Are you looking to improve your sealing system but have no idea what to do? If so, then you are in the right place. Lowering energy consumption in development and construction is now a global aim and priority. Houses must feature effective thermal insulation to fulfill the requirements for principal energy sustainability. And installing the Thermoplastic Spacer system could be the best decision. How? This blog post features all the answers to your questions regarding a thermoplastic spacer and how it can improve the sealing system. So, keep reading to find out everything!

What Is TPS?

Many individuals tend to get confused upon hearing the term Thermoplastic Spacer. That is why before getting into how the TPS improves the sealing system, we believe it is our responsibility to describe what a TPS actually is.

Thermoplastic Spacer, also known as TPS, is an innovative insulated multi-glazing edge glass system that contains a distinctive butyl rubber working as a supporting element. It is loaded with desiccant, an ideal replacement for conventional aluminum spacers. One thing to know is that TPS is not a recent invention. The German Kommerling Company developed it originally and later utilized it commercially. In fact, the first insulated glass incorporating the TPS technology was manufactured in 1974. Surprised, right?

Right now, there are over 100 TPS manufacturing units operating worldwide. It can be seen in architectural curtain walls, vehicles, and residential frameworks.

How The Environment Impacts On Insulating Glass?

Now, this section deals with the environmental impact of insulating glass so that you can have a deeper understanding. These days, environmental influence is a hot topic because individuals are exploring methods to remove or minimize the number of possible sources of contamination in all aspects of our daily lives. Sadly, we are unaware that the insulating items damage the surroundings. But this is a discussion for another time because here, we are concerned with How the Environment Impacts Insulating Glass rather than how the insulating glass impacts the environment!

As a result of the continual variations in external temperature, the gas inside the empty chamber of the insulating glass remains in a condition of heat contraction/expansion that puts the sealing material under pressure for an extended period. For the standard double-channel sealing mechanism, this pressure will result in the breakdown and a decline in the performance of the sealing agent. Thus, the environmental moisture will continue to seep inside.

Here, the TPS does wonders for us. When the environmental conditions change, the border pressure can be efficiently relieved, thanks to the flexibility of the thermoplastic spacer sealing technology. The thermoplastic spacer also has a more potent cohesive force than metal, which helps it withstand changes imposed by loads while retaining the integrity of the sealing system. Cool, right?

What Factors Affect The Life Of The Insulating Glass?

Now that you have the entire concept of TPS and insulating glass, this section features factors affecting the life of the insulating glass. Let us have a look:

• Edge Materials

The first factor is the quality of the edge materials of the insulating glass. The life expectancy of the insulated glass employed for curtain walls, a crucial component of the structure, caught the interest of the manufacturers. Domestic Chinese insulating glassware ultimately has a short sealing lifespan which is quite alarming. It explains that the standard of the edge materials, including separators and desiccant, directly affects the life of the insulating glass.

• External Factors

The second important factor is the environmental conditions and external factors. UV radiation, water, and various destructive gases will hasten the deterioration of the sealing agent. This results in the increased pace of water vapors penetrating the hollow chamber and hastening the release of the argon gas. The desiccant then gradually loses its ability to adsorb water vapors because of the ongoing adsorption. It raises the water vapor level in the space of the glass, thereby reducing the energy-saving effectiveness.

• Edge Seal

Last but not least is the edge seal. The efficiency of the edge seal has a direct impact on the durability of the insulator glass. The trick lies in the use of minimal water vapor sealants and gas transparency. It is excellent in thermoplastic spacers (TPS) as these are particularly effective at preventing the passage of gases and water vapors.

Thermoplastic Spacer Test

Here, you have reached the last section of the blog (Disclaimer: It is not boring!): The Thermoplastic Spacer Test. The first manufacturing facility began the operation of Thermoplastic Spacer (TPS) in 2011. Since then, a new version of TPS item 4SG with mechanical stability has been developed.

The TPS mechanism has successfully passed the inspection and received accreditation around the globe, primarily from:

• European Standard (EN1279-4) for evaluation approach for physical characteristics of insulating glass
• European Standard (EN1279-2) for the long-term testing technique for water vapor penetrability of insulating glass
• Japanese Standard (JIS R3209) for insulating glass
• German (DIN1286)
• North American (ASTM773/774)

The National Glass Quality Inspection Institute chose Comerlin to manufacture the 4SG item of the thermoplastic division utilizing silicone adhesive to serve as the exterior sealing compound to examine the efficacy of the TPS insulating glass. A specimen of gas-filled insulation glass was manufactured, and five standard rounds of examination were done following the GB/T11944-2012.

According to the test outcomes, even after five average aging cycle examinations, the thermoplastic spacer (4SG) system continued to satisfy the standards set by the national standard, independent of the water penetration index. So, they concluded that the TPS has a significantly longer lifespan than the conventional insulating glass currently being used because the test outcomes after five cycles are superior, and the amount of gas only decreased by 4%. You got impressed, right? We bet you are!

Final Thoughts

That’s how a thermoplastic spacer (TPS) system can help minimize energy consumption. The new generation of the TPS system with 4SG is an exceptional development that the world wanted more than ever!

Now that you know all the factors and standards of the thermoplastic spacer, we are sure you will get it installed to improve your sealing system soon. Good luck!

Copyscape Test: