ARGON GAS

Argon gas is a chemically inert element that comprises about 1% of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is colorless, and odorless. Argon gas is used between the two panes of glass because it is a poorer conducter of heat than ordinary air due to it being 5 times denser, or heavier than air. There are no known ecological damages caused by Argon as it occurs naturally in the environment and dissipates rapidly. Nor does Argon contain any Ozone depleting chemicals. Removing the air and adding gas is a vital part of creating an energy efficient window system. 

Simply put Argon gas improves the thermal performance of insulated glazing units by reducing the conductance of the air space between the layers. Originally this space was filled with air. In a sealed glass insulating unit, air currents between the two panes of glazing carry heat to the top of the unit and settles into cold pools at the bottom. Filling the space with less conductive, more viscous, or slow moving gas minimizes the convection currents within the space, conduction is reduced, and the overall transfer of heat between the inside and outside is reduced. The introduction of Argon has provided measurable improvement in thermal performance. The optimal spacing for an Argon filled unit is ½”.