The earliest glass artifacts were found in Egypt around 3500 BC, but it was not until four millenniums later that glass was used in making windows. However, the windows used were underdeveloped, ridiculously thick and roughly impossible to see through. Transparent glass, like we see today, was not invented until a millennia later.
Laminated Glass, also known as “Safety Glass”, was developed to keep the glass from shattering into sharp shards of glass. Car windshields, bank teller protective barriers, and glasses are a few examples of laminated glass that we use on a daily basis. Glass transparency presented the conundrum of how to balance privacy and the flow of light. Many resolutions created over the millennia were window treatments, such as, curtains, blinds, and shutters.
The improvements with smart technology, created Smart Glass, also known as Switchable Privacy Glass. Polytronix, Inc. Film & Glass Division has been research, developing, and manufacturing Polyvision® Switchable Privacy Glass since 1986.
What is Polyvision Smart Glass?
Polyvision® Switchable Film is made of a polymer matrix imbedded with liquid crystals that are sandwiched between two layers of electrically conductive film. Polyvision® Switchable Smart Glass is made of our Polyvision® Switchable Film that is then laminated between two pieces of glass with an interlayer inserted on each side to secure and hold the film in place; furthermore, Polyvision® Film has been SGCC Certified. When electrical current is applied to Polyvision®, the color and transparency will change.
What is Smart Glass used for?
Polyvision® Smart Glass is used to balance privacy without distracting window treatments. Polyvision® Smart Glass applications have been used for privacy in client areas, hotels, vehicles, yacht, conference rooms, hospitals (nurseries, emergency rooms, ICUs, operation rooms), projection displays, residential areas, security windows, showrooms, and high-speed trains.
Features and Benefits
Polyvision® is designed to give YOU, the consumer, comfort, and provide privacy at a moment’s notice. Polyvision® meets all laminated safety glass standards, after a severe impact, the window stays intact and doesn’t shattered glass. During peak sunlight hours, Polyvision® can help reduce the glare and spread illumination at comfortable levels, and reduces the transmission of harmful radiation on demand. Polyvision® is also environmentally friendly by reducing the waste associated with manufacturing curtains and/or drapes, with a low power consumption, and blocks more than 99 percent ultraviolet light.
How does it work?
What does television screens, computer screens, smart phone screens and smart watch displays all have in common, other than they are all screens. They are all liquid crystal displays and we use them every single day. Polyvision® Smart Film and Glass in the off position (opaque) the liquid crystals are arranged in a scattered droplet pattern, when electric current is applied, the droplet formations react in a synchronized manner allowing the liquid crystals to transition from opaque to clear.
Polyvision® inherently possesses some level of “haziness” and would not exhibit the same level of clarity as regular float glass. Not only is Polyvision® Smart Film on the approved SGSS Interlayer List, but also conforms to UL 962. Our custom liquid crystal matrix is at it’s optimal haze, and energy efficiency at 65 Volts.
