Optofluidic smart glass response to differential temperature

Abstract

Smart glass, also known as switchable glass, is a technology where light transmission through the glass can be altered or controlled through various methods. There are numerous technologies on the market that are capable of varying the transparency of glass, but they come at a high cost to the consumer. These technologies include, but are not limited to, Electrochromic (EC), Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC), and Suspended Particle Devices (SPD). While these methods are commercially available, their cost greatly exceeds that of Optofluidic Smart Glass (OSG). OSG is the product or process where fluid is used to control or vary light transmittance through the glass. The refractive index of a fluid is matched with that of the glass material in order to achieve transparency. When the refractive indexes are mismatched, the panel appears opaque or frosted, refracting light as opposed to transmitting it. This thesis aims to establish a cheap and efficient manufacturing process, while also displaying the effectiveness of OSG. An experiment was performed to demonstrate the behavior and performance of OSG, specifically monitoring how it responds to varying temperatures. Supplemental research in addition to this experiment, establishes that clarity of “embossed injection molding” panels is not jeopardized over a range of temperatures, in this case 64 F to 72 F. This research demonstrates that OSG is an affordable and viable alternative to other smart glass technologies and can be utilized for a wide array of industry applications.