UV-impermeable glass for art collections

UV radiation is only one part of the solar spectrum. UV, visible light and infrared rays differ in their wavelengths. The shorter the wavelength of the radiation, the more energetic it is. UV radiation is the most energetic part of the solar spectrum. To stop it, a special UV-impermeable glass is needed. SILATEC glass with UV protection.

While the human eye only perceives the visible range, UV radiation in particular has a high energetic effect on materials and biological structures. The shorter the wavelength, the higher the energy - and the greater the potential for damage.

During his time in Arles, Vincent van Gogh deliberately worked in natural daylight. In his letters, he describes that he painted from sunrise in order to depict colors and contrasts as they are perceived in natural light. Works such as the "Sunflowers" were created under these conditions in the south of France and show how strongly daylight influences color rendering and depth effects.

Example - "Sunflowers" (1888-1889, Arles, France)

• Painted in the South of France (Arles)
• Created in direct relation to natural sunlight
• Van Gogh himself describes the series as a color experiment under daylight conditions
• Aim: to show colors as they are perceived by the human eye in natural light. It is therefore important that the color neutrality of the glass panes is guaranteed and that the light in the visible range is transmitted in the full spectrum.

Art is created in daylight
Vincent van Gogh consciously worked in natural daylight during his time in Arles and painted from sunrise onwards in order to perceive colors and contrasts as they appear in real light.

Natural color rendering is crucial
Works such as the "Sunflowers" were created in daylight in the south of France. Their presentation requires glass that transmits visible light evenly without significantly altering the perception of color.

UV components should be blocked out
In addition to visible light, daylight also contains UV radiation, which can damage colors and materials in the long term. UV-impermeable glass from SILATEC specifically blocks out this component without fundamentally reducing daylight. (Transmission factor 0.^000*5 for SILATEC Secura P6B, for example)

Protection and perception in balance
SILATEC combines UV protection for art collections with a clear, color-neutral lighting effect - an important prerequisite for displaying art in daylight and preserving it permanently at the same time.

"Daylight: The best thing for art. And the worst."

Natural daylight is considered unsurpassed for viewing art. Because it corresponds to the almost ideal, color-neutral white light, art can be perceived unadulterated. In all the color aspects desired by the artist, such as shine, optical depth effect, as well as rich and bright colors.

However, natural daylight through window glass can also ruin works of art. Irretrievably. Color pigments can fade or chalk out. This is precisely where UV-impermeable glass plays an increasingly important role.

When UV light passes through glass panes or windows that do not offer UV protection, photochemical degradation processes can be set in motion. In the worst-case scenario, these high-energy photons can damage art collections.

The most suitable method for assessing glazing is transmission measurement. This shows how much radiation is transmitted by the glazing at the corresponding wavelength. Of particular interest is the visible range from 380 nm to 780 nm as well as the adjacent UV (< 380 nm) and IR range (> 780 nm), especially when evaluating UV-impermeable glass. The transmission curve can be used to assess whether and how the glazing stops UV radiation. In the visible wavelength range, the light transmission can be read off and whether individual colors are filtered more or less.

Curve discussion: The following diagram of the transmission spectrum using the example of SILATEC "Secura" P6B/EH1 mono shows the transmission curve of a burglar-resistant pane with UV protection glass. The curve shows no transmission in the UV radiation range. The transmission values up to the end of the UV range, namely up to 380 nm, are close to 0 (transmittance 0.000*5^{according to} DIN EN 410:2011)

The light transmission is very high in the entire visible wave range, i.e. a lot of light is transmitted. In the ultraviolet radiation range, the transmission spectrum shows no transmission at all. Certain SILATEC safety glass with the UV protection option is virtually impermeable to UV rays. The steep absorption edge at the boundary between the UV and visible range should also be emphasized. The curve goes almost vertically from 0 % to maximum transmission.

Conclusion: This gives the panes high-quality UV protection combined with outstanding color neutrality.

The UV transmittance τUV according to DIN EN 410:2011 of the laminate glass sample P6B mono unirradiated is τUV = 0.000, rounded to three significant digits. In the wavelength range 200 nm - 380 nm, the laminate glass sample P6B mono unirradiated has a transmittance of τ ! 0.02%.

The UV transmittance τUV according to DIN EN 410:2011 of the laminate glass sample P6B mono irradiated is τUV = 0.000 rounded to three significant digits. In the wavelength range 200 nm - 380 nm, the laminate glass sample P6B mono irradiated has a transmittance of τ ! 0.005%.

(Test report | Expert opinion 2023-02A)

Note:
The following FAQs answer general questions about UV-impermeable glass and safety glass. However, specific questions on the subject of UV protection are often complex and require more detailed explanations, as requirements can vary greatly depending on the application. For an individual assessment of glass with UV protection, we therefore recommend a personal safety consultation.