Alternative Materials on Glass Coating for Energy Efficient of Buildings

Abstract

As one of the crucial issues in energy-efficient glazing is that most of high
thermal performance glazing allows less transmission of daylight or leads to negative
effects of its reflection or color. Nowadays, Low-emissivity glass has been developed.
Low-e glass is composed of multilayered metal, metal oxide and other materials. Pure
silver is revealed as a layer on low-e glass, butother layers are concealed. This research
aims to present alternative materials on glass coating as a thin film. Stacks of thin film
have been simulated and investigated for its optical properties by using optical thin film
design software. The thickness and number of layers of thin films are varied and
compared to pure silver and other materials. Reflectance and transmittance of those
coatings are calculated. Thin film of purple gold showed reflection and transmission of
visible light slightly less than pure silver, although purple gold thin film allows the
transmission of UV radiation less than pure silver. Furthermore, the transmittance of
visible spectrum of purple gold coating on glass has a lower negative effect on building
users. The limitation of purple gold for this application is costly; however, the results of
this study can be used to gain more benefits from developing an energy saving glass
coating.