The thickness of electrochromic glass is not a fixed value but a range, as it is a composite structure composed of multiple layers of functional films. Its total thickness mainly depends on the thickness of the substrate glass and the number of layers of the sandwich structure.
Overall, the common thickness range of electrochromic glass is between 6 millimeters and 30 millimeters, among which the most common finished product thickness is in the range of 8mm to 25mm.
The structure and thickness composition of electrochromic glass
Electrochromic glass usually exists in the form of "laminated glass", similar to the windshield of a car. Its core structure is of the "sandwich" type:
Outer glass substrate
Functional film interlayer - This is the core part for achieving color change
Inner glass substrate
Detailed explanation of thickness composition
1. Substrate glass thickness
This is the most crucial factor determining the total thickness. The substrate glass can be selected with different thicknesses according to the application scenarios:
Building doors and Windows/curtain wall applications: Thicker glass is usually used to ensure strength and safety. Common configurations are:
The total thickness of 6mm (outer) +1.52mm (film) +6mm (inner) ≈ 13.5mm
8mm + 1.52mm + 8mm ≈ 17.5mm
Even 10mm or 12mm glass can be used, with a total thickness reaching 21.5mm or 25.5mm or more.
Indoor partition/car window applications: Thinner glass may be used to reduce weight.
5mm + film + 5mm ≈ 11.5mm
3mm + film + 3mm ≈ 7.5mm (less common, used for small sizes or special fields)
2. Thickness of functional interlayers
This is the core of the electrochromic module, but it accounts for a relatively small proportion of the total thickness and is relatively fixed. It mainly includes
Ionic conductor layer
Electrochromic layer (such as tungsten trioxide
Ion storage layer
Transparent conductive layer (such as ITO
The total thickness of these functional films is usually at the micrometer level, which is very thin. They are encapsulated between two layers of polyvinyl alcohol butyral (PVB) or ionic polymer films. The standard thickness of this laminated sheet is approximately 1.52 millimeters.
3. Insulating glass structure
To enhance thermal insulation performance, the electrochromic glass used in buildings is usually made into insulating glass units.
Structural example: (6mm electrochromic laminated glass) + (12mm hollow aluminum spacer bar) + (6mm ordinary inner sheet glass)
At this point, the total thickness of the entire hollow unit becomes: 6mm + 1.52mm + 6mm + 12mm + 6mm = 31.5mm. This is the final thickness installed on the building facade.
Summary and Key Points
Core thickness range: Excluding the insulating structure, the finished thickness of single-piece electrochromic laminated glass is usually between 6mm and 25mm.
Customized products: The thickness is highly customizable. You can choose substrate glass of different thicknesses based on the safety requirements of the project (such as whether tempering is needed), structural load-bearing capacity, performance requirements and budget.
The final thickness depends on the overall structure: If it is used for the building's exterior envelope, it is essential to confirm whether it is used as a single piece or as part of the insulating glass. The total thickness of the hollow unit will be much greater.
Consult suppliers: When designing and purchasing projects, the most accurate approach is to directly provide your specific requirements to electrochromic glass suppliers (such as View, Zhanlan, Yuke, etc.), and they will offer suggestions on thickness and structure that best suit your application scenarios.
