Smart film for cars: manufacturing technology and features

Smart film ( electrochromic or “smart” film) is a polymer material that has the ability, if necessary, to change its transparency, light transmittance and degree of heat transmission or absorption. It is successfully used in advertising, architecture, interior design and other industries. Smart film is installed on window glass, office partitions, glass facades of buildings, attic roofs, glass doors, walls of winter gardens, etc.

Varieties

Currently, smart film with variable and adjustable transparency is a very popular and sought-after product. That is why the market offers a wide range of products from various manufacturers. There are different types of film.

Among all the above types of products, the most popular is electrochromic film, which is considered the most universal. It can be used in various fields. Of course, most often it is placed on window glass. It perfectly prevents sunlight from entering the room and protects against UV radiation. The operation of electrochromic “smart” glass is impossible without the presence of:

• an inverter with an input voltage of 240 V and an output voltage of 110 V;
• control panel to control the operation of the product.

A smart product of absolutely any type can be applied to a glass surface yourself. But experts still recommend that this process be handled exclusively by a professional. The whole point is that you need to connect the contacts correctly, insulate them, apply the product at a certain angle and remove it, making sure that no bubbles form. You also need to choose the right product, taking into account:

• size;
• scope of application;
• physical and technical properties and parameters;
• production technology;
• manufacturer and cost.

Since most types of products are manufactured abroad, when purchasing, you must make sure that these are original products. The company that sells the product must be an official distributor.

Adviсe

Professionals recommend following several important tips to simplify the pasting process and improve the result:

• work must be carried out in a box or garage;
• Before gluing the material, the air in the garage is thoroughly humidified to prevent dust particles from getting under the film and forming bubbles;

• When cutting out film, you should always take a size 1 cm larger on each side for the most accurate fit;
• smoothing should start from the center and work towards the edges;
• To level the film, the surface is slightly heated with a hairdryer.

Despite the high cost of electric tinting, it has high performance characteristics: it helps regulate light transmission, protects from prying eyes and prevents heating of the interior. Due to full compliance with the law, the owner will not be subject to fines.

How to make electronic tinting of front windows with your own hands and how much it costs

Before starting the procedure, you need to wash the car windows. In addition, prepare the tools: a stationery knife, tinting film, napkins, several spatulas and a ruler.

Electronic tinting of front windows is performed as follows:

1. Measure the glass and make a pattern based on +1 cm.
2. Remove the protective layer from the film.
3. Apply the tint to the inner glass and carefully spread it using a spatula or napkins from the center to the edges.
4. Trim off excess film around the edges.
5. Connect the regulator and inverter.
6. Insulate the contacts and hide them under the casing.

If you plan to do everything yourself, you will have to spend money on the material. It will cost about 50 thousand.

Nano tinting meets all GOST requirements.

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By installing adjustable tinting, the driver will avoid fines and create comfortable conditions inside the car.

Glass maintenance

When installing electric tinting, the owner definitely does not want to change it in the near future. Proper care will help keep the film in working condition for a long time.

Caring for electronic tint

Basic rules of care:

• a special soft sponge is used for washing; there are no special requirements for detergents;
• after washing, wipe the surface with a cotton napkin;
• It is important to take care of the quality of contact insulation and the strength of their fixation under the firmware.

What it is?

First of all, you need to understand what is meant by smart technology. This is how a product acquires special qualities that it previously did not have. Smart film (or glass) is a polymer material. It is characterized by transparency, light transmission and heat absorption. It is thanks to these properties that the product is used in such fields as advertising, architecture, and interior design.

The technology for its manufacture is quite complex and requires certain knowledge, skills and equipment. It is made from smart polymers: chemical composites applied to a regular transparent film. The production is based on the process of placing liquid crystals (PDLC) between 2 layers of film, which are conductive. Manufacturers also use various polymers and chemicals in the process of making smart films.

The product, thanks to its unusual structure, is capable of changing the coefficient of transparency, haze, and light absorption under certain conditions. Electrodes are placed at the edges of some types of film, with the help of which the transparency of the product is controlled. Smart film has the following technical characteristics:

• low energy consumption factor;
• high rate of blocking sunlight and infrared rays - blocks up to 87% of ultraviolet radiation;
• long service life;
• high noise insulation coefficient.

