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Process Department
Our Process Department has a unique know-how in formulation to handle smart materials and keep their fascinating property of being reactive, adaptive, sensitive to their environment.
We put at your disposal our 15 years of experience in the field of intelligent materials to design and produce high value-added inks and paints.
A team of scientific experts in formulation
In the smart materials world, the formulation stage is critical. It is too often neglected because of a lack of knowledge of the physical processes involved in these intelligent materials: phase transition, thermodynamics, photophysics.
Our Process department is responsible for all the formulation stages of your project. Our team consists of engineers and technicians who are experts in the field of color intelligence.
Each member has solid scientific skills in chemistry, photochemistry, material science and masters all formulation techniques and processes.
The 3 key steps of custom formulation
Formulation is, by definition, an industrial operation in chemistry that consists in producing a homogeneous and stable material, in the form of ink or paint, with the targeted properties and meeting the requirements of a functional specification.
To succeed in this formulation stage, we consider each development as a new technological challenge: that of integrating the selected pigment filler into a matrix, of shaping it without altering the intelligent properties.
From experience, we know that the application of shear forces associated with the passage of a tricylinder and/or ball mill can alter the crystallinity of the particles. That a simple additive, that a simple variation of the polarity of the medium and/or the pH can affect the thermodynamic equilibrium at the origin of the phenomenon of color change, or even the photophysical mechanisms by modifying the respective positioning of the electronic states.
This ultra-reactivity of smart materials to their environment requires us to verify at each step of the formulation, the maintenance of the smart property.
Your Guide on Phosphorescent Fabric Painting
Painting textiles with Glow fabric paint is quite similar to painting on canvas, paper, or even pumpkins. To get a comprehensive step-by-step understanding of the Glow Art painting process, refer to this guide. However, we will also provide you with a summary of the most important steps for Glowing fabric paint.
Before you begin creating glowing fabric paint, ensure the glow paint is suitable for textiles. Also, make sure your workspace is prepared. Next, gather all necessary tools, including light-colored textile made from materials like cotton or polyester, preferably in white or light colors for the best fabric paint glow effect. Also, have your glow fabric paint, UV black light, brushes, sponges, and water (for cleaning your tools) for starting your project ready. We recommend having a clear idea of the glow in the dark designs and colors you want to paint on the textile. Remember to take safety precautions by having gloves and goggles ready to protect your skin and eyes from glow. Learn more about safety precautions and preparing your workstation when using fabric paint and doing glow projects.
Choose Glowing Paint Colors
Consider using the variety of neon glow in the dark paint colors in combination with your chosen fabric paint for your glow project. This particular type of paint offers a unique advantage for fabric paint creations, providing vivid glows in daylight and glow in the dark effects. Discover more about choosing glowing fabric paint colors for your textile and neon glow fabric paint in this comprehensive guide.
Are you all set? Now, begin by applying thin and even layers of your fabric paint. Allow each layer of glowing fabric paint to dry before adding multiple layers of phosphorus paint. Charge your color painted textile under light to assess the glow in the dark effects. If you’re not satisfied, add more coats of glowing fabric paint.
Charge your Glowing Fabric Paint Project
Remember that the charging times for Glow fabric paint or pigments can vary depending on the light sources. UV (black) light and sunlight usually provide quicker paint charging results, to understand more about the daytime sun or UV black light charging times take a look at this page.
Creating textile dye with glow in the darkpowder is an exciting and creative project. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you achieve the desired glow textile dye effect:
3 Preliminary testing
3.1 Design of experiment
The research was considered as a two-stage process, with a broad preliminary testing and specified details testing series.
The preliminary testing included the shear and durability tests of the specimen. Main objective of these tests was to define the principle build-up of the phosphorescence glass: does the paint need to be in con-tact with the glass or between two interlayer films? So logically, two build-up designs were chosen, shown in Fig 3 and 4. The total thickness of the interlayer films was 0.76 mm in both build-ups.
Another factor was the choice between liquid paint and spray paint for the aesthetic aspect and the reaction with the films. The matrixes of the executed experiments are shown in the following tables.
