Biography

Charly is a scientist in the R&D department at Nitto Belgium, where he has been active since 2013. He holds a background in polymer chemistry from KU Leuven and specializes in the development of single-coated products and membrane synthesis. His work focuses on advancing material performance through applied polymer science and industrial innovation. 

Presentation

Low‑emissivity (low‑e) coated glass delivers significant benefits in relation to energy‑efficiency but is highly sensitive to mechanical damages and corrosion. This particularly applies to soft coats which are susceptible to moisture‑induced degradation of their functional layers (usually silver).  

During handling, transport, storage, and downstream processing, insufficient protection can lead to mechanical damages, corrosion, yield loss, and increased operational costs. To address these challenges, a temporary protection film has been developed, consisting of a polyethylene backing combined with a carefully engineered pressure‑sensitive adhesive layer.  

This solution provides effective protection against mechanical damages such as scratches and punctures, while also acting as a moisture barrier (humidity, fingerprints) to prevent corrosion of the low‑e coating. Adhesion levels can be precisely tailored to the specific substrate, enabling reliable performance on a wide range of coating stacks, including solutions designed for non‑tempered glass. The tape maintains stable adhesion without lifting or delaminating during critical insulated glass unit (IGU) manufacturing steps, including edge deletion, edge grinding, washing, and internal handling, thereby ensuring continuous surface protection throughout the whole process chain.  

Despite its robust protective performance, the tape can be removed easily and cleanly immediately prior to tempering, leaving no adhesive residue and eliminating the need for re‑cleaning. In parallel, development efforts are underway to introduce a low‑outgassing variant suitable for protecting glass surfaces that pass directly through PVD coating processes, expanding the applicability of the solution upstream in glass manufacturing.  

Uniquely, this protective solution is available in widths up to 3.3 meters, enabling full‑width protection of jumbo glass sizes without overlaps or seams. All tape constructions are designed with recyclability in mind, supporting sustainability objectives across the glass value chain. By combining tailored adhesion, large‑scale availability, broad process compatibility, recyclability, and protection against both mechanical and environmental damage, this solution enables improved product quality, reduced scrap rates, and enhanced operational efficiency for glass producers and IGU manufacturers.