Where is it used?

Due to its excellent physical and technical characteristics, smart film is widely used in various industries. Since the main task of the product is to control the transparency (opacity) of glass, it is used where privacy and confidentiality need to be ensured. It is used for arranging and decorating various structures.

The film allows you to create unusual LED partitions in the interior. It is installed in a different frame base: aluminum and steel, frameless. Most often, smart film is installed on partitions:

• in an office space;
• in the conference room;
• in the office;
• in the bathroom.

The product is suitable for any door: swing, swing, sliding or folding. Very often they choose a product that is matte or has a darkening effect. It all depends on where the doors are located and what level of privacy they want to achieve. The product is used for security systems for arranging a control area, for example, a vestibule or an ATM area.

This product is also an indispensable attribute in the process of image output. In this case, smart glass is a screen on which the projector displays both pictures and videos. Notable examples of use are:

• outdoor street screen;
• shop window;
• fencing the meeting room;
• home cinema;
• informational or interactive street stand.

Car enthusiasts often use smart stretch film to tint the windows of their “iron horse”. They especially like that they can do it with their own hands, although some of them still turn to salons to masters.

The following video explains how to connect the smart film.

Principle of operation

Typically one of three technologies is used:

• PDLC – products are milky in color, darkening is achieved using liquid crystals.
• SPD – the basis is suspended particles. The glass has a matte blue color.
• Electrochromic glass is a nanospray. The product turns out dark blue.

The first two products have the following feature: when the voltage is turned off, they become completely darkened, transparency is reduced to a minimum. Electrochromic glass is distinguished by the fact that it has several degrees of darkening. The base consists of lithium ions, which move under the influence of electric current. The polarity and voltage can be set, thanks to which the movement of ions is controlled and the desired degree of darkening is obtained.

How is management carried out?

Glass with variable transparency can adjust the dimming independently, and the owner can also do this using a remote control. In this case, the system will consume only 7 W/sq. m.

The basis of the technology is smart film. This electrochromic product is excellent for use on display glass, can serve as projection glass, and can also be combined with regular glass to reduce the cost of a self-tinting window.

Scheme of work

The smart glass itself is a triplex glass on which PDLC film is applied. For this purpose, glass of different thicknesses can be used, the strength of which is quite high. Such designs can be used even in rooms with high humidity, where there is a high probability of water ingress, for example, bathrooms, kitchens, showers. The window shape can be absolutely any.

Prices

The most commonly found on sale is smart glass tinting with adjustable dimming, the price of which averages $450 per square meter of film. This film is called Smart-film and has an adhesive base. A more expensive analogue is Smart-glass: its price is higher, but this is a different level. You can purchase a ready-made double-glazed window, the cost of which starts at $740 per square meter.

Example of order price for electrically dimming glass

Smart glass: price

The cost varies depending on the option chosen:

• smart glass is installed,
• The smart film is glued to previously installed standard glass.

The price of glass and smart glass film is significantly different: the price of smart glass is higher, the price of film is lower, but the characteristics are also somewhat different.

Examples of the cost of starting glass at manufacturing companies.

* Prices are indicated in conventional units of 1 USD. = 1 €

In addition, the price depends on the choice of tinting method. There are two types:

• Installation of smart glass.
• Gluing smart film to regular glass.

These two materials differ in cost and characteristics. Film is cheaper.

The average cost of such glass is from $800. Many companies offer discounts if you purchase a large volume at once. In order for the system to be controlled and to operate stably, it is necessary to purchase another device - a controller. Compared to the glass itself, it is inexpensive - approximately 8-12 thousand rubles, depending on the manufacturer and the ability to control the system remotely. A controller with a remote control costs on average three thousand rubles more than usual.

Photo

Film price *:

Cost of connection accessories *:

The cost of installing and connecting the film depends on the complexity and volume of work. Check the cost of installation with our specialists!

Features of the technology

Most often you can find SPD technology. Devices created using it have particles suspended in a liquid, deposited on a special film. It is placed between two durable glasses or plastic plates. Under the influence of an electric current, the system begins to absorb light, blocking its penetration through the particles. In the activated state, the glass will be black, less often gray or blue.

