There's no doubt that glass, used in roofs, canopies, custom skylights, curtain walls, and atriums, is more desirable than ever. The demand for architectural glass has risen steadily over the past five years and, almost without exception, the major manufacturers are expanding their facilities to meet that demand and to gear up for new technology. Europeans still use five times the amount of architectural glass that Americans do. That's thanks to the promotional efforts of the major overseas glass companies, as well as a stronger tradition of using structural glass and more lenient code requirements. But Europe and Asia lag in the development of coatings,'' says Robert Heintges of R. A. Heintges Architects Consultants.
Molten silica is poured onto a bed of molten tin, where it remains until it hardens.
The result is glass that is perfectly flat and clear. Rolling the glass in a semimolten state creates patterns. Introducing various additives to the silica produces colors, tints, and other effects. Cobalt oxide turns glass blue. Cobalt and nickel neutralize other metals and make glass colorless.