Self-responding laminated bodies, their production process and windows using the same

• US 5,615,040 A
• Filed: 10/26/1994
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Affinity Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Affinity Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Watanabe, Haruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cain, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US08/325,385
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 359/288, 359/289, 359/103, 359/99
• US Class Current: 359/288
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10302 Edge sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10486 photochromic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10568 varying in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6722 with adjustable passage of light
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0147 based on thermo-optic effects G02F1/132 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention describes a self-responding laminated body in which an isotropic solution, wherein a polysaccharide derivative, dissolved in water, aggregates to demonstrate cloudy scattering due to a rise in temperature resulting in a decrease in optical transmittance, is sealed in a cell, of which at least a portion is transparent, that enables the aqueous solution to be viewed directly; wherein, the isotropic aqueous solution is a solution in which 100 parts by weight of a polysaccharide derivative, having a weight average molecular weight of roughly 10,000 to roughly 200,000, is dissolved in roughly 110 to roughly 2,000 parts by weight of a water-based medium composed of an amount of water that is roughly 25 to roughly 450 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the polysaccharide derivative, and an amphipathic substance. This laminated body can be produced by sealing the isotropic aqueous solution in a cell having at least one transparent portion that enables the aqueous solution to be viewed directly, and can be advantageously used as a window.

Claims

1. A self-responding laminated body in which an isotropic solution, wherein a polysaccharide derivative, dissolved in water, aggregates to demonstrate cloudy scattering due to a rise in temperature resulting in a decrease in optical transmittance, is sealed in a cell, of which at least a portion is transparent, that enables said aqueous solution to be viewed directly;

wherein, said isotropic aqueous solution is a solution in which 100 parts by weight of a polysaccharide derivative, having a weight average molecular weight of about 10,000 to 200,000, is dissolved in about 110 to 2,000 parts by weight of a water-based medium composed of an amount of water that is about 25 to 450 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of said polysaccharide derivative, and an amphipathic substance having a hydroxyl group, an ether bonded portion or an ionic group.

2. The laminated body as set forth in claim 1 wherein the polysaccharide derivative is a cellulose derivative.

3. The laminated body as set forth in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the polysaccharide derivative at least has a hydroxypropyl group.

4. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein the polysaccharide derivative is hydroxypropylcellulose.

5. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein the amount of water is about 50 to 300 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the polysaccharide derivative.

6. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein the amphipathic substance has a molecular weight of about 140 to 3,000.

7. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein the amount of amphipathic substance is about 0.5 to 800 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of water.

8. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein the isotropic aqueous solution additionally contains at least one type selected from the group consisting of electrolytes and lower alcohols.

9. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein the air dissolved in the isotropic aqueous solution is replaced with an inert gas.

10. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein the thickness of the layer of the isotropic aqueous solution differs over the laminated body.

11. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein two or more types of isotropic aqueous solutions, or an isotropic aqueous solution and an ordinary water-soluble polymer solution, are laminated.

12. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein a heating device is provided that is able to at least partially heat the laminated body.

13. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein a frame is provided around the outer periphery of the laminated body.

14. The laminated body as set forth in any of claims 1 through 2 wherein the outer periphery of the laminated body is sealed in two stages, and a region composed of saturated water vapor and/or water is provided between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion.

15. A process for producing a self-responding laminated body that includes sealing an isotropic aqueous solution, composed by dissolving 100 parts by weight of a 30 polysaccharide derivative, having a weight average molecular weight of roughly 10,000 to roughly 200,000, in roughly 110 to roughly 2,000 parts by weight of a water-based medium composed of an amount of water that is roughly 25 to roughly 450 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of said polysaccharide derivative, and an amphipathic substance having a hydroxyl group, an ether bonded portion or an ionic group, in a cell, of which at least a portion is transparent, that enables said aqueous solution to be viewed directly.

16. The process as set forth in claim 15 wherein said isotropic aqueous solution is applied to a substrate plate that composes said cell, after which an opposing substrate plate is laminated and sealed.

17. The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein said isotropic aqueous solution is produced by mixing a high concentration aqueous solution of a polysaccharide derivative, obtained as a result of aggregation and precipitation by heating a low concentration aqueous solution, with a low viscosity medium.

18. The process as set forth in claim 15 wherein said isotropic aqueous solution is injected into a hollow body that composes said cell, followed by sealing.

19. The process as set forth in claim 15 that includes dispersing 100 parts by weight of said isotropic aqueous solution and about 110 to 2,000 parts by weight of said water-based medium between laminated substrate plates that compose said cell, and dissolving to form an isotropic aqueous solution layer, followed by sealing.

20. The process as set forth in claim 19 wherein the water-based medium is degassed in advance, and then dispersed between substrate plates.

21. The process as set forth in claim 15 that includes dispersing 100 parts by weight of said polysaccharide derivative and about 110 to 2,000 parts by weight of said water-based medium in a hollow body that composes said cell, and dissolving to form an isotropic aqueous solution layer, followed by sealing.

22. A window that uses a self-responding laminated body wherein an isotropic aqueous solution, in which a polysaccharide derivative, dissolved in water, aggregates to demonstrate cloudy scattering due to a rise in temperature resulting in a decrease in optical transmittance, is sealed in a cell, of which at least a portion is transparent, that enables said aqueous solution to be viewed directly;

wherein, said isotropic aqueous solution is a solution in which 100 parts by weight of a polysaccharide derivative, having a weight average molecular weight of about 10,000 to 200,000, is dissolved in roughly 110 to roughly 2,000 parts by weight of a water-based medium composed of an amount of water that is roughly 25 to roughly 450 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of said polysaccharide derivative, and an amphipathic substance having a hydroxyl group, an ether bonded portion or an ionic group.

23. The window as set forth in claim 22 wherein the polysaccharide derivative is a cellulose derivative.

24. The window as set forth in either of claims 22 or 23 wherein the polysaccharide derivative at least has a hydroxypropyl group.

25. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein the polysaccharide derivative is hydroxypropylcellulose.

26. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein the amount of water is about 50 to 300 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the polysaccharide derivative.

27. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein the amphipathic substance has a molecular weight of about 140 to 3,000.

28. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein the amount of amphipathic substance is about 0.5 to 800 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of water.

29. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein the isotropic aqueous solution additionally contains at least one type selected from the group consisting of electrolytes and lower alcohols.

30. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein the air dissolved in the isotropic aqueous solution is replaced with an inert gas.

31. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein the thickness of the layer of the isotropic aqueous solution differs over the laminated body.

32. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein two or more types of isotropic aqueous solutions, or an isotropic aqueous solution and an ordinary water-soluble polymer solution, are laminated.

33. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein a heating device is provided that is able to at least partially heat the laminated body.

34. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein a frame is provided around the outer periphery of the laminated body.

35. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein the outer periphery of the laminated body is sealed in two stages, and a region composed of saturated water vapor and/or water is provided between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion.

36. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein at least one of the substrate plates is composed of ultraviolet absorbing glass, and this ultraviolet absorbing glass is facing towards the outside.

37. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein at least one of the substrate glass plates is composed of heat absorbing glass.

38. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein a gas layer is additionally provided on the self-responding laminated body.

39. The window as set forth in claim 38 wherein the temperature of the self-responding laminated body is controlled by circulating a cooling medium or heating medium in the gas layer.

40. The window as set forth in any of claims 22 through 23 wherein the self-responding laminated body is combined with a construction material sash or automobile frame to compose a unit.