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A glass coating is a transparent, durable finish that adds protection to glass surfaces. It protects glass from stains, streaks, water spots, fingerprints, soap scum and more. It also prevents hard water build-up and mineral deposits, making cleaning glass surfaces easier and faster.
A variety of different types of glass coatings are used in beverage and food containers, including tin oxide, titanium dioxide, organic, and others. These coatings are applied to the glass surface for several reasons, including to protect the bottle against damage and discoloration, to enhance its appearance and handling, or to improve its ability to transmit light. In addition, glass coatings can increase the strength of the container, which is important when transporting or handling the product.
The process of applying a glass coating is typically done using powdered paint and is a four-step procedure: attracting, gelling, flowing and curing. The attracting phase involves the application of an electrostatic charge to the glass surface, which causes it to attract the powdered paint. Afterward, the process of gelling takes place, transforming the dry powder into a wet substance that adheres to the glass surface. After this, the flowing and curing phases occur, which create a strong protective casing for the glass surface. It is essential to use precise heat control throughout this process so that the correct amount of gelling and flowing occurs, as too little means that the coating will not be sufficiently thick or protected; too much can lead to dripping or uneven coverage.
Glass is extremely durable, but even it can benefit from a helping hand every now and then. A new product from Utah-based MetaShield boosts the impact resistance of glass by coating it with a layer of nanoparticles.
In laboratory tests, the company’s MetaShieldGLASS coating significantly increased the impact strength of untempered and tempered aluminosilicate glass. These tests were conducted by an independent lab, InterTek, and used standard drop-ball testing protocols. The lab measured the kinetic energy required to break a glass sample at a given height and then compared that value to the corresponding test results of each type of glass.
The team from Harvard University and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering created the glass-boosting coating by corralling tiny, spherical particles of polystyrene, the primary ingredient in Styrofoam, on a glass surface like a collection of Ping-Pong balls. Then Glass coating poured liquid glass on the surface until the balls were more than half buried, creating a honeycomb pattern. Finally, they coated the resulting honeycomb with the same liquid lubricant that’s used in the self-cleaning surface of SLIPS.
Manufacturer of airless spray ESD and cleanroom coatings for electronic, pharmaceutical, aerospace and industrial applications. Coatings are available in arc, flame, HVOF and plasma sprayed formulations that are abrasion, chemical, corrosion and stain resistant. Products are used on glass, plastics, painted metals, laminates, shelving, workstations and more. Custom and stock orders are accepted.
