I. Introduction

　　The main feature is the traditional architectural glass cover wind, rain and lighting , although decoration within their means , as architectural glass single species, poor performance , despite its decorative properties , but not significantly ; its functions except cover wind and rain , finds it difficult to study its twenty-three . The invention of the float process , marking the birth of modern architectural glass , the emergence of various deep-processing glass products , has greatly enriched the modern architectural glass family . Its development along two main lines: one is rich in architectural glass decorative properties ; second is to increase the use of architectural glass features . Today's architectural decorative glass is its centralized performance and use functions to meet people decorative effects on buildings , energy efficiency and comfort requirements pursuit of continuous improvement .

　　Second, the decorative properties

　　It was first manufactured as glass ornaments , artwork, such as ornaments, decorations, at the time was extremely valuable . In addition to the glass for buildings to meet the functional requirements of its buildings , but has been linked with art. Each building is a work of art , are embodied creative architects , architect design reproduced , reflects the architect advocate for the arts , the pursuit of beauty . Architectural glass is the refractive vision is preferably achieved architect material because no kind of material as much as having a glass properties, such as glass, translucent , transparent glass , translucent glass , and the glass , reflective , multicolor glass luster of the glass , the glass surface of the glass pattern diversity , diversity in the shape of a glass , glass diversity mounting structure . Moreover, the decorative properties of the glass are active , dynamic , life is full of vitality . It coincides with the sun , make buildings colorful , brilliant shine on people . It coincides with the moon , make a faint glow of buildings , full of mystery. It coincides with the lights , make buildings such as palaces of heaven , but also to make it bizarre ; make room cozy and peaceful , but also to make it cold yo . What kind of material do not have so much magic , no kind of material allows architects so handy. It is a color, type , light in one , we can say there is no architectural glass , there is no modern buildings , it is a contemporary building materials "lucky ."

　　1 translucent glass

　　Generally the glass is transparent, translucent glass reference is often mistaken for transparency. In fact, the light-transmitting glass and transparency are two different concepts , light is not necessarily transparent . Glass was first made ​​on only translucent and opaque , which is determined by the time production techniques and processes decisions. At that time, the glass melting temperature is low , so there is a large number of unmelted particles of impurities in the glass , the glass particles in the light scattering due to impurities in the glass leaving only the transparent and opaque . Meanwhile , when the glass production process is the extrusion of molten glass into a glass casting , the surface irregularities of the glass , causing light scattering , is another cause of the transparent glass opaque . Today, modern technology and production process are pure and transparent glass , in order to produce only translucent and opaque glass must be taken to a special production process , such as calendaring , frosted law.

　　Translucent glass with excellent decorative effect, the application of translucent glass , make the room light and soft, quiet and warm. Indoor lighting is too strong can irritate the human eye , people restless . Application of translucent glass to eliminate these negative factors , while increasing the building covert. For example with embossed decorative glass bathroom doors and windows , not only blocking the line of sight of the outside world , but also beautify the bathroom environment. With frosted glass for interior partitions , saving interior space , and it looks magnificent. Decorated with translucent glass interior hallway window , revealing a hint of delicate soft , hazy full of mystery . We can say that modern buildings are increasingly using translucent glass.

　　2 of transparent glass

　　Glass mentioned , people immediately think of transparent glass the light of nature is the introduction of buildings. Looking around us, modern building , the greater the more open or windows , glass doors, windows, and even entire wall is that the glass curtain wall of glass. Application amount of architectural glass in the construction of more and more , it is the application of the transparency of the glass , the quest is bright. As one of the pioneers of modern architecture - Lu . Keerbisi said : " historic building is bright and hard work in pursuit of history is the history of the transformation of the window ." Say is the role of transparent glass in modern buildings.

　　Another aspect , from the history of the glass can also be seen in people's tireless pursuit of glass transparency . As mentioned above, the first people to manufacture glass is translucent and opaque only one of the reasons is a very rough surface made ​​of glass , uneven . Later, in order to increase the transparency of the glass, people spend great efforts to the two surfaces of glass grinding , polishing , but it can only get semi-translucent translucent glass , it also makes people ecstatic , because it makes people's architecture transparent , and it is not only the light of nature to introduce our construction , will also lead the people's attention from the indoor to the outdoor show in front of people 's windows to restore the true meaning of the window . With the advances in industrial technology , people invented the production of flat glass Rafah , cited the law , glass has become increasingly pure, more transparent , transparency modern float glass production technology has reached the glass the extreme. In a sense it can be said , is the pursuit of the development of the history of glass glass of pure , transparent history.

　　Transparent glass not only to the people to create a bright light environment , and gave rise to a vision of transparent, extended integration of space, both inside and outside the building , so that people have a body in the bedroom , but feel bathed in nature. This is no other building material can not be replaced.

