Narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride RECLT films, processes, articles of manufacture and compositions

• US 6,620,342 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arkema Incorporated (Arkema)
• Original Assignee: ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc. (Arkema)
• Inventors: Burchill, Michael Timothy, Despotopoulou, Marina M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kopec, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): VIJAYAKUMAR, KALLAMBELLA M
• Application Number:
  US09/693,863
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 252/520.1, 252/520.3, 252/520.5, 252/521.1, 252/521.2, 252/519.21, 252/518.1, 526/249, 526/253, 526/255, 428/1.2, 428/1.27, 428/1.4, 359/265, 359/273, 429/306, 556/1, 556/16
• US Class Current: 252/511
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/06 containing organic luminescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/02 Alignment layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/0271 Polyimidfluoride
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/04 Charge transferring layer characterised by chemical composition, i.e. conductive
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1508 using a solid electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1516 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/172 based on a suspension of orientable dipolar particles, e.g. suspended particles displays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/261 In terms of molecular thickness or light wave length

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a reversible, electrically controllable light transmission (RECLT) film, article of manufacture composition, process and product produced by the process, comprising a conductive narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer in combination with an electrolyte and an RECLT material. The narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer has low solubility, high thermal stability and strength, and very high optical clarity. The polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer comprises a nonporous or porous copolymer of vinylidene fluoride preferably with either hexafluoropropylene or tetrafluoroethylene or chlorotrifluoroethylene, or vinyl acetate, or combinations thereof. The RECLT material includes organic or inorganic compounds known in the art. Typical RECLT materials include electrochromic materials, reversible metal electrodeposition materials, liquid crystal materials and dispersed particle materials.

Claims

1. An RECLT film comprising a conductive narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer film combined with an electrolyte and operatively associated with an RECLT material,

wherein said narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer film has the characteristics of a polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer having up to 8 weight percent nominal hexafluoropropylene content having weight percent extractables within plus or minus 1.5% of the percent by weight extractables calculated by an equation selected from the group consisting of:

a)

2. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer film is porous or non-porous.

3. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer film is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride with hexafluoropropylene, or tetrafluoroethylene, or chlorotrifluoroethylene, or vinyl acetate, or combinations thereof.

4. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said RECLT material is an organic compound.

5. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said RECLT material is an organic electrochromic material.

6. The RECLT film of claim 5 wherein said organic electrochromic material is ferrocene, a 4,4′

-dipyridinium compound, tetrathiafulvalene, arylpyrazoline, fluorene, benzoquinone, naphthoquinone, anthraquinone, pyrylium, a pyridium, methylene blue, furil, ferroine, and complexes of diphthalocyanine and rare earth metals.

7. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said RECLT material is an inorganic compound.

8. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said RECLT material is an inorganic electrochromic material.

9. The RECLT film of claim 8 wherein said electrochromic material is an inorganic material based on transition metal compounds that vary between a +2 and +3 valence state or transition metal compounds that vary between a +3 and +4 valence state.

10. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said RECLT material is a compound of zinc, cadmium, lead, silver, copper, iron, nickel, tin, indium, platinum, palladium, gold, bismuth, antimony, tellurium, manganese, thallium, selenium, gallium, arsenic, mercury, chromium, tungsten, and molybdenum.

11. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said RECLT material is an electrochromic material and comprises tungsten oxide.

12. The RECLT film of claim 1 where in said RECLT material is a reversible metal electrodeposition material.

13. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said RECLT material is a liquid crystal material.

14. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said RECLT material is a dispersed particle material.

15. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said copolymer is an alpha, gamma, or beta polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer or mixtures thereof.

16. The RECLT film of claim 1 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene containing a maximum of about 24 weight percent hexafluoropropylene, having a uniform distribution of hexafluoropropylene residue between chains.

17. The RECLT film of claim 16 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, having solutions of improved clarity and fluidity.

18. An RECLT article of manufacture comprising a conductive narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer film combined with an electrolyte and operatively associated with an RECLT material, a substantially transparent electrode, and a counter electrode

wherein said narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer film has the characteristics of a polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer having up to 8 weight percent nominal hexafluoropropylene content having weight percent extractables within plus or minus 1.5% of the percent by weight extractables calculated by an equation selected from the group consisting of:

a)

19. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said film is porous or non-porous.

20. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer film is a vinylidene fluoride copolymer with hexafluoropropylene, or tetrafluoroethylene, or chlorotrifluoroethylene, or vinyl acetate, or combinations thereof.

21. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said RECLT material is an organic compound.

22. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said RECLT material is an organic electrochromic material.

23. The RECLT article of manufacture film of claim 22 wherein said organic electrochromic material is ferrocene, a 4,4′

-dipyridinium compound, tetrathiafulvalene, arylpyrazoline, fluorene, benzoquinone, naphthoquinone, anthraquinone, pyrylium, pyridium, methylene blue, furil, ferroine, and complexes of diphthalocyanine and rare earth metals.

24. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said RECLT material is an inorganic compound.

25. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said RECLT material is an inorganic electrochromic material.

26. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 25 wherein said electrochromic material is an inorganic material based on transition metal compounds that vary between a +2 and +3 valance state or transition metal compounds that vary between a +3 and +4 valance state.

27. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said RECLT material is a compound of zinc, cadmium, lead, silver, copper, iron, nickel, tin, indium, platinum, palladium, gold, bismuth, antimony, tellurium, manganese, thallium, selenium, gallium, arsenic, mercury, chromium, tungsten, and molybdenum.

28. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said RECLT material is an electrochromic material and comprises tungsten oxide.

29. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said RECLT material is a reversible metal electrodeposition material.

30. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 therein said RECLT material is a liquid crystal material.

31. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said RECLT material is a dispersed particle material.

32. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said copolymer is an alpha, gamma, or beta polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer or mixtures thereof.

33. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene containing a maximum of about 24 weight percent hexafluoropropylene, having a uniform distribution of hexafluoropropylene residue between chains.

34. The RECLT article of manufacture of claim 33 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, having solutions of improved clarity and fluidity.

35. An RECLT composition of matter comprising a conductive narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer combined with an RECLT material and an electrolyte

wherein said narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer film has the characteristics of a polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer having up to 8 weight percent nominal hexafluoropropylene content having weight percent extractables within plus or minus 1.5% of the percent by weight extractables calculated by an equation selected from the group consisting of:

a)

36. The composition of claim 35 wherein said polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer is porous or non-porous.

37. The composition of claim 35 wherein said polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer is a vinylidene fluoride copolymer with hexafluoropropylene, or tetrafluoroethylene, or chlorotrifluoroethylene, or vinyl acetate, or combinations thereof.

38. The composition of claim 35 wherein said RECLT material is an organic compound.

39. The composition of claim 35 wherein said RECLT material is an organic electrochromic material.

40. The composition of claim 39 wherein said organic electrochromic material is ferrocene, a 4,4′

-dipyridinium compound, tetrathiafulvalene, arylpyrazoline, fluorene, benzoquinone, naphthoquinone, anthraquinone, pyrylium, pyridium, methylene blue, furil, ferroine, and complexes of diphthalocyanine and rare earth metals.

41. The composition of claim 35 wherein said RECLT material is an inorganic compound.

42. The composition of claim 35 wherein said RECLT material is an inorganic electrochromic material.

43. The composition of claim 42 wherein said electrochromic material is an inorganic material based on transition metal compounds that vary between a +2 and +3 valence state or transition metal compounds that vary between a +3 and +4 valence state.

44. The composition of claim 35 wherein said RECLT material is a compound of zinc, cadmium, lead, silver, copper, iron, nickel, tin, indium, platinum, palladium, gold, bismuth, antimony, tellurium, manganese, thallium, selenium, gallium, arsenic, mercury, chromium, tungsten, and molybdenum.

45. The composition of claim 35 wherein said RECLT material is an electrochromic material and comprises tungsten oxide.

46. The composition of claim 35 wherein said RECLT material is a reversible metal electrodeposition material.

47. The composition of claim 35 wherein said RECLT material is a liquid crystal material.

48. The composition of claim 35 wherein said RECLT material is a dispersed particle material.

49. The RECLT film of claim 35 wherein said copolymer is an alpha, gamma, or beta polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer or mixtures thereof.

50. The RECLT composition of claim 35 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene containing a maximum of about 24 weight percent hexafluoropropylene, having a uniform distribution of hexafluoropropylene residue between chains.

51. The RECLT composition of claim 50 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, having solutions of improved clarity and fluidity.

52. A process of manufacturing an RECLT composition of matter comprising combining a conductive narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer with an electrolyte and an RECLT material

wherein said narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer film has the characteristics of a polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer having up to 8 weight percent nominal hexafluoropropylene content having weight percent extractables within plus or minus 1.5% of the percent by weight extractables calculated by an equation selected from the group consisting of:

a)

53. The process of claim 52 wherein said polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer is porous or non-porous.

54. The process of claim 52 wherein said polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride with hexafluoropropylene, or tetrafluoroethylene, or chlorotrifluoroethylene, or vinyl acetate, or combinations thereof.

55. The process of claim 53 wherein said RECLT material is an organic compound.

56. The process of claim 53 wherein said RECLT material is an organic electrochromic material.

57. The process of claim 52 wherein said organic electrochromic material is ferrocene, a 4,4′

-dipyridinium compound, tetrathiafulvalene, arylpyrazoline, fluorene, benzoquinone, naphthoquinone, anthraquinone, pyrylium, pyridium, methylene blue, furil, ferroine, and complexes of diphthalocyanine and rare earth metals.

58. The process of claim 52 wherein said RECLT material is an inorganic compound.

59. The process of claim 52 wherein said RECLT material is an inorganic electrochromic material.

60. The process of claim 59 wherein said electrochromic material is an inorganic material based on transition metal compounds that vary between a +2 and +3 valence state or transition metal compounds that vary between a +3 and +4 valence state.

61. The process of claim 52 wherein said RECLT material is a compound of zinc, cadmium, lead, silver, copper, iron, nickel, tin, indium, platinum, palladium, gold, bismuth, antimony, tellurium, manganese, thallium, selenium, gallium, arsenic, mercury, chromium, tungsten, and molybdenum.

62. The process of claim 52 wherein said RECLT material is an electrochromic material and comprises tungsten oxide.

63. The process of claim 52 wherein said RECLT material is a reversible metal electrodeposition material.

64. The process of claim 52 wherein said RECLT material is a liquid crystal material.

65. The process of claim 52 wherein said RECLT material is a dispersed particle material.

66. The RECLT film of claim 52 wherein said copolymer is an alpha, gamma, or beta polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer or mixtures thereof.

67. The process of claim 53 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene containing a maximum of about 24 weight percent hexafluoropropylene, having a uniform distribution of hexafluoropropylene residue between chains.

68. The process of claim 67 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, having solutions of improved clarity and fluidity.

69. A product produced by the process of claim 52.

70. A product produced by the process of claim 53.

71. A product produced by the process of claim 55.

72. A product produced by the process of claim 58.

73. A product produced by the process of claim 67.