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Very interesting (as a new material). It being not waterproof/waterresistant (unless painted) doesn't seem to make it a good glass replacement for windows, tho
by jaclaz 6y ago
Very interesting (as a new material).
It being not waterproof/waterresistant (unless painted) doesn't seem to make it a good glass replacement for windows, though.
Possibly as an inner pane(s) of sealed multi-pane windows (with traditional glass on the outside) as - also - since it can be cut with ordinary rotary tools, it probably is not scratch resistant.
The light weight seems to me like the most relevant feature.
- tux1968 6y ago> It is approximately five times more thermally efficient than glass, cutting energy costs. Seems even more useful than its weight. There is a lot of energy loss from the windows of buildings. Would be a huge gain if that can be brought down significantly.
- centimeter 6y agoIt sounds like they’re comparing it to single pane glass, which is not what most windows are made of these days when thermal efficiency is a concern.
- tux1968 6y agoWell it's one to one, it's a single pane of this stuff to a single pane of traditional glass. Nothing says you can only use a single pane of this new material. Someone mentioned that this isn't weatherproof, but it could still be used for the inside plies of a triple glazed window for instance.
- dirtnugget 6y agoYou have to factor in the usual lifespan of glass as compared to this. A clean glass pane will resist water and ice for hundreds of years. This stuff will need to be repainted every few months to keep integrity.
- dirtnugget 6y agoI honestly do not understand why I m getting downvoted here. Am I saying anything untrue? Or did I only find a flaw which is not mentioned here? Imagine leaving a house unattended in a humid or rainy area for one year, you would come back to swollen up windows which I am sure are far from clear. I guess you would have to replace these windows at least 5-10 times as often as regular glass. Also, glass is 100% recyclable whereas this would produce even more plastic waste.
- tsomctl 6y agoOr, have it sealed in the middle between two panes of glass, giving you water and abrasion protection. If you could glue it together, the glass can be super thin.
- jaclaz 6y ago>Or, have it sealed in the middle between two panes of glass Yep, not much different from: >Possibly as an inner pane(s) of sealed multi-pane windows (with traditional glass on the outside) I mean, what is the "Or,"?
- japhyr 6y agoMulti-pane windows are great thermally, but they need to be replaced when the seal breaks and they get filled with condensation. If this material addressed that issue, it might make longer-lasting multi-pane windows?
- Tepix 6y agoNot a big issue, they last for decades nowadays