Page 39 - Glass-Technology International no. 6/2017

Non-invasive device measuring
ionized gas emission spectrum

THE AUTHOR

station, or manually to the NON-INVASIVE means that the IGU cannot
Mauri Saksala has been working
ready-made units. The VS. INVASIVE GAS be delivered to the custom-
in the glass industry for over 25
years. He is currently working as challenges are confirming CONCENTRATION er or retested.
Sales Director for Sparklike Oy. the correct filling degree MEASUREMENT The non-invasive method
and ensuring that the ini- The actual argon measure- allows measuring the glass
tial gas concentration will ment can be conducted without breaking the IGU.
remain inside the insulating either with an invasive or The most commonly used
glass unit (IGU). A gas es- non-invasive method. The non-invasive method uti-
cape could occur from im- invasive method penetrates lizes a spark that is ignited
proper sealing of the IGU, through the sealing of the through the glass. Based
and this needs to be tested insulating glass unit and on the colour of the ionized
prior to shipping the IG to the gas sample is calculated gas, the argon content is cal-
customers. Product liability automatically. culated automatically. This
for the insulating glass and These invasive technolo- method is fast and accurate
window suppliers can last gies are generally afford- and used widely on double-
several years after the ini- able and robust technolo- glazed units as measuring
tial delivery of the product. gies with good accuracy, can be carried out from
Thus, insulating glass and but require breaking the IG monolithic glass side for the
window suppliers are look- structure. In practice this non-coated surfaces. The
ing ways to increase the se-
curity of the gas fill.
in both heated and cooled Even though clear stand-
buildings. The energy ards do not exist in all are-
properties can be enhanced as, the industry and manu-
with various methods, facturers have formed best
such as coatings, multiple practices to produce high
glass layers and inserting quality insulating glass.
a medium in between. The The fact that small mol-
medium can be normal air, ecule gas is prone to leak-
vacuum or specific gas – age is a challenge, and thus
typically argon or krypton. manufacturers aim to en-
These insulating gases are sure the maximum possible
applied to the cavity either content of argon after the
during the manufactur- gas filling – typically 95 per
ing process at gas press cent and higher.

Traditional invasive oxygen testing device