SWITCHABLE ELECTRICAL COMPOSITE PANE ARRAY

Abstract

A composite switchable pane array, having: a first pane; a second pane, and an intermediate layer arranged therebetween, wherein the intermediate layer has at least one first thermoplastic polymer film and one second thermoplastic polymer film, and an SPD film arranged therebetween; and an edge sealing arranged in the outer edge region of the intermediate layer, containing a polyimide (PI) and/or polyisobutylene (FIB).

Claims

1. A switchable composite pane arrangement, comprising: a first pane; a second pane; an intermediate layer arranged therebetween, wherein the intermediate layer contains at least one first thermoplastic polymer film and one second thermoplastic polymer film as well as one suspended particle device (SPD) film arranged therebetween; and an edge sealing arranged in an outer edge region of the intermediate layer, containing a polyimide (PI), wherein the edge sealing covers the SPD film in a region of an outer edge of the SPD film and runs with a length (L) of at least 1 mm above and below the inner surfaces of the SPD film, wherein the edge sealing comprises a polyimide film, wherein an outer edge of the first thermoplastic polymer film and an outer edge of the second thermoplastic polymer film exceed the covered outer edge of the SPD film by at least 2 mm, and wherein the outer edge of the first thermoplastic film and the outer edge of the second thermoplastic film merge during a lamination process so to surround the SPD film.

2. The switchable composite pane arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a third thermoplastic polymer film is arranged between the first pane and the second thermoplastic polymer film.

3. The switchable composite pane arrangement according to claim 2, wherein an IR-radiation-reflective coating is arranged between the third thermoplastic polymer film and the second thermoplastic polymer film.

4. The switchable composite pane arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the IR-radiation-reflective coating contains niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, zirconium, silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, chromium, copper, and/or mixtures or alloys thereof.

5. The switchable composite pane arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer films contain PVB (polyvinyl butyral) and/or EVA (polyethyl vinyl acetate).

6. The switchable composite pane arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer films contain polyethyl vinyl acetate.

7. The switchable composite pane arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the SPD film has an external edge set back by 1 mm to 4 mm relative to the first thermoplastic polymer film and the second thermoplastic polymer film.

8. The switchable composite pane arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the SPD film has a thickness from 100 m to 500 m.

9. The switchable composite pane arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the SPD film has a thickness from 150 m to 400 m.

10. The switchable composite pane arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the SPD film comprises an electrical contact.

11. The switchable composite pane arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the edge sealing includes a polyacrylic adhesive.

12. A method for producing a switchable composite pane arrangement, comprising: sheathing a suspended particle device (SPD) film in its outer edge region by an edge sealing, containing a polyimide (PI), thus obtaining a film, wherein the edge sealing is configured as isolating film comprising a polyimide film and a polyacylate glue; arranging the sheathed SPD film between a first thermoplastic polymer film and a second thermoplastic polymer film to form an intermediate layer, wherein an outer edge of the first thermoplastic polymer film and an outer edge of the second thermoplastic polymer film exceed an outer edge of the sheathed SPD film by at least 2 mm; and laminating the intermediate layer and the sheathed SPD film between a first pane and a second pane, wherein the laminating causes the outer edge of the first thermoplastic film and the outer edge of the second thermoplastic film to merge so to surround the SPD film.

13. A method, comprising: providing a switchable composite pane arrangement; and using the arrangement as motor vehicle glazing, ship glazing, train glazing, aircraft glazing, and/or architectural glazing, wherein the switchable composite pane arrangement includes a first pane, a second pane, and an intermediate layer arranged therebetween, wherein the intermediate layer contains at least one first thermoplastic polymer film and one second thermoplastic polymer film as well as one suspended particle device (SPD) film arranged therebetween, and an edge sealing arranged in the outer edge region of the intermediate layer, containing a polyimide (PI) and/or polyisobutylene (FIB), wherein the edge sealing covers the SPD film in the outer edge region and runs with a length (L) of at least 1 mm above and below the inner surfaces of the SPD film, wherein the edge sealing comprises a polyimide film, wherein an outer edge of the first thermoplastic polymer film and an outer edge of the second thermoplastic polymer film exceed by at least 2 mm the covered outer edge of the SPD film, and wherein the outer edge of the first thermoplastic film and the outer edge of the second thermoplastic film merge during a lamination process so to surround the SPD film.

