PNLC Smart Film - Clear When Off, Opaque When On
PNLC (Polymer Network Liquid Crystal) film works in reverse of standard PDLC: transparent with no power, frosted the moment power is applied. Up to 90% light transmittance in the clear state, 92% haze when opaque - the premium choice where fail-safe transparency matters.
Flip the power switch and see both films react
Standard PDLC is frosted when off and clears with power. PNLC is the exact opposite: clear when off and frosted with power. Flip the switch below - both photos change at once.
Standard PDLC
PNLCThe honest numbers
| PNLC vs standard PDLC - PNLC is the reverse-mode PDLC, clear when off | Typical local option | Direct from Smart Glass VIP |
|---|---|---|
| Power OFF | Frosted (PDLC) | Clear - transparency is the default state |
| Power ON | Clear (PDLC) | Opaque frosted - privacy on demand |
| Transmittance (clear state) | 85-92% | Up to 90% with near-zero haze (4%) |
| Haze (opaque state) | 93-95% | 92% - evenly white, no hot spots |
| Fail-safe behavior | Opaque on power failure | Transparent on power failure - safe for transport & curtain walls |
| Price level | Standard | Premium (~10x PDLC) - specified where it pays off |
CLEAR · TRANSPARENTWhy specifiers pay the premium for PNLC
- Reverse mode - clear with no power, frosted on command (AC 25-80V)
- Fail-safe transparency - power failure leaves glass see-through; critical for vehicles, curtain walls and public buildings
- 90% transmittance with only 4% haze in the clear state - the brightest switchable film available
- Evenly white opaque state - 92% haze, 7% parallel light transmission, no visible silhouettes
- Fast switching - under 0.5 s, SWOM 2000-hour durability test passed
- Self-adhesive or lamination - same two supply formats as our PDLC film
- 15+ year service life with 2-year warranty
Polymer network liquid crystals, wired in reverse
In PNLC film the liquid crystals form a polymer network that stays aligned with no power - so the film is naturally transparent. Applying AC voltage scatters the crystals and the film goes frosted. That inversion is why hospitals, laboratories, control rooms and transport projects choose it: privacy is an action you take, transparency is the safe default.
Technical specifications (SGV PNLC film)
| Working voltage | AC 25-80V |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.26 mm |
| Max dimension | 1200 mm x 30000 mm |
| Full light transmittance (clear) | 90% (parallel light 83%) |
| Haze (clear) | 4% |
| Parallel light transmittance (opaque) | 7% - haze 92% |
| View angle | 160° |
| UV / IR blocking | ≥ 99% / ≥ 98% |
| Operating temperature | -10°C to 60°C |
| Response time | < 0.5 s |
| Power consumption | ~5 W/m² |
| Durability | SWOM 2000 hours passed |
| Warranty / lifespan | 2 years / ≥ 15 years |
Typical reverse-film projects
- Hospitals & labs - ICU observation windows and consulting rooms stay transparent around the clock, privacy at the press of a button
- Boardrooms & government - confidential meetings switch instantly; no power means an open, welcoming room
- Display cases & storefronts - exhibits stay visible with the power off; the film doubles as a projection surface when switched
- Transportation - car sunroofs, train windows and platform doors where a power failure must never trap passengers behind frosted glass
- Luxury residential - windows that are clear by day by default and frost for the evening automatically
Questions about this product
PDLC or PNLC - how do I decide?
If you need privacy by default, PDLC is right and far more economical. If you need transparency by default - hospitals, displays, transport, high-end offices - PNLC is the correct tool. It sits at a premium price point (roughly 10x PDLC), so we recommend it only where its reverse mode and brighter states genuinely pay off.
Is the opaque state as private as PDLC?
Yes - 92% haze with only 7% parallel light transmission blocks silhouettes completely, and the off-state is more evenly white than standard PDLC in bright rooms.
Does PNLC work with the same transformers and controls?
PNLC accepts AC 25-80V, so our 60V transformers and app control modules work unchanged. We match everything at quotation.
Can I get PNLC laminated into glass?
Yes - PNLC is available as raw film for EVA/PVB lamination lines (1.2 m max width) or as self-adhesive film for existing glass.
Why is PNLC about 10x the price of PDLC?
Although the two effects are opposite, PNLC and PDLC are made from different raw materials with different processes. PNLC requires more expensive raw materials and a more complex production flow, so its cost - and price - is roughly 10x PDLC.
Can PNLC be used as a projection screen?
Yes - in the powered state it is an excellent rear-projection surface with even brightness, popular for shop windows and meeting-room glass.
Does PNLC stay clear during a blackout?
Yes - that is its defining feature. For ICU windows, vehicle glazing and curtain walls this fail-safe behavior is often the reason it is chosen.
Is PNLC available in colors like PDLC?
PNLC is milky white only. If you need a tinted look with privacy-off, combine Grey PDLC with PNLC zones or ask us for a hybrid layout.
Curved partition, instant privacy
A curved PNLC partition switching from clear to evenly milky white - premium privacy for flagship spaces.
- Under 0.1 s switching - clear to frosted the instant power changes
- ~5 W per m² - less power than a light bulb, only while clear
- Factory-cut to size - busbar finished and tested, ready to wire
Two ways to buy our smart film
Smart film in sheet - finished
Pre-cut to your exact measurements, with busbars and lead wires factory-finished before shipping. Unpack, mount, connect a power transformer and test it straight away - a finished product, ideal for beginners and end users.
Smart film in roll - semi-finished
Supplied as raw roll without busbars. You cut to size and finish the busbars yourself - lower cost per square meter and maximum flexibility in sizing, which is why large buyers prefer it. It requires cutting and busbar-making skills; we provide full guidance for quantity customers.
Which one should I choose?
Buying one piece or a few windows? Take sheets - ready to use out of the box. Buying 100+ m² or feeding a production line? Rolls cut your material cost and we train your team on busbar work. Not sure? Tell us your quantity and we will quote both ways.
Rolled, protected, export-ready
- Every piece rolled on a core - film never ships flat-folded, so no crease marks
- Busbar taped and sealed - transparent protective tape over the electrode edge, leads fixed away from the film
- Protective interlayer wrap - dust-free film wrapped around the roll before it leaves the clean workshop
- White foam edge protection - the roll is cushioned end to end
- Cartons for sheets, wooden crates for rolls - foam-lined, sealed and batch-numbered for sea or air freight
Ready to specify this product?
Tell us your glass dimensions and application - an engineer replies with pricing within 24 hours.
