Vetro Power Heat-Shield Glass Protect

Vetro Power Heat-Shield Glass Protect is a transparent heat reflective coating for glass. It is a liquid, applied in a single thin coat directly onto existing glass, where it cures into a clear film that blocks ultraviolet and near-infrared radiation and lets visible light through. Windows, facades, skylights and shopfronts keep their daylight and their view, with less solar heat and less fading coming through the glass.

The coating is solvent-based and is applied and cured in a ventilated space. It does the job that solar control window film and heat reflective window film are bought to do. There is no sheet to cut, no adhesive layer and no edges or joins on the glass. The film forms on the glass and bonds to it through silane-coupling chemistry, so no primer is needed.

How the coating works

Sunlight arriving at a window is made up of ultraviolet, visible light and near-infrared heat. The cured film treats the three differently.

There are no fixed single values for these three figures. Results move by about 5% either way with the glass they are applied to, which is why each is given as a range or an upper limit.

The film is a doped nano material in an acrylic-polysiloxane hybrid binder. It is 5 to 10 microns thick when dry, from a 20 to 60 micron wet coat, with a refractive index of 1.45 to 1.55, which is close to that of glass itself.

A coating instead of window film

Solar control window film, heat reflective window film and sun control film are the usual ways to cut heat and UV through existing glass. Vetro Power Heat-Shield Glass Protect does the same job as a liquid. The table sets out the practical differences.

Where old window film is already on the glass, it is stripped, the adhesive residue removed and the glass degreased before coating. The tools for this are listed further down the page.

Where it is used

The coating goes on existing glass in place, so buildings and vehicles are treated without replacing the glass.

Application

One coat, no primer. The work is in the preparation and in keeping the wet film even.

1. Clean the glass

2. Apply the coating

3. Let it cure

Times at 25 °C and 60% relative humidity. Low temperature and high humidity slow the cure; an IR lamp at 60 to 80 °C brings it to 30 to 60 minutes. Do not wash, wipe or touch the coated glass during the first 48 hours, and allow 7 days before the first cleaning.

Tools for the job

The full application kit is twenty items of ordinary glazing and painting equipment. Disposable items (rollers, applicator foils, mixing cups) are not reused; spray equipment and trays are cleaned immediately after use with butyl acetate or IPA.

1. Glass cleaner pad

2. Squeegee

3. Glass scraper blade

4. Weighing scale

5. Lint-free cotton cloth

6. Masking tape with plastic sheet

7. Paper masking tape

8. 40 mm masking tape (optional)

9. Water spray bottle

10. Aluminium foil

11. Tray

12. Glass rods

13. Cup

14. Roller sponge

15. Roller handle

16. Temperature and humidity meter

17. Bottle refill (optional)

18. Calculator

19. Oil for roller handle

20. Measuring tape

Coverage and packaging

Coverage is theoretical at the recommended single-coat dry film thickness. Actual coverage varies with the substrate, the application method and the operator; allow 10 to 15% extra for spray or roller loss.

Technical data

Values for the liquid coating and the cured film, tested at 25 °C unless stated. Third-party test reports are available on request.

Care of coated glass

Storage, handling and safety

The liquid is solvent-based and flammable (flash point 54 °C): keep it away from open flames, sparks, hot surfaces and other ignition sources and use it only in a well-ventilated area. The cured film is non-flammable. Store in the original, tightly sealed container in a cool, dry, ventilated place at 5 °C to 30 °C, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Do not freeze; keep upright. Once opened, reseal tightly and use within 30 days. Shelf life is 12 months from the date of manufacture in the unopened container.

During application wear safety goggles, nitrile gloves and a respirator with an organic vapour cartridge (P2/A2), and cross-ventilate the work area.

Limitations and warranty

• Not recommended for automotive front windshields; local traffic regulations on visible light transmittance may apply.
• Not a structural or safety glass coating; it provides no impact or shatter resistance.
• Performance reduces if applied below the recommended wet film thickness or if the film is uneven.
• Appearance may be affected if applied over scratched, etched or damaged glass.
• Not designed for continuous immersion or wet-area use, for example pool-side glass below the waterline.
• For tinted, low-E or laminated glass, confirm compatibility with a small patch trial before full application.
• The coating is recommended for application on the inner side of the glass. Expected service life is 15 years and more on inner-side application, and 7 to 10 years on outdoor-exposed surfaces, depending on climate and maintenance.
• A 10-year limited warranty against significant performance degradation applies to inner-side application when the coating is applied as per these guidelines and maintained as recommended. Exterior application carries a warranty of up to 5 years. The warranty does not cover mechanical impact, chemical abuse or improper application.

Frequently asked questions