Glass coverage at FGIA Annual Conference showcases IG forensics exercise and desiccants deep dive
Posted on February 26th, 2024
IG Forensics Workshop
Jim Blamble (Sika Corporation
Blamble shared some advice up front with participants about best practices. “Follow your company guidelines for safe work practices,” he said. “Be safe and use a buddy to help you.”
Walden shared that the contents of an ideal tool kit for IG inspection, whether in a plant or in the field, should include the following: light; measuring tape; calipers; knives, flat razors and wire for cutting; isopropyl alcohol and lint-free clothing for cleaning; a camera with a close-up feature; magnification tools; pen, paper and permanent marker for documentation; personal protective equipment; and a safe worktable or work area.
Record keeping is crucial, and all inspections should be treated with the level of care one would want in the event of a situation culminating in litigation, said Waldren. “Keep good notes,” he said. “But also, keep in mind what internal versus external communication should look like.”
Presenters Shulin Cui (SilicaStar Industries), Gerhard Reichert (Glasslam) and Brian White (H.B. Fuller) created the panel to discuss “All About Desiccants | Properties, Use and Importance.” These industry experts discussed how desiccants are used, how they respond to mold and corrosion and much more.
Cui began by covering the basics about IG desiccant types and selective adsorption. “Why are desiccants important?” asked Cui. “They remove moisture and solvent vapor after assembly. They continue to maintain low dew points for the life of the IGU.” She added that common industrial use desiccants include silica gel, alumina, carbon, zeolite and montmorillonite clay.
Reichert focused on calcium oxide (CaO) 3A desiccant, a dominant IG desiccant in the field. 3A is important because we want to prevent unnecessary hardships in the field. “Twenty-five percent of the global IG desiccant market are CaO-based,” he said. “That means 2.7 billion square feet of IGU are produced annually containing CaO sieves.” Reichert shared that an advantage of CaO products is that they have a waste-free manufacturing process. “No wastewater pollutants are generated during the production of Calcium Oxide desiccants,” he said.
For more information about FGIA and its activities, visit FGIAonline.org.
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