Electric privacy glass

jbripps · jbripps's Garage

Hi there,

Was wondering if anyone has any experience in using the electric privacy glass. It is laminated and can go from clear to opaque or clouded with the flip of a switch. It's pretty amazing, but I can't seem to find out much about ordering it online. I would like to install a few of these windows in my home, but not sure how expensive it is.

Any input is appreciated.

Regards,

RickM · RickM's Garage

Edmond Scientific / Optics used to sell it...but it was hella expensive.
I had seen in in a print catalog but never online.

Here's some info: http://www.glassresource.com/sub/special/privacy.htm

Joeaksa · 08-08-2005, 06:03 AM

Saw it on a CSI episode but thats about it. Also heard that its expensive and hope that it comes down on price.

JoeA

304065 · 08-08-2005, 06:49 AM

They actually have installed it in the restrooms at some hipster bar downtown. You enter the stall, and are shocked that the door is transparent. But once you lock the door, the door goes opaque.

Of course, the bouncers are constantly troubled by patrons asking what the hell is going on with the clear glass doors that allow the entire joint to view what's happening.

xlr8 · 08-08-2005, 07:58 AM

Another link

Evans, Marv · 08-08-2005, 08:04 AM

This is interesting. In the article on the link, they quote a cost of $161.00 per sq. meter, which isn't too bad. I wonder if something like this would qualify for some subsidy under the new government energy policy to offset some of the cost.

campbellcj · 08-08-2005, 10:12 PM

I've only seen it applied in a large (and I mean large, like glass 'walls') fashion once but it was way cool. This was approx a $25mil house... I assume the price has come down a bit since then and actually I have a couple skylights and windows in my house where I would love to have something that could go from lightly/not tinted to nearly opaque.

M.D. Holloway · 08-08-2005, 10:27 PM

I really don't know why it would be so expensive. We made something similar in grad school using liquid crystalline polymers that wern't that expensive. The electric current allowed an orientation that swithched the aligment from random amorphous to linier crystaline. I also think it could be done with a some various types of organo-metallic polymers held in suspension using a collodial aproch. Must be a patent thing or something.

MFAFF · 08-08-2005, 10:40 PM

Be careful however of which indows you use it in... as its not very tranparent when clear...more a slightly smeared appearance, as if its always dirty...

It can work great on internal glass walls where you never get lots of light thro it... like dayligth and direct sunlight, but as soon as you put in those areas you see all the defects in the glass and the laminate layer...not good.