Glass is a unique material. The evolution of its use in society has found it in applications that range from purely aesthetic to functional.
By Wim Zoomer
Glass is a unique material. The evolution of its use in society has found it in applications that range from purely aesthetic to functional. Printing technology has opened the window to coating, the deposition of ultra-thin nanoparticle-based inks and conductive pastes, and more.
The versatility of screen printing and the ongoing development of ceramic pastes and nano-inks, for example, contribute to the increased use of this cost-effective technology and eliminate huge investments in special equipment. In addition, glass can be processed easily by simply modifying its surface properties. This characteristic facilitates its use in architectural objects, automobiles, slot machines, appliances, and art objects.
Surface modification
Glass-surface-modification techniques produce most required optical or functional characteristics, such as:
- Applying metal-oxide coatings at low pressure and elevated temperature using plasma or CVD coatings to allow light transmission and permit the heat of the sun to pass through the glass into a building.
- Combining one or more glass panes by laminating using intermediate layers of resilient polyvinyl butyral (PVB) to create impact-resistant glass for shop fronts, stair railings, and roof glazing.
- Using batch treatments to create a uniform, matte surface—acid etching and sandblasting, for example. Transmitted light takes on a very soft appearance. Acid-etched glass is a decorative treatment for indoor glass applications. Sandblasting means spraying sand at high speed against the glass surface. This technique gives the glass surface a rough appearance, although the surface remains translucent. A mask covers the areas that are supposed to remain transparent. Screen printing is an ideal technique for applying the mask image. The depth and the degree of translucency of the sandblasted finish depend on the force and type of sand applied. Sandblasted glass is used for several indoor applications, such as doors, shower screens, furniture, and interior screens.
Enamel
Enamel, also known as ceramic paint, ceramic paste, glass paint, and glass enamel, is used to tint or decorate a glass surface. We encounter decorative enamels on architectural, furniture, and automotive glass. All applications require different kinds of decorative glass enamels, with a wide color variety and functionality and, therefore, different characteristics.
There are several ways to apply these glass enamels. The application method determines the deposit thickness of the enamel on the glass surface. Full-surface treatment can be applied by digital and screen printing, as well as spray, curtain, and roller coating.
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