reduce heating costs. Calculations show that the cost of low-e glass pays off through energy savings in 1.5-2 years.
Energy-saving technologies are at the forefront today. In Europe, low-emission glass is being actively introduced. In Russia, this is still a relatively new trend. The use of such a novelty will make it possible to implement the latest architectural direction - transparentfacades. At the same time, purely practical tasks are also solved - saving fuel on heating.
So, gradually taking root in double-glazed windows, low-e glass is becoming a familiar material.