Description

[0037] The invention is explained in detail in the following with reference to drawings. The drawings are a purely schematic representation and are not true to scale. They in no way restrict the invention.

[0038] They depict:

[0039] FIG. 1 a cross-section of an electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the prior art,

[0040] FIG. 2 a cross-section of an electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the invention,

[0041] FIG. 3 a cross-section of a preferred electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the invention,

[0042] FIG. 4 a cross-section of another preferred electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the invention,

[0043] FIG. 5 a flowchart for producing the electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the invention, and

[0044] FIG. 6 a flowchart for alternative producing of the electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the invention.

[0045] FIG. 1 depicts a cross-section of an electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the prior art. A thermoplastic intermediate layer (3) is arranged between a first pane (1) and a second pane (2). The thermoplastic intermediate layer (3) comprises one first thermoplastic polymer film (3a) and one second thermoplastic polymer film (3c) as well as an electrically switchable transmittance-variable SPD film (3b) arranged therebetween. A voltage source is connected to the electrically switchable transmittance-variable SPD film (3b) by an electrical contact (not shown).

[0046] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-section of an electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the invention. A thermoplastic intermediate layer (3) is arranged between a first pane (1) and a second pane (2). The thermoplastic intermediate layer (3) comprises one first thermoplastic polymer film (3a) and one second thermoplastic polymer film (3c) as well as an electrically switchable transmittance-variable SPD film (3b) arranged therebetween. An edge sealing (4) is arranged in the outer edge region (5) of the electrically switchable transmittance-variable SPD film (3b). The edge sealing contains a polyimide (PI) with the edge sealing (4) extending from the outer edge region (5) with the length (L) of at least 1 mm above (I) and below (II) the SPD film (3b) between the first thermoplastic polymer film (3a) and the second thermoplastic polymer film (3c). The edge sealing (4) is preferably implemented as a polyimide film.

[0047] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-section of a preferred electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the invention. The basic structure corresponds to that depicted in FIG. 2. In addition, a third thermoplastic polymer film (3d) is arranged between the first pane (1) and the intermediate layer (3). Moreover, an IR-radiation-reflective coating (6), for example, silver, is arranged between the third thermoplastic polymer film (3d) and the intermediate layer (3).

[0048] FIG. 4 depicts a cross-section of an alternative preferred electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the invention. The basic structure corresponds, except for the edge sealing (4), to that depicted in FIG. 2. A notch (7) that is filled with an edge sealing (4) made of polyisobuthylene and polyurethane is situated in the edge region of the intermediate layer (3).

[0049] FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart for producing the electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the invention. In a first step, an electrically switchable transmittance-variable SPD film (3b) is sheathed in its outer edge region with an edge sealing (4) containing a polyimide (PI). The edge sealing (4) is preferably implemented as an insulating film comprising a polyimide film with a polyacrylic adhesive. The sheathed electrically switchable transmittance-variable SPD film (3b) forms a film. In the next step, the film is arranged between a first thermoplastic polymer film and a second thermoplastic polymer film such that the thermoplastic polymer films (3a, 3c) have an edge protrusion at least 2 mm greater than the film. In final steps (not depicted), the electrically switchable transmittance-variable SPD film (3b) is also provided with an electrical contact and an electrical controller.

[0050] FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart for alternative production of the electrically switchable composite pane arrangement according to the invention. An electrically switchable transmittance-variable SPD film (3b) is arranged to form an intermediate layer (3) between a first thermoplastic polymer film (3a) and a second thermoplastic polymer film (3c). The resultant intermediate layer (3) is subsequently laminated between a first pane (1) and a second pane (2). In a next step, a notch (7) is milled at least 1 mm into the intermediate layer (3) in the region of the electrically switchable transmittance-variable SPD film (3b). In the following steps, the notch (7) is filled with polyisobutylene (PIB). After curing of the polyisobutylene, the notch (7) is then sealed with polyurethane (PU).

