Laminated glazing and means for its peripheral sealing

• US 20040067343A1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Giron, Jean-Christophe, Beteille, Fabien
• Granted Patent: US 7,033,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/192
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10302 Edge sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10495 optoelectronic, i.e. optical valve
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1077 containing polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10788 containing ethylene vinylacetate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/12 Photovoltaic modules
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/05 Bonding or intermediate layer characterised by chemical composition, e.g. sealant or spacer
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66328 of rubber, plastics or similar materials E06B3/66314, E06B3/66323 and E06B3/66342 take precedence; transparent materials E06B3/66333
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6722 with adjustable passage of light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/917 Electroluminescent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature

Abstract

The invention concerns a laminated glazing comprising two substrates (1, 2) between which is provided an active system (3), the glazing is provided with first peripheral sealing means (5), in particular proof against water in vapour form, comprising at least a joint based on thermofusible polymer(s) selected among at least one of the following polymer families: vinylacetate-ethylene, polyisobutylene, polyamide, or based on a sealant, in particular derived from polyurethane, polysulphide or silicone. Said joint can also be associated with mechanical reinforcement and/or spacing calibration means between the two substrates.

Claims

1. Laminated glazing comprising two substrates (1, 2) between which an active system (3) is placed, characterized in that the said glazing is provided with a first peripheral sealing means (5), especially one sealing against water in vapour form, comprising at least one seal based on one or more hot-melt polymers chosen from at least one of the following polymer families:

ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyisobutylene and polyamide, or based on a mastic, especially one based on polyurethane, polysulphide or silicone.

4. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active system (3) is an electrochemical system, especially an electrically controllable system having variable energy/optical properties, such as an all solid-state electrochromic system, an optical valve system, a liquid-crystal system, a viologen-based system, a photovoltaic system or an electroluminescent system.

5. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active system (3) is a thermochromic, thermotropic, photochromic, solar-control or low-emissivity layer or multilayer.

6. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active system (3) is a grid of heating wires or a heating layer.

7. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is in the form of laminated glazing with two rigid or semirigid substrates (1, 2) between which is the electroactive system (3) surmounted by at least one interlayer (4) based on a thermoplastic polymer.

8. Glazing according to claim 7, characterized in that the interlayer or interlayers (4) has (have) smaller dimensions than those of the two substrates (1, 2) so as to create a peripheral groove between the said substrates, the seal or seals of the first peripheral sealing means (5) being at least partly, and preferably entirely, housed in the said groove.

9. Glazing according to claim 8, characterized in that the inner edge of at least one of the substrates, especially of both substrates, is bevelled so as to define a wider peripheral groove.

10. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer-based seal or seals (5) of the first peripheral sealing means also includes (include) at least one crosslinking agent, especially one made of an isocyanate and/or an epoxide.

11. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer-based seal or seals of the first peripheral sealing means also includes (include) a tackifying resin, especially one chosen from resins having a molar mass of less than 10,000 or 5000, of the hydrocarbon aliphatic resin type.

12. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer-based seal or seals of the first peripheral sealing means also includes (include) at least one mineral filler, especially one chosen from aluminium or magnesium oxide, silica sand, quartz, pyrogenic or nonpyrogenic silica, talc, mica, kaolin, glass microspheres and calcium carbonate.

13. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal or seals of the first peripheral sealing means has (have) a softening point of between 70 and 180°

C., especially between 90 and 100°

C. or between 145 and 170°

C.

14. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal or seals of the first peripheral sealing means has (have) a viscosity of between 0.1 and 20 Pa·

s, especially between 0.8 and 8 Pa·

s, at 190°

C.

15. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal or seals of the first peripheral sealing means has (have) a water vapour permeability of less than or equal to 5 or 4 or 3 g/m²/24 h according to the ASTM E 9663 T standard.

16. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal or seals of the first peripheral sealing means is (are) fitted by extrusion or injection in the liquid phase.

17. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first peripheral sealing means comprises at least one polymer-based seal combined with means for mechanically reinforcing and/or for gauging the gap between the two substrates, the said reinforcing and/or gauging means comprising rigid or semirigid balls, especially made of metal, of the aluminium or steel type, or made of glass or made of ceramic or made of zeolite, preferably a hydrophilic zeolite.

18. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first peripheral sealing means comprises at least one polymer-based seal combined with means for mechanically reinforcing and/or for gauging the gap between the two substrates, the said reinforcing and/or gauging means comprising studs, especially polyhedra having a square, rectangular or trapezoidal cross section, for example made of metal, glass, ceramic or low-melting-point glass frit.

19. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first peripheral sealing means comprises at least one polymer-based seal combined with means for mechanically reinforcing and/or gauging the gap between the two glass panes, the said reinforcing and/or gauging means comprising one or more metal wires.

20. Glazing according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the balls and/or studs and/or metal wires are embedded in the polymer-based seal, or at least partially incrusted in the said seal.

21. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first peripheral sealing means comprises at least one polymer-based seal combined with means for mechanically reinforcing and/or for gauging the gap between the two substrates, the said reinforcing and/or gauging means comprising a frame, especially made of metal, glass, ceramic or low-melting-point glass frit.

22. Glazing according to claim 21, characterized in that at least one part of the bearing surfaces via which the frame bears on the substrates is coated with one or more polymer-based seals.

23. Glazing according to one of claims 17 to 22, characterized in that it is in the form of laminated glazing with the two rigid or semirigid substrates (1, 2) between which the active system (3) and optionally one or more interlayers (4) based on a thermoplastic polymer are placed and in that the diameter (d₁) of the balls and/or the height (h₁) of the studs and/or the diameter (d₂) of the wire or wires and/or the height (h₂) of the frame is between ½

e and e−

0.1 mm where (e) is the total thickness of the interlayer or interlayers (4), or the desired gap between the two substrates (1, 2).

24. Glazing according to claim 23, characterized in that the value (e) is between 0.35 mm and 1.25 mm.

25. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a second peripheral sealing means, in the form of at least one seal which seals against liquid water, especially one chosen which is based on a polyurethane, a silicone or a polysulphide.

26. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a second peripheral sealing means in the form of a seal made of a thermoplastic polymer of the PVB or EVA type, especially one having the same nature as the polymer interlayer or interlayers (4) used to laminate the said glazing.

27. Glazing according to claim 25 or claim 26, characterized in that the first and the second peripheral sealing means comprise seals which are adjoined.

28. Glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all the seals of the peripheral sealing means are housed in the peripheral groove present between the two substrates (1, 2) because of the set-back of the thermoplastic polymer-based interlayer or interlayers (4), especially so as to obtain flush seals.

29. Process for manufacturing the glazing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal or seals of the peripheral sealing means are deposited by injecting them in liquid form, by extrusion or in the form of pre-extruded or precast beads, on the already assembled glazing or on one of the substrates of the glazing before assembly.

2. Laminated glazing comprising two substrates (1, 2) between which an active system (3) is placed, characterized in that the said glazing is provided with a first peripheral sealing means (5), especially one sealing against water in vapour form, comprising at least one seal based on one or more polymers and combined with means for mechanically reinforcing and/or for gauging the space between the two substrates.

3. Glazing according to claim 2, characterized in that the seal (5) is based on one or more hot-melt polymers chosen from at least one of the following polymer families:

ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyisobutylene, polyamide or one based on a mastic, especially one based on polyurethane, polysulphide or silicone.