Vacuum Glazing: How Long Can It Last?
How long can vacuum glazing last for? We explore the science behind the expected 25+ year life span
Exploring the Durability of Vacuum Glazing
When it comes to the longevity of building materials, it’s crucial to consider how different technologies fare over time. Vacuum glazing, with its unique design and sealing mechanisms, offers remarkable durability and performance advantages. Let’s delve into the research and shed light on how long vacuum glazing can be expected to last.
The key to the longevity of vacuum glazing lies in its hermetic seal, which maintains the vacuum between the glass panes. Unlike standard insulating glass units that may experience gradual leakage and moisture ingress, vacuum glazing’s design eliminates these concerns. By employing a glass seal with a matching thermal expansion coefficient, the risk of seal failure is minimized. This specialized glass solder, widely used in industries like electric and display technologies, ensures a reliable and moisture-free seal.
25+ Year Expected Service Life
Another important consideration is the potential outgassing from the internal glass surface, which can affect the unit’s pressure and thermal efficiency. Extensive accelerated aging tests have been conducted, revealing that after 25 years at 30 °C, the pressure increase in a vacuum glazing unit is estimated to be a mere 0.04 Pa. This translates to a minimal degradation of thermal performance, with a U-factor increase of only 0.01 W/m2K, based on a starting U-factor of 1.40 W/m2K. Optimizing manufacturing conditions further mitigates the effects of outgassing, ensuring long-term performance.
It’s worth noting that various durability tests have been successfully conducted on vacuum glazing, instilling confidence in its construction and reliability. As all the key components are based on glass, the likelihood of long-term degradation is low. When manufactured correctly, vacuum glazing proves to be highly resistant to failure under standard operation.
Conclusion
In summary, vacuum glazing offers exceptional longevity and performance, thanks to its robust hermetic seal and careful manufacturing techniques. With few mechanisms for failure and the enduring nature of glass-based components, vacuum glazing provides architects and local authorities with a reliable and durable glazing solution for energy-efficient buildings.
For further reading on the topic, visit this post ‘Properties and performance of vacuum insulated glazing’: https://www.researchgate.net/