What Is Low Iron Smart Glass?

Architects and designers work with glass in nearly every project. Nowadays, glass is one of the most versatile building materials available and innovative products such as smart glass are overcoming the design limitations of regular glass.

Smart glass goes from clear to frosted when powered on and off, providing instant privacy and making it easy to design multifunctional, transitional spaces. However, we often get asked about the ‘milkiness’ of switchable glass products. Indeed, smart glass and smart film do come with a small degree of haze, though this haze factor varies greatly from company to company. That’s why our product research department has taken care to minimize the haze factor of our smart glass products. 

When powered on, smart glass looks clear and displays optimal clarity under normal lighting conditions such as natural light or ambient light. However, uneven artificial lighting or light sources placed directly next to the glass can make the glass look hazy. This effect can also look more exaggerated when the glass is viewed from severe angles, though this is less noticeable. These factors do not favor visible light transmission and should be taken into consideration when designing with smart glass. 

In cases where the clarity of the glass is a concern, you may want to opt for Low Iron Smart Glass, aka Starphire Glass. Low iron glass has reduced iron content which increases light transmission. 

The Difference Between Low Iron Glass and Clear Glass

Regular clear glass is made with a formula that contains a high amount of iron. The presence of this iron gives the glass a distinctive green tint, especially along exposed edges. This makes clear glass a less desirable option for backlit applications where this greenish may not be compatible with color schemes. 

For optimal clarity, professionals choose low iron glass. Also known as Starphire Glass, low iron glass has a reduced iron content which greatly increases light transmission. The formula used to create low iron glass creates significantly less iron with a ferric oxide content of just 0.01 percent. This is accomplished by using low iron silica sand. though it is impossible to avoid any iron content whatsoever. Low iron glass has only the slightest tinge of blue and is much more neutral with clear edges. 

Why Low Iron Smart Glass?

Our Low Iron Smart Glass offers all the benefits of standard glass and smart glass with increased clarity. It is clear to the edge, regardless of the size of the glass or its thickness and doesn’t sacrifice any strength or performance. Our low iron privacy glass only costs ten percent more than our regular smart glass and provides extraordinary value. 

Here are some of the additional benefits of choosing smart privacy glass:

Smart glass is laminated and tempered safety glass that acts as a barrier against forced entry. 

Smart glass has soundproofing properties that reduce noise at no additional cost. 

Our switchable glass products are completely customizable and any type of glass can be made switchable whether it is curved or irregularly shaped. 

Smart glass blocks 99% of UV and IR light when opaque, reducing heat transfer and minimizing cooling costs.

The Difference Is Clear

No matter what the application, architects, designers and homeowners have lots of options when it comes to enhancing exterior facades or interior glass features. Enjoy true transparency and distraction free views through any glass surface without any compromise on privacy. Contact us to purchase low iron smart glass today.