Optical bonding is most commonly used in commercial and residential windows, doors, curtain walls, and fenestration systems for supermarkets and retail chains.
Optical-bonded safety glass has been widely adopted at airports for the interior glazing of passenger gates. It can also be used to manufacture other types of products such as shower enclosures, for example.
Bonding and Architecture
An untapped area is the world of architectural glass, where architects are beginning to employ optical bonding in creative ways. In addition to bonding different types of glasses together, they can bind thin pieces of glass to plastic sheeting or other materials to form a variety of shapes and sizes.
There are also substrates such as metal, wood, and stone that can be bonded to the glass. Applications for this bonding in the architectural market are limitless.
Optical Adhesive Technology
Most UV-cured adhesives are made from a mixture of epoxy and siloxane monomers (polymer chains comprised of silicon atoms surrounded by oxygen). In most cases, the siloxane content, not the epoxy content, makes these adhesives suitable for optical applications.
Optical-bonded products have been proven for years to be strong and durable because of their superior optical properties as well as the rigidity that comes from using a substrate such as glass.
Getting Creative with Bonding
Creativity and freedom in design are directly affected by the bond between two or more pieces of glass. With this bonding method, you can bend a piece of flat glass into any shape imaginable, even if it is irregularly shaped (like a heart). This is how optical bonding has helped architects attain creativity, flexibility, and freedom in designing their buildings. For more information please visit Insync Peripherals Corporation.