Ceramic frit glass is decorative glazing made by printing an inorganic ceramic ink onto the glass surface. After drying, the glass is heat treated or tempered so the frit is permanently fused to the surface. The resulting finish is durable, resistant to wear, acids and alkalis, and straightforward to clean.
Colour and pattern
Frit colours and patterns can be selected to suit the design brief. In a curtain wall, printed areas can coordinate with adjacent glazing, create a contrasting visual element, or conceal the construction behind spandrel zones. Because the colour is an inorganic ceramic material fused to the glass, it does not peel away like an applied film and is intended to retain its original appearance over the building’s service life.
The printed surface does not absorb or transmit moisture, supporting use in areas that need an opaque or patterned, easy-care finish. It can also accept non-rigid backing adhesives used behind spandrel areas.
Solar and safety functions
The fritted surface absorbs and reflects part of the incident solar heat and provides a clear shading effect. Coverage, colour and pattern can therefore contribute to the facade’s solar-control strategy as well as its appearance.
When the glass is tempered after printing, the finished product also gains the mechanical, impact and thermal-shock performance of tempered glass. Ceramic frit glass can be combined with coating, laminated glass or insulating glass unit (IGU) processing when the project requires additional glazing functions.
Applications
Typical uses include curtain walls and other architectural decoration, where frit can provide colour, pattern, screening or spandrel coverage. The same process is used for furniture and electronic-glass applications. Final colour, pattern, coverage and glass build-up should be confirmed against the visual and performance requirements of the installation.