Pilkington Activ

The worlds first self-cleaning glass with advanced dual action for superior results

A revolution in glass - Self-cleaning glass has been described as an impossible dream. Yet, following an intensive research and development programme by Pilkington - inventors of the universally used float glass process, and the world's leading glass manufacturer - Pilkington Activ does just that.

Its unique dual action uses the forces of nature to help keep the glass free from organic dirt, giving you not only the practical benefit of less cleaning, but also clearer better-looking windows.

This section has been designed to answer all your questions about Pilkington Activ and how it works.

The benefits of Pilkington Activ

• The worlds first self-cleaning glass.
• Saves you time and money , and is safer than cleaning your own windows.
• Unique coating breaks down and loosens even heavy organic soiling.
• Also works even on cloudy days and during the night.
• Can be used in almost any external domestic application - ideal for conservatory windows.
• Will not be worn away or rubbed off under normal conditions - lasts the lifetime of the glazing itself.
• Easily cleaned during dry spells by hosing down or wiping with a soft cloth and warm soapy water.
• Also available - Pilkington Activ Blue, combining self-cleaning properties with solar control performance for conservatory roofs.
• Can be used in conjunction with other Pilkington glass products to provide increased energy efficiency and save on heating bills.
• Created and manufactured by the world's leading glass producer - Pilkington.
• For more information please visit www.pilkington.com/selfcleaningglass

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How Pilkington Activ works

What do you mean by dual action? - The secret of Pilkington Activ lies in its special coating, which works in two stages:

Breaking down organic dirt - Firstly, the coating reacts with ultra-violet (UV) rays from natural daylight to break down and disintegrate organic dirt (see figures 1&2). Organic dirt generally comes from living plants and animals e.g. bird droppings or tree sap, while inorganic dirt comes from other, non-living sources e.g. cement or plaster.

Washing dirt away - The second part of the process happens when water hits the glass. Rain water runs down the glass to wash the loosened dirt (both organic and inorganic) away. Inorganic dirt will only be removed by water (see figure 3). Compared with conventional glass, the water dries very quickly, reducing  unsightly streaks or marks.

How long does the self-cleaning operation take? - Pilkington Activ works continuously, with dirt being washed away whenever it rains.

Does Pilkington Activ work straight away? - After fitting, the coating on the  glass takes about 5 days to activate itself fully.

Will this process work even when the glass is very dirty? - The coating will eventually break down even heavy deposits of organic dirt. However, if the surface  is so dirty that UV light cannot reach the glass, the self-cleaning action  will not take effect. In such cases, clean the glass with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, and in  a few days the process will have re-activated.

What happens if does not rain for some time? - Normally, rainfall will be  enough to keep your windows clean. In dry spells though, your windows can be washed with a soft cloth and warm soapy water or hosed down.

What about cloudy days and at night? - Pilkington Activ needs only a small amount of UV radiation to keep the coating activated - so it works even on   overcast days.

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Figure1: Coating is activated by UV light. After installation the special coating needs 5 - 7 days' exposure to daylight to activate fully.

Figure 2: Organic dirt is broken down. The coating breaks down organic dirt and by doing so, reduces the adherence of inorganic dirt.

Figure 3: Rain washes dirt away. Water droplets spread out to form a 'sheet', dirt particles on the surface are picked up by water and washed off glass - a remarkable difference you can actually see.

Benefits

• Attractive blue colour offers excellent aesthetics and optimum performance
• Excellent solar control performance combined with good light transmission
• Uses daylight and rainwater to break down and wash away organic dirt from the exterior of the glass
• Works even on cloudy days and during the night
• Pilkington Activ coating lasts the lifetime of the glass
• Easily cleaned during dry spells by hosing down
• Low exterior reflection improves aesthetics of the conservatory
• Easily stocked and fabricated into Insulating Glass Units in annealed and toughened forms, ensuring speedy delivery
• Available in 4mm, 6mm and 10mm thickness
• Can be combined with low E glass (Pilkington K Glass or Pilkington Optitherm) for the ultimate roof unit

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