Q+A with Huntsman | Clear Demand for Safety Glazing Solutions

Demand for safety glazing solutions has been rising steadily since 2021. In July, Glass Magazine’s Top 50 Glaziers Report revealed that a third of companies interviewed now manufacture bullet-resistant glazing, with one-quarter producing ballistic glazing. With 69% of this year’s report contributors citing security glass and impact systems as a prominent trend (up from 67% last year), Glass Magazine contacted Huntsman, a leading global chemical company with a well-established glazing film technology. This year, Huntsman celebrates 50 years since its first interlayer laminating film for the safety glazing sector was invented. Matt Canoy, global marketing director, polyurethane elastomers, Huntsman, shared their perspective on thermoplastic polyurethane interlayer films, and how modern technologies are evolving to meet the dual demands for design and safety in the built environment.

Glass Magazine: Tell us about your KRYSTALFLEX® TPU safety glazing product and how it can enhance laminated glass performance.

Matt Canoy: KRYSTALFLEX® TPU is an advanced interlayer film technology developed for safety and security glazing applications. Used as a technical mid layer, between glass and or polycarbonate substrates, these innovative TPU films can absorb and disperse impact energy, preventing glass from shattering under the extreme forces caused by blasts, ballistic impact or severe weather events.

As well as helping to keep glazing intact, films are optimized to deliver optical clarity, high elasticity, adhesion, UV stability, and resistance to moisture and environmental degradation. The result? High strength, high quality, laminated panels that can deliver long-term protection across different glazing applications.

GM: Where are KRYSTALFLEX® TPU films typically used and how do they compare to other materials?

MC: KRYSTALFLEX® TPU enhances safety in architectural, transportation and defense glazing. From schools and government buildings to banks and commercial spaces, it enables the creation of windows, doors and façades that are better able to resist forced entry, blasts and extreme weather while maintaining long-lasting clarity. The benefits are countless. In schools, for example, safety glazing can help give building occupants extra time in the event of an incident. Yet in the United States, there are, currently, no building codes mandating its use. Industry bodies are lobbying for state and federal legislation to change and for funding to be released to drive installation. This October, the Glazing Industry Code Committee will resubmit a proposal to include security glazing for schools in 2027 building codes. We hope this will be successful. The impact could be hugely positive with film technologies already proven in military applications.

High-rise office buildings are another key application area. Last year, a series of powerful storms saw skyscraper windows blown out in downtown Houston, scattering glass onto the streets below and forcing widespread road closures. With the potential to hold glass in place during tornadoes and hurricanes, safety glazing films can help reduce the risk of building damage during severe weather events.

You’ll also find TPU laminating films widely used across the transport industry to create lightweight, shatter-resistant glazing for cars, trains and aircraft.

When it comes to performance, TPU films stand out for their adhesion to glass, acrylic and polycarbonate over a wide temperature range. They don’t contain plasticizers, which can migrate, become brittle and cause fogging. They are moisture-resistant, meaning they are less prone to delamination. They are also UV-resistant, reducing the risk of yellowing and cracking.

GM: How does the lamination process with TPU differ from using other interlayers like PVB?

MC: The lamination process differs in several ways. While other materials typically require high heat and pressure in an autoclave, we offer film grades that can be processed at lower lamination temperatures, making them more adaptable to complex geometries and double-curved glazing.

GM: What about their complete performance profile, e.g., structural integrity, optical clarity and durability?

MC: TPU films have a well-rounded performance profile. Structurally, they deliver excellent energy absorption and adhesion to maintain panel integrity. In terms of optical clarity, TPU films are engineered to remain transparent even when laminated onto complex or curved surfaces, with minimal risk of warping, bubbling or hazing. Plus, as already mentioned, long-term durability can be delivered through resistance to UV radiation, moisture and environmental degradation. This helps ensure laminated glazing can maintain its safety and appearance over an extended service life.

GM: What certifications or testing standards does KRYSTALFLEX® TPU meet?

MC: After 50 years in the business, our films have been rigorously tested multiple times, in laboratories, by glaziers and in real-world applications. For example, many of our architectural customers specify KRYSTALFLEX® TPU as they know it will help them achieve ASTM F3561 compliance. Glazing units made using our films are also proven to meet other composite standards, including UL 752 Level 1-10 and NIJ 0108.01 Level 1-12. Separately, we routinely run our own tests on our films—checking physical, thermal and optical performance.

GM: Can you share any challenging projects where this material was used?

MC: KRYSTALFLEX® has been specified in numerous highly demanding projects where conventional interlayers could not meet performance requirements. Most application details are confidential, because of the nature of security glazing. However, we can say that KRYSTALFLEX® TPU has been used in embassy glazing and government facilities where resistance to forced-entry and external threats is required. In these projects, KRYSTALFLEX® solved the challenge of combining very high impact resistance with the need for absolute optical clarity over time. Another really challenging application is in the aerospace industry, in windshields and canopies that must be able to withstand bird strikes, high wind loads and extreme UV exposure. Here, KRYSTALFLEX® TPU films can provide the necessary flexibility and adhesion required to bond glass with polycarbonate, delivering a lightweight yet resilient solution that can perform consistently under harsh environmental conditions. In both these settings, TPU excels, absorbing and dispersing energy under extreme stress, resisting long-term environmental degradation and maintaining visual clarity.

GM: Is Huntsman exploring any new applications or industries beyond security and architectural glazing?

MC: Yes, we are actively exploring opportunities in other industries where there is the chance to leverage the versatility and environmental stability of TPU. This includes electronics and displays, where optical-grade films can enhance durability and performance in large-format screens and advanced devices. Smart windows/electrochromic technology is another area; alongside transparent structures in electric vehicles, which can help support weight-reduction efforts.

GM: How do you see the market for high-performance security glazing evolving, and what role will TPU films play?

MC: It’s clear that demand for high-performance security glazing is only going to increase, driven by the need for resilience against security threats, geopolitical tensions and weather events. TPU is uniquely positioned to play a central role in this future. Delivering a combination of structural integrity, optical clarity and environmental durability makes it ideally suited for next-generation laminates that must balance protection with design flexibility. By enabling strong adhesion across glass and polycarbonate, TPU interlayers can support the development of hybrid glazing systems that are lighter, stronger and more versatile. 

KRYSTALFLEX® TPU has been around for decades, and as the market evolves, we believe it will continue to underpin applications where both security and transparency are critical, continuing to set new performance benchmarks for safety glazing worldwide. As a team, we are working to develop the next generation of KRYSTALFLEX® TPUs at our Technical Center in New Hampshire, for manufacture in our state-of-the-art facility in Illinois. As we progress this work, we welcome glass companies, laminators and solution providers to visit us, learn more about our capabilities and discuss their specific needs and potential opportunities to collaborate.