SILKSCREEN GLASS
Tristar Glass, Inc.'s silkscreen line gives our clients the ability to create exciting new looks that increase aesthetic appeal and building performance. Coatings are available in both a ceramic frit and ICD Coating’s OPACICOAT-300®.
Silk-screening ceramic frit onto glass is an excellent way for architects and designers to create exciting new looks on their building, while at the same time helping to improve the overall performance of the glass by reducing the incoming solar energy and reducing glare.
The process of silk-screening uses a patterned screen to transfer ceramic frit onto the surface of the glass. The ceramic frit is then fired onto the surface of the glass during the heat treatment process, creating a permanent bond to the glass surface.
Applications include: Solar control, glare control, privacy, decorative design and displaying signs and logos.
Heat Treating
Silk-screened glass can be heat-strengthened or fully tempered. Tristar Glass Products supports the industry standards concerning the use of fully tempered glass. In other words, fully tempered glass should only be used when and where necessary. These areas are defined as areas where safety glazing characteristics are required by code and for high wind load areas where both annealed and/or heat-strengthened glass will not meet the appropriate project design wind loads.
Choosing a Surface
A silkscreen pattern can be applied to any glass surface with the exception of a soft coat Low-E type product. The working metal in all soft coat Low-E coatings is that of silver and/or a fragile metal. The soft Low-E coating would become damaged as a result of the silkscreen process.
However, most soft coat Low-E coatings are of the high transmission type. With that in mind, the decorative effect is not sacrificed if the silkscreen pattern is applied to the number three surface and/or the inboard clear lite of an insulating unit.
There are many advantages to the application of the silkscreen pattern to the clear inboard lite of an IGU on the number three surface.
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The decorative effect is not compromised from the project exterior or interior
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It serves to reduce reflection and glare room side
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The initial cost is less in comparison to glass that needs to be silkscreened and then coated with a Low-E coating and/or a second surface application
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Should a replacement unit be required in the future, it would prove much less expensive and more readily available, in comparison to a second surface silkscreen application.
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The functionality of the third silkscreen pattern is similar to that of a second surface application
