The new Clear Edge technology for liquid lamination makes it possible to produce laminated safety glass and laminated glasses that are completely transparent all the way to the edge. This application was developed by H.B. Fuller | Kömmerling together with partner TTEC as an extension of Loca (Liquid Optical Clear Adhesives), a process for manufacturing laminated safety glass using cast resin.
Since the Loca glass elements can thus be manufactured completely transparent up to the edge, such safety glass is suitable for use in sophisticated architectural buildings.
What is the difference between Loca and older casting resin processes?
According to the developers, the new Loca elements with Clear Edge combine for the first time the constructive advantages of liquid lamination with a borderless transparent appearance.
Until now, the technique of liquid lamination required a filling chamber between the glasses of the laminated glass element, in which case the edges of the glass are sealed with butyl tape or acrylate tape. This edge seal holds the liquid cast resin securely in the space between the panes during the production process until it has completely hardened. However, the edges of the panes are still visible in such processes, so that it is not possible to produce consistently clear glass without discernible pane edges. In Loca glass with Clear Edge, the pane is completely clear and transparent.
Loca combines stability with a fully transparent look
H.B. Fuller | Kömmerling
According to the developers, the special design properties of Loca laminated glass offer a whole range of advantages: in contrast to conventional laminated glass films, Liquid Optical Clear Adhesives form a chemical bond with the glass surface during curing. In addition, the material itself forms a three-dimensionally cross-linked composite that is characterised by high structural stability even under strong temperature fluctuations and does not splinter even under extreme stress.
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In addition, according to the developers, the composite elements have a significantly lower weight, a smaller package thickness and a better acoustic performance than conventional safety glass. Moreover, the shape of the glass does not play a major role even with clear-edge technology. In principle, three-dimensionally shaped glasses can also be realised.
Due to the passive curing, sensitive electronic components such as LEDs and functional films can also be safely embedded in the polymer intermediate layer of the laminated glasses.
Since the Liquid Optical Clear Adhesives have a very low viscosity during processing, they adapt completely to any surface and thus deliver an optically flawless result.
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H.B. Fuller | Kömmerling
The new process can currently be used to produce laminated glass in sizes up to 3000 × 2000 mm. These safety glasses can be mounted with commercially available fastening systems.
What other goals do the Loca developers have?
H.B. Fuller | Kömmerling would like to involve manufacturers of safety and insulating glass in the process development and train them in such a way that the processors themselves can produce the Loca elements that are exactly right for them.
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The supplier supports glass processors with an extensive test and start-up phase, during which an application engineer is on site until production runs smoothly.
The developers expect that Loca will make it possible to manufacture completely new curved glass products, switchable glass, functional and high-security glass without edge sealants.
For more articles like this one, make sure to have a look at our 2021 Glass Special.
