Jan 12 2010
Solutia Inc. (NYSE: SOA), the world leader in the production and sale of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers, today announced that the company's Saflex(R) SilentGlass Technology(TM) product was awarded first place, significant glass component category by USGlass Magazine in its annual "Product of the Year" Contest.
Sound enters buildings through the path of least resistance - usually the windows. Saflex SilentGlass Technology is a proprietary, advanced acoustical interlayer system designed to dampen noise and decrease sound transmission of perceived noise. Saflex SilentGlass Technology combines three interlayers which are designed to decouple and disseminate sound waves for state-of-the-art sound dampening performance. The heart of this patent pending product is an advanced acoustical interlayer that transforms sound energy into heat energy, which then easily and quietly dissipates. The technology targets sound in the 1,000 to 3,000 Hz range, which is the "noise transparency" range that lets most of the noise through. This range of noise includes irritating sounds like car horns, barking dogs, amplified music and aircraft.
"We asked our glazing contractor and retail subscribers to vote for their favorite products. Our readers selected SilentGlass technology as the most significant glass component introduced in 2009," says Megan Headley, editor of USGlass Magazine. All of the products featured in USGlass Magazine's Guide to New Products and product showcase departments were entered into this year's competition. USGlass is the largest and most widely circulated architectural glass magazine in the world.
"We are honored to accept this award. As urban density continues to increase, so will the need for products and technologies to mitigate irritating noises, we developed Saflex SilentGlass Technology to meet that need," says Aimee Davis, market manager for the Americas, Saflex.
"Utilizing Saflex's SilentGlass Technology in a window system can result in a reduction of up to 10 decibels in the 'transparent' frequency. This equates to up to a 50 percent reduction in perceived sound," says Julie Schimmelpenningh, applications manager, Saflex. "These noise-dampening characteristics make Saflex SilentGlass Technology an ideal solution for projects in which a higher level of sound reduction is a critical concern, including buildings such as airports, hotels, health care facilities, educational facilities and housing and offices near transportation corridors."
In addition to offering superior acoustic performance, Saflex SilentGlass Technology provides the added benefits for which Saflex laminated interlayers are known. The interlayer is tough and durable, which makes it difficult to penetrate. As a result, it provides significant protection against forced entry and adds considerable security to residential and commercial buildings. In fact, Saflex SilentGlass Technology is capable of passing Underwriters Laboratory Burglary Resistance Test UL 972. The interlayer also blocks 99 percent of UV light up to 380 nm, which helps protect interior fabrics, art and furnishings from damage and fading.