[0051] In the following, the invention is explained in detail with reference to two examples and one comparative example. The examples in no way limit the invention.

1. Example (According to the Invention)

[0052] A glass composite pane (20 cm20 cm) contained the following structure (thickness indicated) made of a first pane (1) (2.1 mm), a first thermoplastic polymer film (3a) (EVA, 0.38 mm), an SPD film (3b)(0.35 mm), a second thermoplastic polymer film (3c) (EVA, 0.38 mm), PET with silver coating (6)(0.05 mm), a third thermoplastic polymer film (3c) (EVA, 0.38 mm), a second pane (2) (2.1 mm). The SPD film (3b) was sheathed in the edge region as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 with an edge sealing (4) made of polyimide film. The thermoplastic films (3a, 3c) made of EVA had, compared to the SPD film (3b), a protrusion of roughly 2 mm. The glass composite pane was subjected to heated storage for 28 days at 90 C. and a WOM (Weather-Ometer test) for 1000 hours at 90 C. and irradiation by a xenon lamp (PV3929) with energy of 1250 W/h*m.sup.2.

2. Example (According to the Invention)

[0053] A glass composite pane (20 cm20 cm) contain the following structure (thickness indicated) made of a first pane (1)(2.1 mm), a first thermoplastic polymer film (3a) (EVA, 0.38 mm), an SPD film (3b) (0.35 mm), a second thermoplastic polymer film (3c) (EVA, 0.38 mm), PET with silver coating (6) (0.05 mm), a third thermoplastic polymer film (3c) (EVA, 0.38 mm), a second pane (2) (2.1 mm). The SPD film (3b) was sheathed in the edge region as depicted in FIG. 4 with an edge sealing (4) made of polyisobutylene and polyurethane. The glass composite pane was subjected, as in Example 1, to heated storage for 28 days at 90 C. and a WOM (Weather-Ometer test) for 1000 hours at 90 C. and irradiation by a xenon lamp (PV3929) with energy of 1250 W/h*m.sup.2.

3. Comparative Example (Prior Art)

[0054] The glass composite pane corresponded to that in Example 1 and 2 without sealing of the SPD film (3b). The glass composite pane was subjected as in Example 1 and 2 to heated storage for 28 days at 90 C. and a WOM test (Weather meter test) for 1000 hours at 90 C. and irradiation by xenon lamp (PV3929) with energy of 1250 W/h*m.sup.2.

[0055] The results of the tests of the examples are presented in Table 1. In the examples, the degeneration of the SPD film in the edge region was measured after the test runs heated storage and WOM test. The degeneration of the SPD film is evidenced by brightening of the SPD film in the de-energized state. Table 1 indicates in mm the size of the edge region of the SPD film that appears bright in the de-energized state. This region is thus no longer (fully) functional.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Degradation of the SPD film in the outer edge region Heated storage WOM Test Example 1 <0.5 mm <1 mm Example 2 <1 mm <2 mm Comparative Example 3 >5 mm >5 mm

[0056] Example 1 and Example 2 according to the invention present, both with heated storage and also with the WOM Test, only very minimal and negligible damage to the edge of the SPD film. Thus, the declines in the functioning edge region move, depending on the test conditions, between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. In the Comparative Example 3, the damage to the edge (>5 mm) of the SPD film is higher by a factor of 2.5 to 10 than in the Example according to the invention. These results were surprising and not obvious to the person skilled in the art. Insulation of the SPD film with commercially available TESAFILM [cellophane tape] yields values similar to Comparative Example 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0057] (1) first pane [0058] (2) second pane [0059] (3) intermediate layer [0060] (3a) first thermoplastic polymer film [0061] (3b) electrically switchable transmittance-variable SPD film [0062] (3c) a second thermoplastic polymer film [0063] (3d) third thermoplastic polymer film [0064] (4) edge sealing [0065] (5) outer edge region [0066] (6) IR-radiation-reflective coating [0067] (7) notch [0068] (L) length of the edge sealing along the SPD film [0069] (I) surface above the SPD film [0070] (II) surface below the SPD film