　　3 translucency of the glass

　　Translucency of the glass is the one-way transparent glass , i.e. the glass is transparent from the one direction , one direction from the other is opaque . Consciousness can not imagine people had to invent translucent glass , it should be said that it is the natural result of heat-reflective coated glass was invented generated . People for the construction of energy-saving heat-reflective coated glass invented , because of its high reflectivity coating surface , generally up to 20-40 % , so from coated glass watch face , only to see the reflected image of the glass surface , and see transmitting the image behind the glass , because the light intensity of the transmitted light image is much lower than the intensity of the reflected image , i.e., the transmission image is hidden in the reflective image , i.e., for the coated glass from the watch glass is opaque. Heat-reflective coated glass is generally one-sided coating, Reflectance ordinary uncoated glass surface is the same, only about 4% of its uncoated surface reflection light intensity ratio of the image transmission image of the light intensity behind the glass low , people see the main image is transmitted to the rear glass , glass that is never viewed facing the coated glass is transparent .

　　Translucent glass building is in close contact with heat-reflective coated glass together , and heat-reflective glass coating is the most widely used glass walls . Translucent glass shielding the building outside of sight, people inside the building can be outward looking , that is, for people inside the building , the glass is transparent characteristics. But people who can not see outside the building inside . This not only increases the concealment of the building, to avoid the building where people were exposed in the public eye being , but also cover the structure of the building , such as stairs , floors , pipes, lines, etc. , making the building beautiful and flawless.

　　When the light intensity is lower than the outdoor light intensity indoors , such as at night interior lights, the interior of the scene clearly revealing outdoors.

　　4 of refraction of the glass

　　In architectural applications refraction glass is rare , but should be aware of them , understand. If the application of glass properly, it has a negative impact on the building is very common . Today, on the surface of glass in the building has turned a blind eye , as any of the following situations occur will cause the glass to refract light optical distortion , distortion from indoor to outdoor scenes look , resulting in the loss of architectural beauty and visual discomfort . One case : when the curved glass production quality problems, not in the same glass surface, there are uneven areas. While not affect the installation and use, even without the impact strength of glass , but will cause the glass to refract light to produce optical distortion . The two situations : curved glass is a multi- curvature surface, can also cause the glass to refract light to produce optical distortion . Therefore, the application window or as a curved glass curtain wall , you should pay attention to the refraction of the glass may be adversely affected.

　　5 reflective glass

　　Initially applied in the construction reflective mirror glass refers to glass , it was discovered that the mirror glass mirror in addition to meet people 's needs in life beyond , with its interior decoration can produce unexpected results , as it gives the visual bring space is expanded sense , make space bright ; and lighting with , make the room becomes bizarre, even terror. Due to the high reflectivity of the mirror glass , so they can not be used in exterior construction , and can only be used in the interior construction , and where the application of the amount of its application has been greatly restricted.

　　In a large number of applications architecture reflective glass begins to generate heat reflective coated glass . One of the aims was invented heat-reflective coated glass for energy-efficient buildings , in order to reduce the shading coefficient of the glass. The purpose of the two heat- reflective glass coating invention is to aesthetics, because the heat -reflective glass in various colors , such as brown , silver, white, silver , green, blue, gold , yellow and so on. Not heat reflecting glass color , the reflectivity is higher than ordinary glass , typically between 10% -50 % , and therefore can be described as heat- reflecting glass translucent glass . Today, a large amount of thermal emission glass used in construction, such as building doors, windows, especially the walls, it can be said in the heat-reflective glass curtain wall of glass is the highest level reflective applications. It makes building blocks of colorful , high reflectivity across the street buildings reflection on the building , described King in the King .

　　Reflective glass in the application should be limited to a reasonable extent , can not blindly pursue high reflectivity. Some of the glass curtain wall reflectivity is very high, with the surrounding buildings and streets and uncoordinated , the building itself is a dazzling addition to bright , beauty, others have gone. Reflectivity is too high, not only destroyed the building 's beauty and harmony , and will result in " light pollution ." In recent years, scholars have made ​​a lot of discussion in this regard , made ​​a number of criticisms and suggestions , some " light pollution" of the building also caused serious litigation . Solve the " light pollution" approach is designed in accordance with the appropriate technical regulations glass curtain wall , limiting the "light pollution" flooding, scientific and rational application of reflective glass .

　　6 multicolor glass

　　Are made ​​of glass with a first color , a large amount of time since the colored impurities contained in the glass . How decolorized glass , which was made ​​of pure transparent glass throughout history . Even today , this issue is not completely resolved, such as ordinary float glass still with a touch of green, because the glass contains an excess of iron, continue to remove the iron glass high cost of technology is difficult , at present France, the United States and China have been able to produce ultra-white glass is completely colorless .

