This switchable glass is pretty smart

09/27/2021 | Print view

Create privacy in the blink of an eye? Smart glass makes it possible. At the touch of a button, opaque glass becomes transparent glass, and all that with just an electric current. Whether switchglas from Schwan Glas or GMVG Smart Glass from Glas Mayer Ginsheim, the way the glass works is the same. Here are the details.

The new switchable glass switchglas from Schwan Glas and GMVG Smart Glass from Glas Mayer Ginsheim is a laminated glass consisting of two panes. Two films (EVA or PVB films) are embedded between the glass panes, with an LC liquid crystal film in between.

A low electrical voltage can be switched on and off via an electronic control unit. When the voltage is applied, the liquid crystals all align in one direction and the glass becomes transparent. If no voltage is applied (i.e. the glass, i.e. the LC liquid crystal film, is "switched off"), the liquid crystals remain disordered and the glass is translucent, i.e. opaque, although sufficient daylight still enters the room.

The Schwan Glas product switchglas is a laminated glass that is constructed in white glass, consisting of 2 × ESG. The product is mostly used for interiors ...

... but it can also be used as facade glass, as shown here. Furthermore, various model shapes are available, including drillings and cut-outs.

What possible use cases are there for Smart Glass?

There are almost no limits to the possible uses of the smart glass from Schwan Glas and Glas Mayer Ginsheim: as fixed glazing, partition walls in offices and meeting rooms, hotels, banks, museums and in shops, and much more.

Thanks to its simple, hygienic operation, switchable glass can also be used in hospitals and doctors' surgeries, as well as in sanitary areas. This makes it ideal for all applications where opaque screening is only desired temporarily, but transparency and openness are generally required.

In combination with current-carrying fittings, switchglas and GMVG Smart Glass can be used equally well in fixed partition elements as well as in frameless applications such as glass doors, sliding doors or folding doors.

In addition, further processing of the switchable glass into insulating glass is also possible after consultation with the suppliers.

Technical details on the glass

The Schwan Glas product switchglas is a laminated glass that is constructed in white glass, consisting of 2 × ESG (single-pane safety glass). Due to the production process, the glass panes have a 3 mm wide surrounding edge which cannot be switched.

Colour variants are possible: Schwan Glas offers a choice of coloured glass or a variant with grey LC film. In addition, there are various model shapes to choose from, whereby drill holes and cut-outs can also be implemented.

Here, the switchable GMVG Smart Glass from Glas Mayer Ginsheim allows a view into the bathroom when transparent…

…if this is not desired, the glass pane is simply switched to opaque.

In what dimensions are these Smart Glass products available?

The maximum dimensions of the switchable glass is 1800 mm × 3500 mm for switchglas, or larger on request.

Various transformers with different outputs are available depending on the size of the glass unit and are also compatible with smart home solutions.

Glas Mayer produces its switchable glass GMVG Smart Glass laminated glass alternatively with a white or grey LC film.

Here, too, the structure is possible with different glass thicknesses as well as model shapes. The maximum production size is 1800 × 4000 mm Roll widths of 1200 - 1500 - and 1800 mm are available from stock. The production of partially switchable areas in the glass panes is also feasible.

The film setback is approx. 3 mm all around. The offered controllers offer a range of functions, including foil protection through specially adapted voltage, smart home compatibility and a variety of fuses (DC blocking, short circuit, overload + overvoltage).

All controllers CE & UL certified

All controllers are CE & UL certified, with large drive power and small connection area, as well as fast switching and low energy consumption. The controllers do not need to be switched off for a period of time during the day, as is the case with many other transformers.

Schwan Glas (www.schwanglas.com) and Glas Mayer Ginsheim (www.glasmayer.com) point out that once the glass has been installed, the connection to the transformer and the building services should be carried out by a specialist company.