Nanotechnology in Tint

Advanced Materials

Advanced Borides

Advanced Borides are expected to be next-generation advanced nano-material for window films. Earlier boride compounds’ infrared reduction properties had been limited to near-infrared wavelength (low temperature). New Advanced Boride compounds are expected to significantly increase the infrared reduction spectrum and current laboratory weathering testing revealed possibility the longest lasting heat-shielding capability.

Carbide-99

Mainstream test equipment in the industry capture the infrared reduction at 900-1200nm (lower temperature) and Carbide-99 nanotubes exhibit superior infrared reduction properties at these temperature levels as multi-layered optical films. Both Carbide-99 or multi-layered optical films are produced along with other nano-ceramics coating such as ITO and ATO to maintain the similar infrared reduction at higher wavelengths (temperature). Hybrid products with Carbide-99 are usually more automotive tinter-friendly for vehicle windshields where heatshrinking is required.

Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)

Among all nano-crystalline materials used in window films mass-production, Indium Tin Oxide provides the highest heat reduction and Visible Light Transmission at high temperatures. In countries with strict automotive tinting regulations, ITO remains the only feasible high-heat reduction material for premium automotive films. The same chemical is used in optical coatings of electronic devices such as LCD, LED and Plasma display panels. It was first used in window films before mid-2000s in Japanese domestic market, and by 2010 FilmTack dominated global demand for ITO films from Japan.

Antimony Tin Oxide (ATO)

Antimony Tin Oxide was successfully synthesized and mass-produced by the Japanese manufacturers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. FilmTack Pte Ltd was the world’s largest distributor of Japanese ATO films during that period. Today ATO is the most widely used ceramics tint due to a substantially lower cost than TiN, given the same heat reduction.

Titanium Nitride (TiN)

Titanium Nitride was the earliest type of ceramics film in the industry. Usually applied to films via a sputtering process, TiN was the most popular non-reflective high-heat reduction film in the 1990s and but its use in modern times remains limited due to high cost.

Common Characteristics of Nano-ceramics in Tinting
  • Superior heat reduction with mild/low reflectivity
  • Heat-shielding capability continues to be highly sustained after 10 years
  • Higher optical clarity and visible light transmission
  • Ease of automotive heatshrinking installation as compared to metallized films
  • Non-interference with electronic devices, GPS signals and aerial antennas
  • Non-fading
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Nanotechnology Materials Comparison Ranking
Fixed Component Similar Infrared Heat Reduction Similar Infrared Heat Reduction Similar VLT (eg. 70%)
Comparison Factor Highest VLT* Average Cost Heat Reduction
ADVANCED BORIDES Clear High Highest
CARBIDE-99 Clear High Highest
ANTIMONY TIN OXIDE Clear Low High
INDIUM TIN OXIDE Very Clear High Highest
TITANIUM NITRIDE Average High High
Multi-layered Sputtering** Average to Clear Very High High
Metallized Aluminium** Dark / Reflective Low Low

* VLT – Visible Light Tranmisssion
** Non-Ceramics

FILMTACK PTE LTD is Asia-Pacific’s largest nanoceramics film distributor for private-labels. FILMTACK welcomes enquiries on supply, distribution, development and collaboration efforts in this sector.