Hydrophilic Glass

A type of self-cleaning glass, the coating on hydrophilic glass makes water run in sheets, rather than single drops. Hydrophilic glass is almost the opposite of hydrophobic glass, in that the water is attracted to the coating and spreads out. Like hydrophobic glass, the hydrophilic glass coating plays a part in the self-cleaning aspect, but rather than preventing substances from adhering to the glass, hydrophilic glass coating breaks down organic matter when exposed to UV light. After a day in the sun, dirt and organic matter can be washed away when rain or other water applied to the surface runs flat and quickly across the surface of the glass.