LionGlass, a stronger and more sustainable glass invented at Penn State, may soon be developed for windows and windshields, thanks to a new partnership with North America's largest architectural glass manufacturer Vitro Architectural Glass. The company signed a multi-year research agreement to scale up the new, patent-pending glass technology for use in flat glass applications across architectural and automotive markets.
"Partnering with Penn State gives us access to world-class materials science expertise and a deep legacy of innovation in glass research," said Adam Polcyn, vice president of research and development at Vitro Architectural Glass. "This team's collaborative spirit and technical excellence make them an ideal partner for advancing the future of glass."
The project, which runs through July 2028, will focus on adapting LionGlass for the float process, the standard method for producing flat glass which involves floating molten glass on a bath of molten tin. Used in windows, windshields and solar panels, flat glass is the largest segment of the global glass industry, making this collaboration a major step forward in commercializing LionGlass at scale, said John Mauro, co-inventor of LionGlass and head of the department of materials science and engineering at Penn State.
"This is more than just a research agreement," he said. "It's a partnership that could redefine how glass is made - and it's happening right here in Pennsylvania."
