HGP Decorative products provide the design architect with the flexibility to creatively control light transmittance, reduce solar heat gain and offer improved shading coefficients using geometric patterns. Using the proven ceramic frit technology which permanently fuses pigmented coating onto the surface of the glass HGP applies the ceramic enamel using the latest available silkscreen processes. The fire fused ceramic enamels are more durable than acid etched or sand-blasted surfaces, less susceptible to staining and easier to clean. The ability to silkscreen a pattern onto the surface of architectural glass products provides the designer with a wide variety of colors and patterns. Standard patterns offered include 1/8" dots on 1/4" centers, 1/8" holes on 1/4" centers and 1/8" stripes on 1/4" centers. In addition to standard line, dot and hole patterns Decorative Silkscreen is offered in virtually any custom pattern.

Decorative patterns can also be applied to any tinted glass substrates. When combined with reflective glass the pattern is visible from either one or both sides of the glass, depending upon lighting conditions. When it is used for solar control silkscreen glass reduces the light transmission by approximately the same amount as the glass area covered by the coating. The ceramic frit reflects and absorbs the solar energy in proportion to the amount of area covered.

Decorative patterns be applied to spandrel glass which is then completely covered with a contrasting full coating to provide a geometric or patterned opaque spandrel panel.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The ceramic frit enamel is applied to annealed float glass using a semiautomatic screen printing machine. The screen is made of a monofilament polyester fabric stretched over an aluminum frame. The fabric is coated with a light sensitive emulsion and when dry, exposed to a high intensity ultraviolet light to expose the image to be printed onto the emulsion. The ceramic enamel is forced through the polyester fabric using a squeegee. The squeegee is monitored to insure consistent application. The ceramic enamel is thoroughly mixed and is adjusted to maintain proper application viscosities. The, ceramic frit enamel used shall meet or exceed the quality standards as outlined in the GTA's Engineering Standards Manual, Section 4. Equipment settings are logged for future reference in the Silkscreen Department' s production log.

DESIGN AND COST CONSIDERATIONS

It is prudent for the designer to limit the number of different sizes of glass he uses, as screen printing costs increase with each size change; because in addition to the cost per unit, each size change may necessitate that additional screens be fabricated. Shapes such as trapezoids, triangles or other patterns can be provided, but at a much higher unit cost.

Silk-screened glass is ideally suited for applications where a transparent aesthetic view from outside and inside is desired and a reduced shading coefficient is required. Even with the 1/8" diameter hole pattern covering 60% of the glass surface, when observed from distances of 15 to 20 feet from the glass, the view through the glass is remarkably clear and distinct. Because dark colored frits are less translucent, they should be selected for optimum view in and out. For lowest shading coefficients, the ceramic enamel pattern should be applied to the indoor side of the outdoor light of glass (#2 surface), and colored frits should be selected.