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 | | BUTTERFLY INSPIRED 3M TO CREATE LATEST WINDOW FILM TECHNOLOGY | | | 3M Company | | 18/01/2007 | | |
3M is launching Prestige a new range of window film for commercial customers which uses the latest concept of multi-layer optical film, an idea taken from a rare and beautiful South American butterfly called Morpho peleides or the Blue Morpho.
The Blue Morpho can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America and it is said that they can be seen by airline pilots in swarms flitting over the trees. Despite their stunning colour, Blue Morphos are not true blue - that is, their wings are not coloured blue. Like all butterflies, Morphos have tiny, overlapping scales covering their wings. In Blue Morphos, the scales on their wing tops have tiny ridges that reflect blue light so their wing tops look blue!
Traditionally window films were based around metallic sputter coating. However, the way light refracts from the Blue Morphos' wings gave scientists at 3M an idea for advancing window film technology and helped them develop the concept of multi layer
optical film. Multiple layers, over 200 in the case of prestige window film, are engineered so the effect of the combined layers can be tuned to be spectrally selective. This means visible light, i.e. daylight, is let through and the heat rejected, particularly infra red.
The multi layer technology means Prestige Window Films provide superior heat reflection throughout the day because the spectrally-selective films reject up to 97% of the sun's infrared light to keep the office cool and lower the energy bills. The Prestige range is tested when the sun is perpendicular to the building and when it is high and at its hottest. Window films from 3M will also block up to 99.9% of the sun's harmful UV rays, which are the single largest cause of fading.
Conventional window films contain metal coatings that make the building exterior look metallic and shiny and cut down on light transmission. The new Prestige films have no metal in the construction and consequently have no risk of edge contusion and come with an industry leading 15 year warranty.
In a recent US survey it was found that over 40% of total power consumption in a typical office comes from lighting. In these energy conscious times it is important that the maximum amount of daylight is gained as it saves money and staff are more productive and satisfied.
Prestige Window Films have less interior reflectivity than the glass they cover which enables potential customers to clearly see merchandise inside retail locations, while businesses protect their products from the sun and heat.
All these benefits are combined into one product which because of its energy saving and long service life save businesses money year in, year out. No one has more experience with window film than 3M. In 1966, 3M received the first patent for window film. Today there are millions of square feet of 3M Window Films installed around the world. With the new Prestige Series, 3M has once again demonstrated why it is the industry leader.
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