Vacuum sealed glass windows

Thomsen says they will achieve this performance at about the cost of a triple-glazed window with argon gas fill argon is a lot cheaper than krypton and with a VIG glazing unit just over a quarter-inch thick, rather than over an inch for triple glazing. Even though the vacuum needed in a VIG window is "softer" than that used in a Thermos bottle torr instead of torr in the parlance of vacuum physics, or one-hundredth as strong a vacuum , the edge seal is still extremely important.

If the vacuum seal is lost, that R to R window would probably end up not much better than R According to Thomsen, the edge seal is a "hermetic, glass-to-glass bond using a non-organic, lead-free solder glass frit material. He tells me that the "frit" is a "modified version of a proven material that has been around for several decades" and is used in both flat-screen and older-style, picture-tube televisions.

One drawback to a VIG window is that the tiny pillars that keep the panes of glass separated slightly affect the optical clarity of the windows.

When viewed at a low angle, these tiny beads are visible to some people. It's unclear how much of an issue this will be in windows used for views; it shouldn't make any difference in windows above the vision plane or in skylights.

Guardian hopes to begin initial production of their VIG in late with fully automated production anticipated for mid Thomsen expects that their VIG will begin trickling into the market in early , depending on how quickly their partners proceed with product development. Guardian provides glass to window manufacturers; the company does not itself produce finished windows.

He anticipates that initial market growth will be strongest in Europe, where stricter energy codes will go into effect in , followed by the U. We are in for some exciting times in the window industry for sure!

What do you think? Are vacuum-insulated glazings going to make it? I invite you to share your comments on this blog. You can also follow my musings on Twitter. Double - glazed doors and windows are made up of two sealed sheets of glass with an insulating void between them. This gap is either in the form of a vacuum , or more commonly filled with a heavy inert gas such as argon.

Together, the panes of glass and the void between them are very effective at preventing heat loss. Can you remove condensation from double glazed windows? Tips to Fix Condensation Between Double Pane Windows Try cleaning the fogged windows to remove any buildup that isn't condensation on the glass. If cracked or broken glass is the culprit of your foggy window, this can be repaired to prevent more condensation from entering the space between the panes.

Can a double pane window be resealed? Dual-pane windows provide an extra layer of insulation for your home. As the window weathers, the seal can degrade, allowing moisture to get in between the glass panes. When this happens, you can replace the damaged seal. How thick is a double glazed window? Double glazed windows are fitted with two panes of glass and a space of around 12mm — 16mm between them. The gap is held in place with a spacer bar with either normal air or argon gas.

Because of the gap and the glazing itself, the standard thickness of a uPVC is of around 20mm — 28mm. How do they make double glazed units? First, the two panes of glass are separated by a spacer and a hermetically-sealed airtight gap is created. V-Glass is working to deliver that solution.

Essentially, a VIG is a flat, transparent thermos bottle that dramatically reduces window heat loss. Two panes of glass, separated by tiny spacers, are sealed around the edges.

The vacuum between the two panes virtually eliminates conduction and convection heat loss. A Low E coating on one pane cuts radiation heat loss. Unlike argon, vacuum will not conduct heat, no matter how thin the gap.