　　Although ordinary float glass with a hint of green, but not enough to use as a chroma colored glass , use only as a colorless glass. Colored glass must be used in order to apply special techniques and processes, such as tinted glass , coated glass, glazed glass , stained glass , foil and glass. Color can be described as red , orange, yellow, green , clear , blue, purple , and both have . Today's building colorful, styles, glass multicolor applications can be described as its exclusive power . The color of the glass is like a painter in the hands of pigment , leaving the architect creative applications. Modern buildings are all fully play multi-colored glass , such as the various colors of glass doors , windows, walls , etc., especially in multi-colored glass in the interior has been brought in to play , such as stained glass panels, stained glass screens, stained glass painting , stained glass roof , stained glass bar cabinet. We can say that it is multi-colored glass of the building 's interior and exterior decoration of colorful, colorful, multicolor glass is left to the architect to create endless space .

　　7 bright glass

　　Float glass and float glass for the original film to the glass deep-processing products, such as tempered glass, laminated glass , insulating glass, coated glass , float glass through fire because the cast in the production process , so its surface is very smooth bright , even close to the optical plane. The properties of the glass used herein means a bright glass and not effect the performance of the light , such as reflection and transmission of the glass , but to the appearance of the surface of the glass gives the visual effect. The bright decorative glass feature is smooth, flat , clean, especially for large- area glass curtain wall , which was particularly prominent . Not only is the polished marble , aluminum plate , tensioned film can not be comparable with the light phase of the glass , not to mention a common stone or concrete . The entire surface of the glass curtain wall construction is like working out with crystal works of art , standing in the street, lake , mainly glass glittering performance. Today, a modern glass curtain wall blocks are springing up , glass walls so bright play an important role by architect blue charm , glass , and this in the past performance evaluation decorative glass is often overlooked , is concealed in a glass reflective or transmissive into the.

　　8 glass surface pattern diversity

　　Frosted glass, sandblasted glass , stained glass in particular , is extremely rich surface patterns , from simple geometric shapes , flowers , landscapes , animals, the people, ladies , indeed everything . Glass seems to be the designer's drawing board , as it saw fit , any of its creation. Glass surface pattern diversity is mainly used in interior architecture, such as partitions, screens , interior doors , interior windows, zenith , decorative paintings. Glass surface pattern diversity has many advantages, first , it sets the application of functional and decorative glass effects in one, has been adopted by more and more interior . If the performance of the other properties of the glass decorative light resistance, formability , color, pattern glass, glass diversity is manifested in a glass "flower " nature , its architectural decorative effects are the finishing touch. Second, indoor decorative glass eco-friendly . Since the inorganic material is glass , without releasing any harmful gas . Third, the pattern of the surface of the glass is always constant and always fresh as ever. Be used for exterior doors , windows, afraid of wind and rain, sun . Because the glass surface or the pattern engraved on the ground glass , or the glaze on the second sintering at high temperature glass, which has the same pattern and the chemical durability of the glass .

　　9 glass shape diversity

　　A glass plate, a planar shape may be square, rectangular , triangular , circularity , ellipticity , freeform , etc. ; the spatial shape of the surface may be single , double curved , spherical , etc. ; planar shape and the shape of the space can be generated for each combination of shapes . The building itself is a kind of art , is the spatial structure of art , so the shape of the diversity of forms of glass shape and structure of the building provides a flexible means of .

　　10 diversity. Glass installation structure

　　Mounting structure there are many kinds of glass , can be divided into two categories, namely, framed and frameless installation installation . There are more traditional frame installation , the earliest wooden frame , and later developed into a steel frame , aluminum frame , steel frame and so on. The historic wooden frame application , the advantage is simple and elegant, with friendly people , with a wooden frame installation gives intimacy, warmth . One drawback is the connection relatively old wooden frame and glass is generally used putty , poor appearance , and the strength is low. The second disadvantage is the low strength of wood , wood-framed generally can not install a large plate surface , thick glass. The disadvantage of the three timber weather is bad, wooden frame shorter life . The disadvantage of the four wood is a natural material , with limited resources. So mostly limited to interior decoration wooden frame , rarely used outdoors. Following the invention of the steel frame wood frame , steel frame drawback is that the appearance of roughness , poor air tightness , has now been replaced by aluminum frame and steel frame . Aluminum frame and steel frame has advantages and disadvantages , aluminum frame beautiful appearance , good weather , no aging, but poor air tightness , high thermal conductivity . No steel frame aluminum frame and beautiful appearance , weather is bad, there are aging, but good air tightness , low thermal conductivity . There are two main sections frame is installed , the general window installation using more steel , there are boxes generally use aluminum curtain wall installation . In recent years, the development of aluminum-clad wood-framed timber application is very popular , it focused on the advantages of wood and aluminum , aluminum outside, including wood , inside and outside decorative effect is superb . Excellent insulation properties currently developing applications insulation of aluminum alloy , applied more widely , the energy saving effect is remarkable. Decorative frame features a box is installed and the wall of the glass transition , avoiding abrupt direct connection between the glass and the wall , and the box itself is a means to express the art of architecture , especially for a framed glass curtain wall , with the box to refine the performance of the building structure , reflecting the local echo is consistent with the overall harmonious relationship .

