How does PDLC smart glass work?
With no applied voltage, the liquid crystals are randomly oriented and scatter the light which enters. When an electrical signal is applied, the liquid crystals orient themselves parallel to each other, allowing light through.
What is the structure of PDLC glass?
PDLC smart glass is composed of :
Outermost panels of normal float glass (or sometimes acrylic) sandwiched around:
Inner panels of optically clear PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate), sandwiched around:
ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) which is a transparent conductor, sandwiched around:
a PDLC core comprised of liquid crystal droplets, suspended in a polymer.
Why is PDLC considered to be smart?
The smartness of PDLCs is a result of its ability to change its transparency (technically called the transmittance) when an electrical stimulus is applied to it. This is normally by way of an alternating voltage, which exerts an alternating electric field across the PDLC material.
Nevertheless, the PDLC is only as smart as the control system which stimulates the change, which can be driven by a push button switch, a light sensor, or a building automation system.
How to make smart glass?
How to make smart glass?
Are the only states of PDLC just ON and OFF?
No, the transmittance (level of transparency) of the PDLC can be varied from 0% in the OFF state up to any value you want until you reach the maximum transmittance (normally 70% or 80%). This is done by simply altering the voltage from 0 VAC up to 70VAC, which is typically the maximum recommended voltage. This can be done electrically with a variable isolating transformer, or electronically with a switched-mode smart glass dimmer.