How to improve the sealing life of insulating glass

Abstract: No matter how well an energy-saving window is designed, if the edge of the insulating glass fails to seal properly, the energy-saving benefits are just empty promises. A failed edge seal means the window loses its essential functionality. Not only does the design fail to deliver on energy efficiency, but the exposed air layer also prevents clear visibility through the window.
1. Main factors affecting the long-term performance of insulating glass seals include: (1) the design of the insulating glass, such as the type of spacers and structures used—single-channel or double-channel sealing; (2) the selection and amount of sealant; (3) the choice of desiccant; (4) the type of spacer strip—continuous or four-corner plug-in; (5) the cleanliness of the glass; and (6) the quality of the manufacturing process and worker skills.
2. When selecting spacer strips, two main factors should be considered: (1) the thermal transfer coefficient, and (2) the impact on the sealing life of the insulating glass. From a thermal conductivity perspective, spacers can be categorized into cold edges and warm edges. Cold edges typically refer to traditional aluminum frames, while warm edges use materials or structures that differ from conventional aluminum spacers. For example, in China, some spacers combine a wave-shaped aluminum strip with a desiccant-containing seal. Most spacers currently used in China are aluminum-based, which are cold-edge types and tend to cause condensation or frost at the edges, reducing the overall energy efficiency of the window. Warm-edge spacers are designed to improve the thermal performance of the glass edge by using small amounts of metal or non-metallic materials, or by altering the structure of traditional aluminum spacers. In North America, common warm-edge spacers include SUPER SPACER, SWIGGLE, stainless steel U-shaped spacers (INTERCEPT), reinforced plastic and aluminum enamel strips, fiberglass spacers, and cold-bridge spacers. As energy conservation awareness increases, it's expected that warm-edge spacers will gain more market share in China. According to reports, the share of traditional cold-edge metal spacers in North America dropped from 85% in 1990 to 20% in 1997, while warm-edge spacers rose from 15% to 80% during the same period.
From the perspective of sealing life, there is no direct relationship between warm-edge and cold-edge spacers and their sealing durability. Cold-edge aluminum spacers may have longer life than some warm-edge spacers, and vice versa. The key is to evaluate the spacer itself and how it interacts with other components of the insulating glass.
3. There are two main types of aluminum spacer strips: the traditional four-corner plug-in type and the improved continuous long-tube corner type. The four-corner plug-in type can be further divided into those with and without glue treatment at the joints. Generally, fewer joints result in better sealing performance. A continuous long-tube aluminum frame with only one joint offers significantly better performance than a four-corner joint. However, if the four-corner aluminum frame is glued at the joint, and the continuous long tube is not coated, the sealing performance may not necessarily be better.
Considering that most aluminum spacers used in China, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises, are of the four-corner type, and that continuous long-tube spacers are more expensive to manufacture, the author believes that applying glue at the four-corner joints is a more practical way to enhance the sealing performance of insulating glass.
4. Some warm-edge spacers contain solvents that can decompose and volatilize when temperatures rise, accumulating in the air space of the insulating glass. If the desiccant used cannot absorb these volatile organic compounds, they may condense on the inside of the glass when temperatures drop, forming chemical fog that permanently damages the glass.
To improve energy efficiency, some manufacturers combine low-emissivity (LOW-E) glass with warm-edge spacers. However, the ruthenium in LOW-E glass is highly sensitive to chemical fog, making the effect more visible compared to regular glass. Therefore, when choosing warm-edge spacers, it's important to consider the risk of chemical fog.
5. The construction of insulating glass includes single-channel and double-channel sealing methods, each with its own advantages and limitations depending on the application and environmental conditions.

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