FLAME RETARDANCY OF ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES

• US 20170307952A1
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: ASH, Kevin L., DOZEMAN, Gary J., KLOEPPNER, Leroy J., CARROLL, Michelle
• Granted Patent: US 10,459,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/3812 having fluorine atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/5015 having fluorine atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/72 Polyisocyanates or polyisothiocyanates
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/73 acyclic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7621 being toluene diisocyanate including isomer mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7664 containing alkylene polyphenyl groups
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7671 containing only one alkylene bisphenyl group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/792 formed by oligomerisation of aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic isocyanates or isothiocyanates
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/0066 Flame-proofing or flame-retarding additives
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/11 of acyclic polycarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/49 Phosphorus-containing compounds C08K5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 21/08 containing halogen
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 21/10 containing nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 21/12 containing phosphorus
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 21/14 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

An electrochromic device includes one or more flame-retardant agents.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device comprising a flame-retardant agent.

2. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the flame-retardant agent is independently selected from the group consisting of a flame-retardant co-solvent, an electrochromic medium flame-retardant additive, a flame-retardant gel matrix material, and a sealing member flame-retardant additive.

3. The electrochromic device of claim 2 comprising the flame-retardant co-solvent comprising a fluorinated carbonate, an ionic liquid, or any combination thereof.

4. The electrochromic device of claim 3 comprising a fluorinated carbonate, wherein the fluorinated carbonate comprises 2-fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate, 3,3,3-trifluoropropylene carbonate, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

5. The electrochromic device of claim 3 comprising the ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid comprises 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, 4-methyl-1-butyl pyridinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazlium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

6. The electrochromic device of claim 2 comprising an electrochromic medium flame-retardant additive comprising a phosphate compound, a cyclic and polymeric phosphazene compound, a phosphazene base, a fluorinated ester, a fluorinated ether, a fluorinated electrolyte salt, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

7. The electrochromic device of claim 6 comprising the phosphate compound, wherein the phosphate compound is tributyl phosphate, diphenyloctyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, triethyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, trixylenyl phosphate, tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

8. The electrochromic device of claim 6 comprising the cyclic or polymeric phosphazene compounds, wherein the cyclic and polymeric phosphazene compound is 2,2,4,4,6,6-hexahydro-2,2,4,4,6,6-hexakis(p-tolyloxy)triazatriphosphorine, poly(bis(phenoxy)phosphazine), poly(bis(ethoxy)phosphazene), poly(bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene), poly(bis(4-(ethoxy carbonyl)phenoxy)phosphazene, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

9. The electrochromic device of claim 6 comprising the phosphazene base, wherein the phosphazene base is tert-butylimino-tri(pyrrolidino)phosphorane, tert-octylimino-tris(dimethylamino)phosphorane, or a combination thereof.

10. The electrochromic device of claim 6 comprising the fluorinated ester, wherein the fluorinated ester is methyl perfluorooctanoate, dimethyl tetrafluorosuccinate, dimethyl hexafluoroglutarate, dimethyl octafluoroadipate, ethylperfluorobutyrate, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

11. The electrochromic device of claim 6 comprising the fluorinated ether, wherein the fluorinated ether is 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-3-methoxypropane, ethoxynonafluorobutane, 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5-decafluoro-3-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)pentane, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

12. The electrochromic device of claim 6 comprising the fluorinated electrolyte salt, wherein the fluorinated electrolyte salt is tetraethylammonium hexafluorophosphate, lithium hexafluorophosphate, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, tetrabutyl ammonium hexafluororphosphate, tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

13. The electrochromic device of claim 2 comprising the flame-retardant gel matrix material comprising a fluorinated poly(ethylene glycol) cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.

14. The electrochromic device of claim 13, wherein the fluorinated poly(ethylene glycol) comprises 1H,1H,8H,8H-perfluoro-3,6-dioxaoctane-1,8-diol.

15. The electrochromic device of claim 13, wherein the cross-linking agent comprises an aliphatic or aromatic polyisocyanate.

16. The electrochromic device of claim 15, wherein the polyisocyanate comprises HDT (trimer of hexamethylene diisocyanate), polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

17. The electrochromic device of claim 1 further comprising a sealing member comprising a flame-retardant additive selected from the group consisting of metal hydroxides, melamine polyphosphates, metal salts of dialkyl phosphinates, aromatic phosphates, and a combination of any two or more thereof.

18. The electrochromic device of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrochromic medium comprising at least one cathodic electroactive material; and

a chamber defined by a first conductive surface of a first substrate, a second conductive surface of a second substrate, and a sealing member joining the first substrate to the second substrate,

wherein the electrochromic medium is disposed within the chamber.

19. The electrochromic device of claim 18, wherein the electrochromic medium and/or the sealing member comprises the one or more flame-retardant agents.

20. The electrochromic device of claim 18 which is an electrochromic aircraft transparency.