Colors of smart films

Color gradation can be controlled manually or automatically. For this purpose, the system is equipped with a control panel. Auto-dimming windows are quite convenient; The brighter the sun outside, the darker they will become. The smart glass switches very quickly, so you will have to wait less than a minute.

Another smart glass technology is LC. It differs from SPD in that in a completely darkened state it can transmit light, maintaining comfortable lighting in the room without additional light sources. This glass can be used both indoors and as external windows.

Examples of using

Smart glass can be used in both outdoor and indoor installations. For example, a huge screen made of smart glass with variable matte serves as a display at the Guinness Storehouse (Dublin). The Nissan Micra CC campaign in London featured four panels of smart glass that were sequentially altered in matte finish to create a striking advertising installation on the streets of the city.

An example of the rational use of usually limited museum space is display cases and partitions that transform into multimedia screens. A project of this type was implemented in the Russian part of the exhibition of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum in Oswiecim, Poland.

Another example of use is a huge glass cube that can extend out of a residential tower building at a height of 88 floors (Eureka Towers, Melbourne, Australia). The cube accommodates 13 people. When it extends 3m, the glass becomes transparent, giving visitors a 275m view of Melbourne.

The main use of smart glass is internal partitions and doors, which many companies use to organize confidential meeting rooms. In the normal state, such rooms are part of the internal space of the office, but, if necessary, serve as a private room. Smart glass performs the same function in hospitals for organizing patient examination rooms. Smart glass is also used in cash register areas of banks, recreation areas and fitting rooms in stores.

The advertising uses street-facing smart glass display cases for presentations and commercials. If necessary, smart glass can become transparent for viewing the interior of a room or displayed samples (clothing, cars, etc.), or matte and used as a projection screen.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner uses electrochromic windows that replace aircraft window shutters. NASA is considering using electrochromic glazing to control temperature on the new Orion and Altair spacecraft.

Smart glass is also used in some small series of cars. For example, the Ferrari 575 M Superamerica has a smart glass roof; the same option is available in Maybach cars.

Smart glass panels, made using special sound-absorbing PVB film, are used for acoustic zoning of premises for various purposes.

Vario Plus Sky tint

Vario plus sky is an exclusive product of the American company AGP, which is a market leader in the production of high-end glass.

The multilayer product has some differences from other polymers:

• almost complete protection from ultraviolet radiation – up to 96%;
• strength reaches 800 J, while conventional products break at 200 J;
• thanks to the multi-stage structure, the thickness and weight of glass is 1.5 times higher than usual;
• There is additional glass heating without visible sources.

The package includes a key fob - a switch with four buttons.

Polymer Liquid Crystal LCD Devices

In polymer liquid crystal devices

, PDLCs or LCDs), liquid crystals are decomposed or dispersed into a liquid polymer; the polymer is then hardened or fixed.

When a polymer transitions from a liquid to a solid state, the liquid crystals become incompatible with the solid polymer and form droplets (inclusions) in the polymer. The fixation conditions affect the droplet size, which in turn leads to changes in the properties of the smart glass.

Typically, a liquid mixture of polymer and liquid crystals is sandwiched between two layers of glass or plastic, with a thin layer of transparent conductive material applied to provide voltage and harden the polymer. This fundamental “sandwich” structure of smart glass is an effective diffuser. The power supply is connected to electrodes made of copper foil with a layer of electrically conductive adhesive in contact with the conductive layer of the film.

Without voltage, the liquid crystals are randomly arranged into droplets, causing parallel rays of light to scatter. The glass has a milky white color.

When power is applied, an electric field between two transparent electrodes on the glass causes the liquid crystals to align, allowing light to pass through the droplets with very little scattering. The glass becomes transparent. The degree of transparency can be controlled by applied voltage. This is possible due to the fact that at low voltages only part of the liquid crystals can be completely aligned in the electric field, and only a small portion of light passes through the glass without distortion, while most of it is scattered. As the voltage increases, fewer crystals are left out of alignment, resulting in less light scattering.

It is also possible to control the amount of light and heat passing through the glass by using dyes and special additional inner layers. It is also possible to create fireproof and anti-radiation versions for use in special devices.

