Low-emissivity (Low-E)
coatings are microscopically thin, virtually invisible,
metal or metallic
oxide layers deposited on a
window or skylight glazing surface primarily to reduce the
U-factor by suppressing radiative
heat flow. The principal mechanism of heat transfer in multilayer glazing is
thermal radiation from warm surfaces to cooler surfaces. Coating a glass surface with a low-emittance material reflects a significant amount of this radiant heat, thus lowering the total heat flow through the window. Low-E coatings are
transparent to
visible light, and
opaque to
infrared radiation. Different types of Low-E coatings have been designed to allow for high solar gain, moderate solar gain, or low solar gain.
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