PPG Industries Introduces SunClean Self-Cleaning Glass

    PITTSBURGH--Aug. 27, 2001--Put that bucket away and throw away the squeegee. Just in time for Labor Day weekend, PPG Industries has introduced a labor-saving product homeowners will surely welcome: SunClean self-cleaning glass for residential window applications.
    The revolutionary new glass provides two consumer-valued benefits: windows with SunClean glass are easier to clean and stay cleaner, so homeowners can enjoy a cleaner view with less hassle. A durable, transparent coating on the glass helps break down dirt particles and sheets water so that rain or the light spray of a garden hose can rinse the exterior clean. Additionally, the sheeting action provides minimal spotting for a cleaner appearance.
    SunClean glass is the latest innovation from PPG -- a leading global manufacturer of glass products. PPG has been serving homeowners and the residential construction industry since 1883, with more than 30 years of expertise in glass coatings technology.
    "Over the past four decades, PPG glass products have helped homeowners be safer with tempered glass and stay warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and save on energy costs with our low-E glass products," said Patrick J. Kenny, director of marketing for flat glass products. "Now, we will help make homeowners' lives easier with the introduction of SunClean self-cleaning glass."

    How It Works

    The self-cleaning properties of SunClean glass are made possible by a durable, transparent coating of titanium dioxide (TiO2) applied during the manufacturing process. The application process, patented by PPG, makes the coating an integral part of the glass, providing homeowners with a durable, long-lasting product.
    After a few days of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, the coating becomes energized and provides photocatalytic and hydrophilic properties. The coating and UV light combine to create a photocatalytic action that helps to loosen and dissolve dirt and other organic material. Since UV light is abundant even on cloudy days, this process works non-stop throughout the day, and even remains at work during the night.
    The hydrophilic properties of the glass make water droplets spread out, or sheet, across the surface of the glass. When rain or even the light spray of a garden hose hits the window, the dirt and organic materials are easily washed away. The sheeting action helps the window dry without spotting or streaking like conventional glass.
    "Washing the outside of your windows can now be as easy as watching a rain shower or lightly spraying your windows while watering your flower beds," said Kenny.

    Widespread Availability

    By year end, the glass will be available to makers of wood, vinyl and aluminum windows serving the new construction and remodeling markets. This will allow SunClean glass to be one of the hot new options available to consumers during the spring 2002 construction season.
    "Our widespread customer base of window manufacturers will enable SunClean glass to be a viable option for any homeowner, builder or remodeler this coming spring," said Kenny.

    Top Wish-List Item

    When SunClean glass arrives, it should be a dream-come-true for most homeowners, according to a "Home of the Year" 2000 survey from Better Homes & Gardens magazine. With 85 percent of respondents identifying it as a major problem solver, self-cleaning glass was the No. 1 wish list item taken from an extensive list of fantasy products.
    It was named over other time-saving items such as never-paint house trim, an electronic barrier to keep bugs and pests away while outside, self-cleaning bathroom fixtures, sidewalks that clear themselves of snow and leaves, and no-stain countertops.
    "PPG's work on self-cleaning glass had actually begun long before the Better Homes & Gardens report," said Kenny. "Project development started shortly after a 1997 PPG market research study revealed a host of consumer preferences about window glass, including a desire for lower-maintenance product features. Subsequent product development and extensive market studies over the past two years, including 200 actual in-home field trials this year, have proved the product's viability."