　　There are also many kinds of frameless installation , hanging generally used in hotels, restaurants walls of the first floor , you can hang the size of a very large glass. Frameless glass door is particularly suitable for installation in public buildings , as frameless glass doors can be installed inward and outward opening . Hidden frame glass curtain wall is divided into semi-implicit and fully implicit , is particularly suitable for translucent glass walls that coated glass curtain wall . Point-supported glass curtain wall is particularly suitable for transparent glass curtain wall, because the metal structure point supported glass curtain wall itself is a landscape. Hidden frame glass curtain wall structural adhesive through the glass directly bonded to the building structure, the other is through hardware installation frameless glass and architectural structures connected. Frameless installation of decorative features are fully embodies the glass translucent , transparency and reflectivity , etc. , and more emphasis on the integrity of the building.

　　In summary , colorful glass itself , but also a variety of decorative properties of the glass , some of these properties are independent of each other and some are linked . Should therefore apply architectural glass out a comprehensive consideration of decorative glass , to achieve the best , the most beautiful effect.

　　Three functional

　　The main feature is the traditional architectural glass cover wind, rain and lighting , along with the glass used in building envelop increasing the size of the architectural glass optical properties, thermal properties and acoustic performance requirements emerged. Today, the optical properties of architectural glass , thermal performance and insulation performance compared with traditional architectural glass, has been different.

　　1 optical performance

　　Due to the small area of ​​the traditional use of architectural glass , to enhance the interior with natural light , it is possible to pursue high transmittance glass . The use of larger glass modern building , transparency and better still used as high transmittance glass , will cause indoor sun light is too strong , there dazzling glare , people very uncomfortable . Especially in public buildings, the widespread use of computer office , indoor solar light is too strong , it will affect the people watching the computer screen . Meanwhile , high transmittance glass , shading coefficient is high, energy consumption will increase indoor air conditioning in summer . Thus architectural glass visible light transmittance of 50% -60 % is appropriate , too low, too high is not good. Reduce building glass There are several ways , such as using tinted glass, coated glass. Such as the use of solar control coated glass may cause excessive outdoor visible light reflectance , there should not be any harmful reflected light , and therefore visible reflectance outdoor architectural glass should be controlled within 30% , and some buildings should be controlled below 16% .

　　2 thermal performance

　　In other countries, stressed that building energy-saving nearly a hundred years of history, the early twentieth century have begun to use hollow glass in Europe. In China, stressed that building energy efficiency is a few years ago . China's energy consumption is very great , and the country's total energy consumption of building energy consumption accounts for 1/4-1/3 . To achieve national strategic energy conservation and environmental protection , the implementation of building energy efficiency is imperative. The number of public buildings , large -scale buildings , enormous energy , waste is also very serious. In the annual energy consumption of public buildings , about 50% -60 % is consumed in air conditioning, refrigeration and heating systems , and in this part of the energy consumption , about 20% -50 % is consumed by the external structure of heat transfer , which cold regions is about 50% , about 40% in cold areas , hot summer and cold winter area is about 35% , subtropical region of about 20 %. Throughout the building envelope , the heat transfer through the glass envelope is much higher than the other . In modern buildings , the large area of glass has become a trend in the glass walls and windows , the glass area and compare accounting control box timber status , is the main part of the glass curtain wall and window heat transfer , and therefore how to properly choose the design of glass , making energy loss through the glass to a minimum , consistent with national energy-saving design requirements, architectural design is an important issue that must be addressed .

　　Glass is a transparent material , its thermal performance is characterized by two parameters , one is the heat transfer coefficient U value , the second is the shading coefficient Sc. Purely from the energy point of view, the heat transfer coefficient of the glass as low as possible , the best moderate shading coefficient . To achieve this purpose , can be ordinary insulating glass , low-e insulating glass , vacuum glass. Today is such a rich variety of glass , using a variety of configurations superimposed meet any energy requirements .

　　3 . Acoustic performance

　　The quality of sound insulation performance of buildings is to evaluate one important indicator of its comfort . Because the glass is very thin relative to the wall , the sound insulation performance of the building and therefore is the weak link . Increase the thickness of the glass , hollow glass , using laminated glass, laminated insulating glass can even increase the use of sound insulation performance of the glass.

　　In addition to optical performance, thermal performance and sound insulation properties, and some glass also has a fire resistance , electromagnetic shielding, anti-static properties. Can predict the future with the continuous improvement of glass production technology , will give the glass more features to satisfy people's need for the building.