You’ve probably noticed that we use the term ‘self-cleaning glass’ a lot when talking about our range of rooflights – but what does self-cleaning glass mean and how does it work?
What is self-cleaning glass?
Self-cleaning windows have their glass panes treated with a thin coating of the non-toxic chemical titanium oxide, which gives them their ‘self-cleaning’ properties. Titanium oxide is a naturally occurring mineral that is used as a flavouring and preservative in several foods, as well as used to whiten paint and in some sun creams as an effective UV barrier.
How self-cleaning glass works
The first thing to understand about self-cleaning glass is that it doesn’t literally clean itself; instead, it works through a two-stage process: photocatalytic (light-activated) and hydrophilic (water-effected). We’ll get into these in further detail below.
Photocatalytic (light-activated)
Stage one of the self-cleaning process involves the photocatalytic stage. During this stage, UV light from the sun comes into contact with the titanium oxide coating, causing a chemical reaction that effectively breaks down any dirt particles on the surface of the glass. This in turn makes the dirt particles much easier to wash away.
Hydrophilic (water-effected)
The second stage is the hydrophilic stage. Rather than forming droplets like it would on untreated glass, rainwater spreads across the surface of self-cleaning glass like a sheet. This means that dirt particles, which have already been loosened during stage one, are much more easily captured and washed off the glass. The result? You effectively have a rooflight that keeps itself free from mould and dirt!
If you have any further enquiries regarding our self-cleaning rooflights, don’t hesitate to get in touch today on 01202 802111 – Browse our rooflights today!
