portyforty
- Nov 10, 2017
- 23
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2017
- Messages
- 23
This forum may not be the place to ask this question, but there are some extremely knowledgeable folks here, so here goes:
I'm planning a little DIY double-glazing project.
This will involve several opening windows (we call them 'sashes' in NZ) which currently have a single layer of 4mm (3\16"?) glass. Each window is about...um, 40" H x 20" W.
I intend to leave the outer glass intact and add a layer of 6mm (1\4") perspex to the inside. These panels will be fixed to the sashes by screws at regular intervals around the perimeter, over a strip of regular foam plastic draught seal, around 3\8" x 3\16". Distance between the glass and perspex will likely be about 35mm (1 3\8")
I'll bore an extra couple of holes through the perspex at top and bottom of the panel, through which I intend to introduce argon gas, after which I'll plug the holes by rubber grommets or some-such.
My question: The argon will only be at atmospheric pressure. How much, if any, diffusion is likely to occur between the argon in the cavity and the air in the room? Do the two gases eventually merge? If they, how long might it take? Days? Months? Years?
As to why I'd use argon, I understand it would prevent fogging. I'm not so concerned about the thermal aspect, as our temperatures here aren't arctic. The idea of the double glazing is mostly for a sound barrier.
I've already tested this aspect with a loosely fitted perspex panel on one window, and monitored the result with a stethoscope. There's a definite improvement to the sound deadening quality of such a panel, compared to one with only glass, so I'm optimistic about a useful result in that area.
However, I'm uncertain as to how long the argon will stay put. BTW, I have access to the gas, from a local aluminum welder.
Thanks for reading.
I'm planning a little DIY double-glazing project.
This will involve several opening windows (we call them 'sashes' in NZ) which currently have a single layer of 4mm (3\16"?) glass. Each window is about...um, 40" H x 20" W.
I intend to leave the outer glass intact and add a layer of 6mm (1\4") perspex to the inside. These panels will be fixed to the sashes by screws at regular intervals around the perimeter, over a strip of regular foam plastic draught seal, around 3\8" x 3\16". Distance between the glass and perspex will likely be about 35mm (1 3\8")
I'll bore an extra couple of holes through the perspex at top and bottom of the panel, through which I intend to introduce argon gas, after which I'll plug the holes by rubber grommets or some-such.
My question: The argon will only be at atmospheric pressure. How much, if any, diffusion is likely to occur between the argon in the cavity and the air in the room? Do the two gases eventually merge? If they, how long might it take? Days? Months? Years?
As to why I'd use argon, I understand it would prevent fogging. I'm not so concerned about the thermal aspect, as our temperatures here aren't arctic. The idea of the double glazing is mostly for a sound barrier.
I've already tested this aspect with a loosely fitted perspex panel on one window, and monitored the result with a stethoscope. There's a definite improvement to the sound deadening quality of such a panel, compared to one with only glass, so I'm optimistic about a useful result in that area.
However, I'm uncertain as to how long the argon will stay put. BTW, I have access to the gas, from a local aluminum welder.
Thanks for reading.