FOTOLUX

This product is a brand new technology from Formator, which has been recently developed combining Float glass and solar power technologies.   

Fotolux is a safety glass that glows in the dark, absorbing light and then reflecting the same light. It  can be used for any application that normal glass is used for including:

• doors and windows
• glass facades 
• roofs and greenhouses
• glass staircases
• home appliances
• home furnishings
• and emergency exit routes.

 The product itself is very under wraps because it has only just been released, but from what i can gauge it seems very similar to most phosphorescent ('glow-in-the dark') products, except is flat sheet glass. Phosphorescence is a specific type of photoluminescence that is related to fluorescence. However, unlike fluorescence, phosphorescent materials do not immediately re-emit the radiation they absorb, and the absorbed radiation can be re-emitted at a lower intensity for up to several hours.4

Fotolux emergency exit sign

Fotolux Technical features:

• Standard colour in the daytime is satin white
• standard dimensions are 2250 x 3210mm, maximum dimensions are 2250 x 4500mm.
• standard thickness is 9mm, however thickness ranges from 6mm to 60mm.
• Available in annealed or tempered versions
• manufactured in accordance with EN1449 for laminated glass
• And the colour range is - satin finish white, yellow, orange, red, light green, blue, mid blue, violet and white.5

It requires no electricity, no wires and no maintenance as well as satisfying all security requirements of PVB laminated glass Fotolux would be a excellent product that could be very easily incorporated into the practice of any glass artist. In glass art lighting is a very important aspect of the finished work, and because of the nature of glass and its translucency finding innovative means of display and construction are often problematic. Fotolux as a medium for either construction of even just display of works would add a very interesting element to any glass work. 

It would be especially good for use in site specific outdoor instillations because of the no electricity luminance.

Fotolux floor

4. Phosphorescence, http://wapedia.mobi/en/Phosphorescences  (accessed October 23, 2010).

5. Fotolux, http://www.fotolux.info/fotolux/home.html (accessed October 20, 2010)