Did you know NASA was the first to develop the Dichroic glass to be utilized as mirrors in their satellites? This can also be included in one of the FAQs.
This glass is a multi-layer coating, which is either placed on a clear glass surface or black implementing a specialized vacuum deposition technique.
The Dichroic coatings transmit definite wavelengths and reflect others to produce mesmerizing effects such as dragonfly wings, iridescence observed in fire opal, and hummingbird feathers.
Dichroic glass is a play of light to add vibrancy & vividness to your art project.
Want to know more about the Dichroic glass? We’ve rounded up some of the most frequently asked questions asked by both amateurs and professionals.
So, let’s scroll down and hopefully find the answers to your queries:
#1 What Are the Materials Used for Dichroic Coating?
Fusing by melting the quartz crystal and metal oxides is the preferred combination to produce a quality coating. For exceptional best results, it is advisable to shop for only the finest and purest materials from a trusted art glass supplier.
The vaporizing of these materials is done with the use of a specialized electric beam gun. The vapor after that gets attached and condenses onto the glass surface, which forms a crystal-like structure of thirty layers.
#2 What Is the Difference Between Transmitted and Reflected Color?
The “Transmitted Color” is the color that appears on the clear surface of a glass piece when you see through it. The “Reflected Color” is the color you see on the opaque side of a glass when light bounces off the surface.
For example, “Blue/Gold” Gold is the reflection, and blue is the transmission color.
#3. Why Are the Dichroic Glass Sheets Mostly Round?
The sheets are round because of the coating process; as they rotate to achieve a uniform color across the sheet’s surface. With this tactic, it coats the maximum surface area of the sheet in a chamber within a given time.
The square sheets can also be coated; however, a unique tooling process is required, which means additional expenses.
#4. What is CBS Dichroic Glass?
No, CBS Dichroic glass is not a specific glass type; instead, it is a brand trusted by millions of artists across the globe. CBS Inc. is a family-owned company, which is renowned for producing and supplying premium quality Dichroic glass for the last twenty-five years.
Gerald (Jerry) Sandberg (CEO) is the brain behind CBS, an artist community that encouraged him to get into the unexplored territory of Dichroic glass, and since then there is no looking back for the company in terms of its growth.
#5. What Is the Cost of a Dichroic Glass Sheet?
On average, the price of a typical Dichroic glass sheet is somewhere between $150 and $200 for a standard size of 19″ diameter if you get amazing deals and discounts on bulk purchases online.
During the early days, the Dichroic glass was meant for the aerospace sector for building satellite mirrors.
However, over the past two decades, the application of the Dichroic glass has evolved. Today, it is widely used for lighting, fiber optics, sunglasses, motion picture equipment, infrared lasers, and much more.
Final Thoughts
You can do so much with Dichroic glass, but for that, you require professional training and a lot of inner creativity to create masterpieces that can amaze anybody.
Also Read: Packaging of China and Crystal Glassware