3.2 Protocol for paint application directly on glass
The first panel of glass has to be cleaned; the paint is then applied in 6 layers with a drying time of 30 seconds between each layer for spray paint and one of 30 minutes for liquid paint. Then, the samples are left to dry for at least 4 days to reduce the volatile organic compounds. The second panel of glass is then cleaned as well. Afterwards the film is put in between the two glass panels and the glass is laminated in a vacuum bag.
3.3 Protocol for paint application between two films
The film on which the paint will be applied is cleaned; as for the previous protocol, 6 layers of paint are applied with the same drying time between each. After at least 4 days of drying, the glass panels are cleaned and the paint will be in between the two films which themselves will be in between the two glass panels.
3.4 Results of durability and shear tests
The durability test results confirmed the experiences gathered at the samples production, that the application of paint on the interlayer does not deliver a sufficient optical quality.
The application of the paint directly on the float glass surface delivered much better visual qualities, but also showed that EVA2 and EVA3 produced significantly more bubbles and flaws than EVA1 and EVA4, that deliver a satisfying result with minimum delamination. Furthermore, the aesthetic value of the brushed paint is not convincing, therefore only the sprayed paint will be used for further tests.
3.5 Results of Luminescence tests
The samples have been charged 12 hours with standard interior light and measured directly after the charging to obtain the values of table.
Measuring the luminescence confirms that the samples with sprayed paint glow with much more intensity and keep glowing in the dark for many hours whereas the samples with liquid paint stop glowing after few hours. The similar glowing intensity of the specimens in both pictures is caused by different exposure times of the camera. Applying phosphorescent paint between two films lead to lower luminescence as the charging of the colour is hindered by the reduced light transmission ratio of the EVA.
4 Detailed testing
4.1 Design of experiment
Because of the preliminary testing results only EVA 1 and 4 and spray paint applied on sanded glasses instead of smooth float glasses are used further. It was expected that the samples react differently due to the paint layers number and area of the painted surface. The specimens have a 3 cm wide frame to avoid any influence of an open paint edge.
For the shear test samples, the same number of layers are used but also the covered area factor of 20%, 50% and 80% paint area.
The ball drop tests according to EN 14449 were done with identical paint pattern. All samples possess eight paint layers and are partly sanded at the painted area. Thirty specimens were produced only with EVA2, due to a final production shut-down of EVA1.
4.2 Results
The durability tests confirmed the preliminary results for samples with both EVA-films. A deterioration of the visual appearance was not observed after the testing. The 3 cm EVAframe around the paint acts as proofing and protects the painted areas. The results of the shear testing are shown in the table.
The shear tests of 145 samples show a higher shear strength of laminates with EVA1 compared to EVA4. A positive effect of a sanded surface on the shear strength is supposed, as the non-sanded and/or non-painted samples achieved lower shear strength than sanded ones. An influence of paint thickness (no. of layers) and paint area ratio cannot clearly derived from the results. More specimen had to be tested to clarify these influence parameters. The results of the ball drop test are currently pending.
5 Discussion and Acknowledgements
Several hundred samples of many buildups and material combinations were tested. They showed that the application process is essential for a successful phosphorescent glass. A fine-tuned composition of paint, interlayer and surface plus a proofed application process lead us to convincing specimens. A paint application on the interlayer should be avoided whereas paint on a sanded glass surface showed the most stable and durable behaviour. The durability testing demonstrated the long term stability for interior uses. The shear strength stays at the level of compare samples of pure LSG without paint.
This research was commonly conducted with the company GlasAhne GmbH from Pirna, Germany and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in the AiF-ZIM funding. We like to thank both parties for supporting this research.
[1] EN 1279-2:2002 Glass in building; Insulating glass units; Part 2: Long term test method and requirements for moisture penetration.
[2] EN 14449:2005 Glass in building; Laminated glass and laminated safety glass.
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Stefan Reich, Shawn Ives, Christian Pfütze
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Department of Architecture, Facility Management and Geoinformation, Building Envelope Research Group, Dessau, Germany, [email protected]
First presented at GPD 2019
2020-08-14T08:00:00
Phosphorescent Paint in Glass Laminates glassonweb.com
