SunClean® self-cleaning glass features a proprietary titanium dioxide (TiO2) coating which, when activated by ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, causes organic material to decay gradually and then rinse away when contacted by rainwater. Water beads on conventional clear glass lead to water spots and streaking.
PPG Industries has introduced SunClean® self-cleaning glass for commercial building applications. First introduced as a residential glass product by PPG in 2002, SunClean glass features a proven, proprietary titanium dioxide (TiO2) coating that, when activated by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, causes organic material to decay gradually and then rinse away when contacted by rainwater.
In commercial applications, SunClean glass is designed primarily for skylights, canopies, walkway covers, glass shading devices and other sloped or difficult-to-access glazings because it can reduce or eliminate the need to wash them manually.
When activated by exposure to sunlight, the coating on SunClean glass becomes photocatalytic and hydrophilic, which makes it self-cleaning because:
• photocatalysis enables the coating to gradually decompose organic material as it is exposed to sunlight;
• hydrophilicity causes water drops to flatten and spread out when hitting the coated glass surface, producing a thin sheet of running water that rinses away loosened organic material and enables the glass to dry quickly and evenly with minimal spotting and streaking. (Hydrophilic surfaces are the opposite of hydrophobic surfaces, which cause water to bead as on the surface of a freshly waxed car.)
In addition to being photocatalytic and hydrophilic, the TiO2 coating on SunClean glass is extremely durable. Because the coating bonds to glass while it is molten, tests show that SunClean glass retains its hydrophilic properties even after prolonged exposure to rain, sunlight, salt and environmental hazards.
SunClean glass features a moderately reflective first-surface coating that is applied to clear glass. It can be used monolithically, in a laminate or in combination with SunGate® passive, low-emissivity (low-E) and SolarBan® solar control, low-E glasses in insulating glass units (IGUs) to optimize energy and environmental performance.
SunClean glass also may be combined with PPG’s entire collection of Cradle to Cradle Certified(CM) tinted glasses to meet desired performance and appearance specifications. It can be tempered or heat-strengthened, and it is available in sizes as large as 130 x 204 inches.