This is glass which has been coated on one side with metal oxide layers. These oxides are vaporized and deposited on the glass surface in a vacuum chamber, by heating the metal oxides between 1,000 & 2,500 degrees Celsius. The thickness of each layer is precisely calculated within five millionths of an inch. By building up multiple layers of different oxides, a wide range of reflected and transmitted colors are produced. Dichroic means two color, and each piece of this glass will reflect two different colors, depending on the angle light strikes it. Because of the specialized manufacturing, this glass can cost ten times more than plain glass.

Specially coated glass used as decorative additions in art glass. After extensive cleaning, glass is placed in a heated vacuum chamber. In the chamber the surface of the glass is blasted with an electron beam gun, which coats the glass with different metallic oxides and rare metals to create different patterns and color effects. Two different types of base glass are used in the process. When used in the first or transparent state, both reflected and transmitted light frequencies are emitted. In the second phase a dichroic coating on a black background makes the surface color reflect. Unique colors are reflected and transmitted like teal or champagne, and the thin coatings of metals simulate precious metal qualities like those of copper, gold, platinum or silver on the dichroic surface.

A type of glass that reflects and transmits different wavelengths of light, thus visually appearing as different colors in reflected and transmitted light. The dichroic effect is achieved by coating thin layers of various chemicals or metals on the surface of clear glass.

Dichroism Digital Imaging

a high-tec spin-off of the Space Industry