Al Coat Ltd.

(one of the US research centers) demonstrated that the image can be formed in transparent electrodes or in a polymer, allowing the production of screen devices and decorative windows. Most devices offered today operate in ON or OFF states only, although technology to provide varying levels of transparency is readily feasible.

This technology is used for indoor and outdoor privacy control installations (eg meeting rooms, medical intensive care rooms, bathrooms, showers) and for temporary projector screens.

Advantages of smart tinting

• High comfort. This tint makes the room bright, while insulating harmful infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
• Energy saving. The film serves as a good heat insulator, so the effect of a thermos is preserved in the room.
• Increased security. From the street you will not be able to see what is happening inside the premises. Smart windows are highly durable, exceeding the reliability of standard glass.
• Additional insulation is not required when using such windows as stained glass windows.
• The transmittance of light is not tied to the transparency of the glass.
• Liquid crystals are reliably protected by two thick glasses, scratches on which do not affect the operation of the structure in any way.
• Windows can be washed.
• Control is carried out using a remote control or automatically.
• Low power consumption - only 7 W.
• Attractive appearance of glass when switched off.
• Ease of use, quick installation.

Smart windows are an excellent solution for both business and country houses. They will make the interior special, fit perfectly into the concept of a smart home, provide comfort, additional warmth, silence and energy savings. You don’t have to wake up with the sun shining in your face and think about how to separate the space so as not to clutter it. Smart film or glass is an excellent modern solution to many problems that allows you to increase the functionality of windows.

Application area

This property is widely used for tinting cars and is used for windows of business centers, offices, and private households. In the modern world, this technology has become widespread in the so-called smart home. The fact is that it is enough to press one button, and the glass of the building will become opaque, isolating you from the bustle of the street and the curious glances of passers-by.

A smart double-glazed window will help isolate harmful ultraviolet radiation and prevent infrared radiation from entering the room, making your stay in the room comfortable in the summer. Thanks to this property, significant energy savings occur, since cool air remains in the room longer and there is no need to use the air conditioner constantly.

This technology is also convenient for a meeting room. If you need to hold a confidential meeting, tinted glass will help isolate the space, while it will be impenetrable to view from the outside and light enough for people inside.

You can install smart glass in your apartment. They will help get rid of the summer heat and make the room comfortable to live in: if you don’t like curtains, electric tinting can completely replace them, and will be much more effective than any, even the thickest fabric.

The properties of such windows vary depending on lighting conditions and ambient temperature. This happens thanks to special sensors that monitor these conditions.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of electrotinting is the ability to provide transparency when darkening is practically not required. But, as you can see, not all materials and methods allow this.

If this is not so important for the rear of the car, then in the front hemisphere the choice of a certified kit is very limited.

Despite all the advantages of the best systems, none provides complete transparency. This is worth taking into account, since when you find yourself in conditions of limited visibility, every percentage of the view is important.

The disadvantages also include the high price of a quality product. The cost of the kit is about 300 thousand rubles, and cheaper products do not provide safety and legal requirements.

In addition, sudden power failures will make the glazing completely opaque at the most inopportune moment.

What is electronic tint

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Electronic tinting of car windows is a special film consisting entirely of liquid crystals, which involves changing the light transmittance of the glass depending on the lighting. In cloudy weather or at night, you can turn it off altogether, and in bright sunlight, you can adjust the dimming level at your discretion.

Currently there are two installation methods:

1. Smart glasses are installed instead of factory ones. They have a three-layer structure: two outer ones with a tinted film between them.
2. A special film with a tinted effect is glued to car windows and connected to electrical wiring. The throughput depends on the electricity supplied to the film. A voltage regulator is used for adjustment.

Electrochromic film

Smart polymers are capable of changing light transmittance and transparency under the influence of electric current. Energy consumption – from 7W per 1 m2.

The polymer coating is also called “smart tinting”. This is a composite combination of a colorless film and some chemical components. As a result, the optical properties of the glass change. When the cabin temperature or lighting intensity changes, the following factors change:

• transparency of glass;
• coefficient of light transmittance and thermal conductivity.

The use of such tinting can reduce heat loss, as well as the costs of using air conditioning and electricity.