ClearShield Glass Still Shining in Iceland

Ritec’s ClearShield glass protection and renovation system is continuing to tackle the problem of silica contamination at two very different locations in Iceland…

More than ten years after the geothermal power plant at Svartsengi had over 1,000m² of glass pre-treated with ClearShield installed, harsh silica build-up on the glass surface has been minimal. ClearShield kept the glass looking like new and prevented the need for very expensive glass replacement which the power plant had previously experienced. Indeed, the solution at the plant has proved to be so successful and long lasting that much of the glass in the nearby Blue Lagoon spa resort also had ClearShield treatment.

The power plant, run by the geothermal power company Hitaveita Suðurnesja, provides part of Iceland’s electricity and heating requirements by extracting geothermal energy from natural steam, hot water and hot dry rocks below the earth’s surface. For many years, the ordinary, unprotected glass at the plant suffered corrosion and staining by silica in the atmosphere, which bonded to the glass and caused it to look opaque. Despite frequent cleaning with harsh chemicals, the glass would soon become contaminated again.

The introduction of ISO 9001 at the power plant meant an effective solution had to be found to ensure compliance with the required quality standards. In 1994, the unprotected exterior glass was replaced by glass pre-treated with ClearShield. Now, more than ten years on, the treated glass is still resisting corrosion, making it easier to clean and keep clean, with any silica contamination removed with the minimum of effort. As a result, no further replacement of glass has been necessary, proving that ClearShield is significantly easier to maintain than ordinary glass and also reduces costs.

Iceland’s popular tourist resort, the Blue Lagoon, was created by excess geothermally heated water from the nearby Svartsengi power plant, which is perfectly clean and rich in minerals. Also faced with silica contamination on glass doors and other glass surfaces in resort buildings, the Blue Lagoon had some 700m² of the worst affected glass fully renovated onsite using the ClearShield System. The glass surface was then protected with ClearShield. The treatment is based on a special polymeric resin, which provides the surface protection. Applied as a liquid, ClearShield reacts with the glass and becomes an integral part of the surface by forming a protective treatment that is chemically bonded to the surface and measures less than a micron in thickness.

Both applications were carried out by Ritec’s Icelandic applicator Verkmenn, based in Keflavik. The General Manager of Verkmenn, Guðmundur Helgi Önundarson, believes silica contamination is a major problem in Iceland: “ClearShield is ideal for this type of harsh environment, converting high maintenance, unprotected glass into Low-M® (Low Maintenance) Glass. Now workers at the power plant and visitors to the Blue Lagoon can enjoy a cleaner environment and the glass there requires just minimal maintenance to keep it looking pristine."