ITO coating uniformity
The conductive layer. Thin or uneven ITO is the single biggest cause of early failure — visible patchiness and dead zones within three to five years.
Buyer's guide
How to compare smart glass suppliers in India
Most PDLC quotations look identical on paper. The differences that decide whether your glass still works in year seven are buried in specifications nobody volunteers — here is what to ask for.
We have deliberately not ranked competitors by name. Vendor league tables age badly and rarely survive contact with a real quotation. What follows is the specification checklist we would want you to hold us to as well.
The eight specifications that matter
Ask every supplier for these in writing. A supplier who will not put them on paper is telling you something.
UV inhibitors in the adhesive
Without them the liquid-crystal layer degrades in sunlight. This is what separates film that yellows in two years from film that lasts fifteen.
Haze in the clear state
Ask for the measured figure. Good PDLC sits under 5% haze. Above that, the 'clear' state looks permanently misty.
Light transmittance
Quality PDLC transmits around 80% when clear. Lower figures mean a duller, greyer space.
Switching speed
Should be well under a second — typically 10–150 milliseconds. Sluggish switching indicates a weaker film.
Operating voltage
Typically 48–65V AC via a step-down driver. Confirm the driver is rated for your total area with headroom.
Warranty terms in writing
Length matters less than what is covered. Does it include yellowing? Edge delamination? Labour?
Sealant compatibility
Acid-cure silicone destroys PDLC film. A supplier who cannot tell you this unprompted has not installed enough of it.
Questions worth asking every supplier
- Can I see the manufacturer's specification sheet for the exact film you will supply?
- What is the measured haze figure in the clear state?
- Which sealants and adhesives are approved for use against your film?
- Does the warranty cover yellowing and edge delamination, or only total failure?
- Is installation your own crew or subcontracted?
- Can you show me an installation of yours that is at least five years old?
- What is the lead time if a panel fails and needs replacing?
Red flags
A rate far below the market band. PDLC has a real material cost floor. Quotes well under ₹1,200/sq ft usually mean thin ITO, no UV inhibitors, or both.
Reluctance to name the film manufacturer. Most Indian suppliers convert imported film. That is entirely normal — refusing to say whose film it is, is not.
No mention of sealant compatibility. Acid-cure silicone attacks the film matrix and causes edge delamination. Any supplier who has installed at volume knows this and raises it unprompted.
Warranty covering only 'manufacturing defects'. That phrasing frequently excludes exactly the failure modes you are worried about.
Common questions
Is imported film better than Indian-made?
Origin matters less than specification. Most Indian suppliers convert imported base film anyway. Judge the numbers — haze, transmittance, ITO uniformity, UV inhibitors — not the flag on the box.
Why do quotations vary so widely for the same job?
Usually because they are not the same job. One may include controls and installation while another prices glass alone; one may use film with UV inhibitors and another without. Insist on itemised quotations to compare.
Does a longer warranty mean better film?
Not necessarily. Read what is excluded. A five-year warranty covering yellowing, delamination and labour is worth more than a ten-year warranty limited to catastrophic failure.
Keep reading
Related guides
Request a quote
Get an itemised price
Send us the area and space type. You will have a written, line-by-line quotation within one business day — including controls and installation, not just the glass.
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- hello@pdlcsmartglassfilm.com
- Ahmedabad · Bengaluru · Mumbai · Delhi NCR