Who Invented Dichroic Glass?

Dichroic glass, also known as dichro, is one of the many creations to come out of the NASA space program. This specialized glass now lends itself to many commercial enterprises and continues to be in ever growing demand.

History

Between the 1950s and 1960s, NASA, the Department of Defense and their contractors developed dichroic glass.

Function

Dichroic glass was originally created by NASA for two reasons: to be used as face plates on space suits to protect against harmful rays and to guard sensitive equipment from radiation.

Features

Due to the multiple layer coatings of quartz crystal and metal oxides, dichroic glass has the ability to show two different colors when looking at it from different angles. It also appears very sparkly and vibrant when viewed up close.

Benefits

Dichroic glass meets the needs of NASA, and other industries, such as construction and architecture, now benefit from this invention. Additionally, dichroic glass allows glass artists to express their work in an advanced way.

Expert Insight

If you use dichroic glass for lampworking, be aware that the coated dichroic side can burn off in the torch flame. To avoid this, heat the dichroic in the back of the flame and then place it on your piece coated-side down.

Resources

• NASA
• High Tech Art: Chameleon Glass
• Coatings by Sandberg, Inc., The Art of Dichroic Glass
• Flabeg Corporation Manufacturers of Dichroic Glass Coatings