Schimmelpenningh Discusses Laminated Glass at IGM/FW

In a seminar presentation yesterday at the IGM/FW show in Boston, Julie Schimmelpenningh of Solutia Inc. talked to attendees about laminated glass, explaining its properties, benefits and applications in which it can be used.

She also gave a timeline of the growth of laminated glass throughout history. Some of the events include the following:

• The 1920s saw the first laminated windshield, but it was not the same material composition as what is available today; at the time a cellulose material was glued to the glass
  
• In 1938 the first PVB windshields were introduced. These had retention characteristics, but not impact performance
  
• By the 1960s laminated glass was being created for architectural safety glazing applications
  
• In 1965 high penetration windshields were adopted in the United States
  
• In 1966 the Consumer Product Safety Commission shot bag test came into effect
  
• In the 1970s the industry began learning about burglary and acoustical capabilities of laminated glass
  
• By the 1980s the industry was learning about blast-resistant glazing
  
• In the 1990s color was added to laminated glass
  
• In 1993 hurricane requirements were adopted
  

As far as the future, Schimmelpenningh says to expect to see more laminated glass customization, including colors, images and metallics.

Hurricane applications were also included in the presentation. She said these applications got started in Dade County in 1994.

"The realization that these products worked has been swift," she said. Now, after this year's hurricanes, which devastated much of the Gulf Coast, Schimmelpenningh said that Louisiana is now looking at statewide legislation to adopt a hurricane building code.

As far as the future of laminated glass, Schimmelpenningh said we can expect to see many of the future applications in which it is used based on energy performance requirements, such as natural daylighting, thermal comfort and climate control.