Vidromax: double- and triple-glazing gets easier

Channel: Ig equipment

2015-08-20 | Ig equipment

IG systems are becoming bigger and heavier day-by-day and the machinery and systems used to process these units must therefore also be bigger and more complex. And, due to this complexity of the units, glassmakers are continuously on the look-out for ways to protect the units too. In this article, Vidromax speaks about its newly-developed system that, it says, enables to produce and transport large-sized double- and triple-glazed units.

Vidromax: double- and triple-glazing gets easier

Vidromax’ newly created system enables to produce insulating glass units with maximum sizes - 6m x 3.21m, also facilitating their transport and export. The mechanism is designed to control the pressure inside the units, ensuring the longevity and efficiency of double- or triple-glazing.
Simultaneously, all double glass components are analyzed in order to maximize the glass area - reaching up to 19m2 - reducing the thickness of the seal between glasses. To allow pressure adjustment inside the unit, an innovative valve is incorporated in the corner keys. The valves enable the injection of air, or another gas, to the interior of the unit, guaranteeing, at the same time, the tightness of the assembly. The inherent advantages are mainly related to the maintenance of units in which, before final assembly, a new injection of gas may be performed, thereby compensating any losses that may occur.

Innovative element
Luis Borrego, professor coordinator of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of ISEC, who developed the system in partnership with Vidromax, explains that: “The most innovative element of the system, which does not exist on the market and is likely to be patented, is the pressure control valve inside the double- or triple-glazing.” This solution allows to pressurize the inside of the windows, which ensures that the integrity and quality of the glass are not affected during transport. That is, due to their large size, touching against one another (double- or triple-glazed) during transport to the installation site. This possibility can be counteracted by the ability of the valve to regulate the pressure inside the unit. Additionally, this system still has a pressure adjustment function inside the double- or triple-glass after installation and even during its use. Consequently, you can adjust the pressure control inside the units, which can vary due to thermal expansion and thus lead to their malfunction. Thus, the maintenance of the units will be greatly simplified avoiding disassembly or even replacement, which contributes to increased customer satisfaction and reduced after-sales guarantee costs.

Studies and optimization
The project started by conducting various studies and optimizations in order to be able to produce the system. Among others, mechanical strength tests were performed on various materials which allow the size reduction of the structural support rails “... necessary to determine the ideal glass to support the process of double- and triple-glazing of large dimensions, as well as the type of spacer used and injecting air or argon to fill the space between the glasses,” explained the head teacher. These studies have been undertaken to try to reduce the thickness of the seals, a step considered essential to allow the use of smaller height rails, thus increasing the area visible through the glass.
The results of the tests have allowed to determine the most favourable combination for the manufacture of this system. “The market and modern architecture are demanding increasingly larger glazed areas with structural support rails with dimensions reduced to a minimum, thus increasing the area visible through the glass were the motivations for research in this project,” stresses Professor Luis Borrego.
The design includes the establishment of a new class of spacer bars that allow the absorption of moisture inside the double-glazing and promote the longevity of the seals. These profiles ensure butyl longevity, since they are flexible. The glasses undergo deformations along their use which causes wear on the butyl, degrading it. The method found to avoid this degradation was the creation of flexible spacers that are deformed with the glass, reducing the effort transmitted to the butyl.
Reducing the thickness of the seal will also allow to increase the area visible through the glass, which meets the current requirements of the construction and architecture sector. This reduction is supported by a series of tests conducted by SIKA and Vidromax, determining the maximum loads the seal support, serving as a guarantee of longevity and product integrity. The tests were carried out on glass compositions with 8mm glass + 16mm air space + 6mm glass + 16mm air space + 8mm glass for triple glazing and 10mm glass + 16mm air space + 10mm glass for double glazing using, in both situations, 4mm thick Sikasil IG-25 HM Plus silicone. The tests performed show that the structural strength of the 4mm thickness second seal is assured.
Professor Luis Borrego hopes: “this innovation will provide a significant boost for the sector through increase in orders, especially from foreign countries, due to the versatility of the units that can be used in different climates and simultaneously present a maximized glass area.”
Main advantages of the system:
• Adaptation to large architectural structures with large windows.
• Reduced size of spacer bars.
• Increase of the visible area through the glass.
• Reduced risk of damage in transit/export.
• Promoting integrity and system longevity.
• Reduced risk of damage to the assembly.

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