Composite fireproof glass achieves the dual performance of fireproof and light transmission due to its unique multi-layer structural design and the ingenious combination of material science. It is not a simple superposition of a single glass material, but through the synergy of different functional layers, it blocks the spread of heat and flames when a fire occurs, while maintaining the light transmission needs in daily use. This balance of dual performance requires precise control of the entire process from material selection, structural layout to production technology.
The core of its fireproof performance lies in the fireproof interlayer in the middle. This type of interlayer is usually composed of special cementitious materials or polymer materials. It is transparent on weekdays and fits tightly with the glass on both sides without affecting light penetration. When encountering high-temperature flames, the interlayer materials will undergo complex physical and chemical changes, such as rapid expansion to form an insulating foam structure, or consuming heat through endothermic decomposition, phase change, etc., thereby forming an insulating barrier on the glass surface to prevent heat from being transmitted to the other side, while delaying the process of glass softening and breaking due to high temperature, buying time for personnel evacuation and fire control.
The maintenance of light transmission performance depends on the matching of the optical properties of each layer of material. The glass on both sides is mostly made of flat glass with high light transmittance, such as float glass or quartz glass, whose light transmittance is close to the natural light transmission effect. The fireproof interlayer material in the middle needs to have extremely high transparency at room temperature and be close to the refractive index of glass to reduce the refraction and scattering of light when passing through. Even if the interlayer material contains functional particles or components, it will be ensured to be evenly distributed and the particle size is much smaller than the wavelength of visible light through a fine ratio and dispersion process to avoid obvious impact on light transmission, so that the composite fireproof glass looks the same as ordinary glass and meets the lighting needs of the building. The compatibility design between materials is the key to achieving dual performance. The thermal expansion coefficients of glass and interlayer materials need to match each other. If the difference is too large, the interlayer will crack or the glass will break due to stress concentration when the temperature changes, which will not only affect light transmission but also damage the fireproof integrity. For example, when the ambient temperature fluctuates, the glass and the interlayer material expand and contract synchronously to maintain structural stability, avoid defects such as bubbles and delamination that affect light transmission, and ensure that the fireproof interlayer can still be tightly combined with the glass at high temperatures to play a heat-insulating role. This compatibility is not only reflected in a static environment, but also needs to withstand the test of humidity, ultraviolet rays and other factors in daily use to prevent the interlayer material from aging and yellowing or performance degradation.
Precise control in the production process further guarantees the realization of dual performance. In the processing of composite fireproof glass, parameters such as the coating thickness of the interlayer material, the cleanliness of the glass cleaning, and the temperature and pressure during lamination must be strictly controlled. For example, if the interlayer material is coated too thickly, it may cause uneven internal stress, and if it is too thin, it may fail quickly at high temperatures; if impurities remain on the surface of the glass, it will form light transmission defects after lamination or become a weak point in a fire. Through processes such as vacuum lamination or high-temperature and high-pressure curing, the glass and the interlayer material can be closely fitted to reduce internal gaps, which not only ensures the uniformity of light transmission, but also enhances the structural stability during fire prevention.
The balance between fireproof and light transmission performance is also reflected in the targeted design of fire scenes. The expansion rate and heat insulation effect of fireproof interlayer materials at high temperatures need to be coordinated with the heat resistance of glass, ensuring that the expansion process quickly forms an effective barrier, while not causing the glass to break prematurely due to excessive expansion force, so as to find the best balance between the two. At the same time, the light transmission demand requires the interlayer material to be as light and transparent as possible under normal conditions, while the fire protection demand requires it to have a certain thickness and thermal resistance. This seemingly contradictory requirement can be solved through a multi-layer composite structure, such as the use of multiple layers of thin interlayers stacked in a way that meets the fire protection level while minimizing the impact on light transmission.
In essence, the process of composite fireproof glass achieving dual performance is the result of integrating fire protection function and light transmission requirements through material science and structural design. It is neither a barrier that simply pursues fire prevention at the expense of light transmission, nor is it ordinary glass that only considers lighting and ignores safety. Instead, it provides clear light transmission under normal conditions and exhibits reliable fire protection performance in the event of a fire through the functional division of labor and synergy of each layer of material. The organic unity of this "dual attribute" has enabled it to be widely used in the field of building fire protection, making it an important building material that takes into account both safety and aesthetics.
