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Everything buyers ask about PDLC switchable smart film — what it is, what it costs in India, how it installs, and how it behaves for the next decade.
The basics
PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) film is a switchable smart film applied to glass. Millions of liquid-crystal droplets sit inside the film: unpowered, they scatter light and the glass reads as frosted; powered, they align and the glass turns clear. The switch is instant — one flick between private and transparent.
Smart film is the switchable PDLC layer itself — self-adhesive versions retrofit onto glass you already own. Smart glass (laminated PDLC glass) has the same film factory-laminated between two panes, made to size for new construction. Same physics, different packaging.
Yes. In the frosted state PDLC film is an excellent rear-projection surface — boardrooms use the same pane for privacy and presentations, and retail windows run video on the glass after hours.
Price
Indicatively: self-adhesive retrofit film runs ₹800–₹1,400 per sq. ft., lamination-grade film ₹700–₹1,200, and finished laminated smart glass ₹1,500–₹2,500, plus installation and accessories. Quantity, film grade and site conditions decide where you land — see our price guide, or ask for an exact written quote.
Usually, yes. Retrofitting film onto existing glass typically costs 30–50% less than swapping that glass for new laminated smart-glass units, and skips the demolition and downtime of a glass replacement.
Send your glass dimensions (or a count of panes), your city, and where the film is going — WhatsApp or email both work. We reply with a written, itemised quotation, usually within 24 hours.
Installation
Yes — that is the point of the self-adhesive version. It bonds to existing partitions, windows and doors without replacing the glass. We survey the site first: the pane needs a sound surface, an edge route for the low-voltage wiring, and a nearby switch position.
Yes. We supply and install PDLC smart film across India — metros and smaller cities alike. Our own installation team carries every project from survey to switch-on, without subcontract handoffs.
A wall switch is the baseline. Beyond that: remote control, timers, occupancy sensors, and integration with building-automation or smart-home systems — each zone of glass can be switched independently.
Safety & lifespan
Yes. The glass never carries mains voltage: a dedicated isolated transformer steps the supply down to the film's low operating voltage (around 48–65V AC), and the conductive layers are sealed inside the laminate with no exposed live surfaces.
Very little — in the region of 5 watts per square metre while held clear, comparable to LED lighting. In the frosted (private) state the film draws nothing at all.
The film returns to frosted. The failure state is the private state — a bathroom or boardroom never accidentally goes transparent when power drops.
Quality PDLC film is rated for 10+ years and millions of switching cycles under normal indoor use — the crystals don't wear out from daily switching. The written warranty for your specific product is stated in the quotation.
Yes, when installed correctly. The laminate is edge-sealed, the supply is stepped down and isolated, and wiring is enclosed within the frame — the same discipline as any bathroom electrical fitting.