In a recent company press release, PPG Industries said it has developed the automotive industry“s first commercial solar-control glass in a neutral gray colour that meets US federal light transmittan…
In a recent company press release, PPG Industries said it has developed the automotive industry“s first commercial solar-control glass in a neutral gray colour that meets US federal light transmittance requirements for passenger vehicles. Journalists previewing Detroit“s North American International Auto Show were among the first to see the new VistaGray glass in windshield and window applications, installed for PPG“s exhibit in a 2000 BMW Z3 roadster. According to Ernest Hahn, vice president of automotive glass OEM products, PPG has applied for a patent on the glass he said could soon become the industry standard for aesthetics and performance. Hahn said VistaGray glass gives automotive designers another energy-efficient glazing option for visible vehicle differentiation. “For about half a century, green glass has been the standard because of its solar control performance,” Hahn said. “The green colour, which results from iron in the formulation to absorb solar energy, does not harmonize well with many exterior paint colours, and affects the colours of interiors viewed through the glass.” “Increased interest in glass as a design element focused attention on the need for it to be a neutral colour while offering solar control,” Hahn added. “VistaGray glass is the first automotive glass that meets both criteria. Now, PPG enables carmakers and vehicle owners to obtain performance and neutral aesthetics rather than sacrificing one for the other.” Hahn described the new glass as having a neutral gray hue that complements a broad range of exterior body colours and allows interior colours to remain truer when seen through the glass. “A standard tempered side window made of VistaGray glass transmits only about 48% of the sun“s total energy, compared with 58% for standard green-tinted glass,” Hahn said. “The solar-control performance of VistaGray glass will allow today“s smaller air conditioning systems to maintain interior comfort for vehicle occupants.” For comparison, total solar energy transmitted by a clear glass automotive side window is about 81%, and higher-performing green glass transmits about 45%, Hahn said. “Although other gray automotive glasses have been developed, their performance was not at the level of VistaGray glass, ranging instead between that of clear and standard green-tinted glass,” Hahn noted. PPG has begun fabricating VistaGray glass parts for demonstration vehicles. At the same time, it will continue to offer its trademark green Solex and Solargreen glasses, as well as its premium Solextra glass, which has a distinctive blue tint and is the industry“s best solar-performing uncoated glass. In addition, PPG makes privacy automotive glasses as well as its family of Sungate automotive glass products with a transparent solar reflective coating. Journalists at the Detroit auto show also saw how glass and paint colours can be integrated in vehicle design. PPG displayed two specially built two-fifths-scale vehicle models: one glazed with Solextra and darker Solextra privacy glass with the body finished in harmonizing blue, the other with bronze vision and privacy glass in a pearlized white body.