Does a clear, or as near as, window tint that reduces solar heat gain exist? I would like to use it on the non tinted windows of my car (not the windshield though).
Any reommendations?
Any reommendations?
Clear window film to cut heat
- Thread starter Jetronic
- Start date
Where I live, good quality UV window film helps. It does provide some level of heat rejection. The technology changes often so I’m sure there are many more options today.
Yes, I'm sure it does both, and so will the privacy tint on the rear half of my car. But I can't legally tint the front half, so something invisible (or near to it) would be best. How is that done with house windoiws? They have high heat rejection options
I recall myth busters did a test on white vs black vehicles and proved white vehicles could stay 10 degrees cooler sitting in the hot sun. I’d like to see a similar test with heavily tinted windows or in this case clear ceramic tint.
Anyone see anything scientific?
Anyone see anything scientific?
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Another common belief is that tint helps preserve the interior, that would be something else to test.
Yes for example Llumar has an "Air Clear" line
See the PDS here, hone in total solar energy rejection.
https://llumar.com/content/dam/east...r-automotive-window-film-performance-data.pdf
With how clear this is id have no problem putting this on the windshield. Window tint makes driving much much more enjoyable in Florida in the summer the sun is intense and it does cut it down significantly.
UV doesn't carry heat energy like IR. How does it "reflect" heat in your case?
It doesn't have to reflect, it can also absorb heat. And tinted film does that.
Yes. I work in agriculture and usually black polyethylene sheets are used to help the soil gain warmer temperature (by up to 5-10°C). The opposite is true (but it's not desirable, generally).
There's nothing like aluminum sheets to help retain heat or reflect it back to the source. UV is not a carrier for heat (because heat is essentially infrared no matter what is the source).
visibility is a bit §h!t though
In my original post, I didn’t dig around in my glove box to find the reference, but it does provide heat rejection properties along with the UV rating. It isn’t much, and that’s why I wrote ‘some’ in real-world terms. Even so, its only one aspect of the overall strategy. I also applied a ton of insulation between the headliner and the roof and doors. The result is a car that has reduced glare, a considerably quieter interior, with moderate heat rejection.
Theoretically, you could also apply ‘invisible bra material’ on the exterior of the glass, but for every plus there’s an equal minus. I did exactly that on the sun-roof of my 2013 TDi Bug, and it worked very well; tint film on the inside and frosted invisible bra on the top-side. In that particular case, I could definitely feel the difference on my head and forearm. Anyway, I could go on for at least five more paragraphs, with a slew of photos, but that would hijack this thread.
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I haven't seen a "clear" piece of glass in a car since the 80's maybe. All my cars have a tint and UV from the factory. The back side windows are a little darker than the front side. Windshield is obviously clear. There also UV treated from the factory.
I don't see there being a "clear" film out there that would help much?
And yes, there are lots of tests showing white cars stay much cooler than black cars. Like 10F cooler in summer.
I don't see there being a "clear" film out there that would help much?
And yes, there are lots of tests showing white cars stay much cooler than black cars. Like 10F cooler in summer.
That's how it works, you can't have both visibility and heat reflection.
Since neither UV or IR are in the visible spectrum, their filters shouldn't be either.
the Llumar film posted above cuts heat by 30-43% while being near as possible to clear. And their clear UV protection film also cuts heat by 20%. What they don't do is glare reduction.
The glass in my alfa doesn't allow much heat through either, and is very lightly tinted (as pretty much all cars have), and the hyundai i40 (sonata in europe) with "solar glass" was very impressive, while the tint looked just like every other car.
I have Xpel 70% film on the windshield of my Model Y. It is basically clear and according to their spec sheet helps keep the solar energy out. I didn’t have the car but a few days before it went to the tint shop so I can’t confirm that it’s working. I can’t believe this is the best photo I have, which doesn’t show much.
I did the windshield (well, a quality tint shop did) in our Tiguan with AIR 90, it's nearly invisible. Wife didn't even notice it. It definately made a difference in the heat rejection if I forgot to put up the sunshade. Nothing scientific to add to the claim, just how it felt. The windshield is one big piece of glass and probably the biggest contributor to allowing solar energy into the vehicle.
I'm fairly sure 3M has a clear tint that has very high heat and UV rejection. Check out their website.
Yes I was expecting the same stuff essentially being used for homes, just not sure it was available in film that could be used on cars
Your vehicle will heat up to 115+ in a short time, tint might prolong it slightly but not a lot, your still going to be getting in a baking vehicle. I hope your ac works...
(ps: I do tint all my vehicles including the windshields. I do this to protect the plastics and me, not for heat rejection as they still bake.)
(ps: I do tint all my vehicles including the windshields. I do this to protect the plastics and me, not for heat rejection as they still bake.)