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Frequently Asked Questions
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Questions about the beautiful hues of dichroic before ordering? Check here first!
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Q
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So just exactly what is dichroic?
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A
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There is a wealth of misinformation about just exactly what dichroic is. Have you heard about it originating from our space program or volcanic ash? Neither one is true. And some people call it dichroic glass which is also false. It is actually glass with a dichroic coating. The dichroic coating is made up of oxides (quartz crystals, titanium, zirconium and others). Those are combined into a vapor creating a crystalline structure which attaches to glass when sprayed inside a vacuum chamber.
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Q
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Is each dichroic color sprayed on separately?
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A
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No. The dichroic coating is basically colorless. When heated to a vapor in a vacuum chamber several coats are applied to the glass. The result is a coating in which color is both transmitted and reflected.
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Q
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How is the fused glass effected by the kiln heat?
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A
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The glass artist needs to be aware of the characteristics of dichroic coatings so the final product reflects the colors and design techniques intended for that particular piece of art. Dichroic can have as many as four different color variations. Two which happen with all dichroic are the transmitted and reflective hues. A third is the color shift when the glass is held at an angle. And finally dichroic, when fused in the kiln, will strike (change) to a different color from its' cold, unfired state.
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Q
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How fragile is the glass?
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A
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What can we say? It's glass and glass breaks! However, it is very stable once fired and annealed (cooled) properly. The dichroic coatings, BEFORE FIRING, if soaked too long even in water can come off or become scratched. AFTER FIRING, they are very durable. The glass could even withstand dropping onto a hard surface, but we wouldn't recommend it.
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