Description
Manufacturing companies of laminated glass, to be used in buildings, are constantly looking for optimal raw materials. Nowadays, the inter-layer material with the highest market share is PVB (polyvinyl butyral). Nevertheless, EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) based films have started to being used as inter-layer in the last years, revealing some important improvements compared to PVB: - Better humidity and heat resistance; - Better stability in long term storage; - Better adhesion; - Better transparency rates. The project will require a wide-ranging research for the achievement of new formulations able to comply with valid regulations and provide the following characteristics: - High transparency and low haze; - Perfect adhesion at processing temperatures around 80 ºC; - UV protection (UV cut-off about 380nm). The project will lead to environmental benefits and important savings in raw materials, equipment investments and reduction of energetic waste compared to PVB and other EVA approaches.
Summary of project results
The project was focused in the development of new encapsulants for the laminated glass industry with the main objective to allow energy savings during the lamination process. Besides that, the new encapsulants must have excellent optical and adhesive properties to ensure Ethe correct performance during its life. The laminated glass industry is dominated by PVB encapsulants, but this material has several disadvantages due to its hygroscopic nature, for example, temperature and humidity must be controlled during its lamination, the PVB must be processed in autoclave that means long cycles at high temperature. However, EVA encapsulants can be processed in laminators, at lower temperatures and in less time. Control of climate conditions during its processing is no needed, which implies important energetic savings. One of the new products was introduced into the market during 2015 with excellent results, the second one is expected to enter into the market in 2016.
Summary of bilateral results