TRADE

Type

Flat glass window film has commercial and residential applications; auto film is applied to vehicles.

Crazy weather patterns, the greenhouse gas crisis and escalating energy costs have resulted in the popularity of window film as a cost-effective, simple and environmentally-friendly method of controlling the internal temperature of any building.

Commercial facility managers, for example, see the advantages of window film as a retrofit window treatment option, with the product quickly paying for itself by lowering air conditioner usage, energy bills and maintenance costs.

The added protection window film affords and the savings it offers are apparent. Specifying window film ensures you have your client’s best interests at heart, in the short and long term.

Window film protects…

• from UV rays and glare
• furnishings, upholstery, carpets, etc. 
• from theft and vandalism
• windows from shattering
• the environment, by reducing energy consumption
• from personal injury caused by broken glass or UV rays

Personal and property protection from the sun is enhanced with window film - especially relevant in kid’s play zones, high traffic areas, etc.; and it also bolsters security by adding another level of protection against break-ins.

Here, different types and constructions of window film are explained:

Non-Metallic Films

Used to colour glass and reduce UV rays (heat reduction is relatively low with these variants). Two methods of manufacturing dyed films:

1) Deep Dyeing technology impregnates dyestuffs and UV absorbers throughout the film substrate, ensuring the colour will not flake, scratch or streak.

2) Carbon colour films are the latest technology in colour fasting, with a dyed coating that adheres to the polyester. These films are used in areas that require long-lasting coloured film.

Metallic Films

Two ways of manufacturing metallic solar films:

1) Evaporative Coating - a metal (aluminum, nickel, silver, copper or gold) is melted in a vat. Vapour rises from the vat and adheres to a clear polyester (PET) sheet of film. This film is then laminated to another clear or tinted polyester film. These can be used in any application, with a life-span from 10 to 20 years.

2) Sputtering is the industry’s most advanced coating technology. Millions of metal particles are closely knitted together. Allows film to deposit virtually any metal, alloy or oxide onto a variety of flexible substrates/polyesters.

Can be used in any application, residential, commercial, government, hospitals and commercial facility managers.

The average life span of a sputtered product is 10-25 years.

Up to 9 different metals can be sputtered onto polyester film. The finished result is almost the same as clear glass, which is proving popular for heritage buildings or areas requiring more light.

Benefits of sputtering include having the same heat reduction as vapour coated films, but gaining an increase in light transmission; and it results in a lower external reflection.