An experimental study was conducted to assess the serviceability and, to a lesser extent, the structural behaviour of solar-coated architectural laminated glass under accelerated weathering conditions. Specimens were 12 in. by 12 in. (305mm by 305mm) and included laminated glass specimens with a low-emissivity, metallic solar coating on one glass surface (next to the polyvinyl butyral inter-layer), as well as uncoated laminated glass specimens and monolithic glass specimens as controls. Accelerated weathering was performed in a manner similar to the provisions of ASTM E773-88 and E774-92 (ASTM 1994a, 1994b). Visual observations, nondestructive flexural bending stiffness tests, ball drop impact testing, and spectroscopic reflectance and transmittance measurements in the visible and near infrared wavelength ranges were used to compare the relative performance of the solar-coated laminated glass to that of the uncoated and monolithic control groups. Results indicated that the presence of this metallic coating had no significant detrimental effect on either the serviceability performance or the structural behaviour of the solar-coated laminated glass specimens as compared to the uncoated laminated glass specimens. However, both types of laminated glass specimens showed observable, but not serious, degradation effects due to the imposed accelerated weathering conditions.

KEYWORDS: year 1995, performance, solar control films, glazing, deteriorating, weather, durability, service life, comparing, experiment, laminated glass, climate chambers, exposure