The Secret of Advanced Architectural Glass is Advanced Sputter Coating Technology

Guardian has invested tremendous resources toward continuous improvement in glass performance in relation to solar heat gain, u-value and other measures. The result is that the specification and use of SunGuard Architectural Glass continues to grow in the commercial construction market. We offer a wide range of products that:

• Can achieve dramatic energy savings
• Will or exceed local Building Regulations energy requirements
• Satisfy different aesthetic and design requirements
• Provide shorter lead times for your projects

The Science of sputter coatingSunGuard offers the best of both worlds, providing our network of independent SunGuard Processors the ability to cut, process, toughen and manufacture insulating glass units, while offering the improved aesthetics and performance characteristics of sputter coated products.

Historically, there have been two ways to apply coatings to glass. During the pyrolitic (on-line) process, the coating is applied during float glass production. The off-line process occurs after the glass has been produced, using a magnetron sputter vacuum deposition coater. In general the latter process offers increased coating options and a broader range of performance options than the pyrolitic process.

To produce Advanced Architectural Glass, Guardian uses only Magnetron Sputter Vacuum Deposition (MSVD). It works at the molecular level to produce outstanding performance and offers significant advantages over pyrolitic (hard) and traditional soft coated glass products. Guardian uses different gases, such as argon, nitrogen or oxygen, which react with different materials to produce thin metallic and dielectric layers in different sequences, resulting in a wide range of coatings and performance characteristics.

The SunGuard advantage over other coatingsSunGuard toughenable coatings can be processed locally by independent SunGuard  Processors, unlike traditional soft coated products, which are often cut and toughened prior to being coated. This limits the processing options and increases the lead times. In short, Guardian SunGuard toughenable coatings have significantly improved the supply chain of commercial glass, providing shorter lead times, enabling fast track project completion and allowing independent SunGuard Processors to stock SunGuard Advanced Architectural Glass.