EP1433025B1 - Laminated unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A laminated panel unit ( 1 ) comprising at least one image layer ( 3 ) between at least two panels ( 2 ), wherein for an area-contact gluing of the image layer ( 3 ) with neighboring panels ( 2 ), one intermediate adhesive layer ( 4, 4 ') is provided on each side thereof, wherein the two intermediate adhesive layers and/or panels following each image layer ( 3 ) have a different thermal expansion behavior so that the image layer ( 3 ), due to the inhomogeneous laminate, is tensioned in case of temperature changes; as well as a method for producing a laminated panel unit ( 1 ), wherein the image layer ( 3 ) is connected with area contact on either side thereof with the panels ( 2 ) by using intermediate adhesive layers ( 4, 4 '), the intermediate adhesive layers ( 4, 4 ') and/or the panels ( 2 ) having a different thermal expansion behavior.

Description

The invention relates to a composite panel unit with at least one image layer between at least two transparent or translucent glass plates, wherein an adhesive intermediate layer is provided on both sides for surface bonding of the image layer with adjacent plates, as well as a method for producing the erfindungsgemäBen composite plate unit. In this case, the image layer can have any desired optical image, including, in particular, lettering.

Such a composite panel unit is already known from EP 375 187 A1, in which case a hologram is glued as an image layer on both sides by means of polyvinyl-butyl-aldehyde layers.

From DE 31 46 254 A1 a arranged in a frame slide is known, which is covered on one or both sides with a two-layer protective film. The two layers of the protective film in this case have different thermal expansion coefficients in order to compensate for the deflection of the slide due to a lamp of a slide projector by an opposite deflection of the protective film.

From NL 9 201 452 A a composite panel unit is known in which an image, in particular a photograph, is arranged between a transparent protective layer made of a rigid plastic material and a supporting layer made of a yielding plastic material, the photograph being provided with a polysiloxane-based adhesive between the protective layer and the support layer is glued surface.

GB 732 046 A discloses a composite panel unit in which a photograph or the like is taken between a transparent panel and a base panel, the transparent panel and the base panel being bonded peripherally by means of an unsaturated acrylic-styrene copolymer adhesive to prevent entry to avoid liquid, wherein the photo is glued on both sides with the transparent plate and the base plate.

EP 0 175 572 A describes the bonding of a photo layer with a single transparent plate made of glass or plastic material, wherein for this purpose an adhesive is provided which also after its hardening is pressure-sensitive and flexible remains so that a different extent of the image and the carrier plate is possible.

In GB 1 068 565 A a composite glass unit is described in which a photo is glued on one side with a transparent or translucent plate.

From FR 2 030 331 A there is shown a composite panel unit in which a photo layer is placed in a vacuum between two panels, at least one of the panels being transparent. This evacuated cavity is hermetically sealed to the outside environment, for which purpose the plates have marginal strips or a frame is provided between the glass plates.

From WO 01/10273 A, a three-layer backing cardboard is known, in which a middle layer is provided, to which an upper paper layer and a lower paper layer adjoins. The paper layers are bonded to the middle layer via adhesive surfaces. For the adhesive surfaces in this case different adhesive material compositions can be used.

A laminated glass unit is already known from US Pat. No. 5,595,794, in which the photo is glued between two glass plates for archiving photoimage material with the aid of two polyurethane adhesive layers, thereby creating a five-layered composite. However, such a laminated glass unit is only suitable for archiving in the interior and this only limited, since even at relatively small temperature fluctuations, the polyurethane adhesive layers of the laminated glass unit expand when heated, and thereby the enclosed between the two glass plates photo curls, resulting in an optical gives rise to a negative, unacceptable change in the photoimage included in the composite glass unit.

A somewhat different composite panel unit having a visible (motif) pattern is described in WO 95/00329 A1. A visible pattern is applied to a plastic film such as a polyvinyl butyral film by means of an epoxy resin-based ink and is dried on the polyvinyl butyral film prior to assembly of the composite unit. More specifically, a paint layer is screen printed to make a pattern and only a single plastic film, ie, polyvinyl butyral film, is used to bond two glass or plastic sheets together.

JP 56-45852 A discloses a process for the production of colored glass, wherein recesses are made by technical means in a resin layer into which finally the desired colors are injected.

The aim of the present invention is now to provide a verbundplatteneinheit of the initially mentioned kind, which ensures optically flawless reproduction of the enclosed between the plates image layer even with temperature fluctuations - In particular, a composite plate unit is to be created, which in the outdoor area, such as facade glazing, windows and the like, can be used and also withstand the outside occurring, significant temperature fluctuations. It is also an object of the invention to provide a method for producing the composite panel unit according to the invention.

The erfinduugsgemäBe composite plate unit of the type described above is characterized in that the two respectively adjoining the image layer adhesive intermediate layers have a different thermal expansion behavior, so that the image layer is stretched due to the inhomogeneous composite with temperature changes between the glass plates. With the help of the two adjacent to the image layer layers (adhesive intermediate layer, plate), which have a different thermal expansion behavior, the image layer is kept taut even when heating the composite plate unit between the two plates. Thus, a wave formation of the enclosed between the two plates image layer and also a blistering can be avoided because due to the different thermal expansion on the two sides of the image layer results in an inhomogeneous glass composite, which results in only a slight curvature of the entire composite panel unit, which, however neither adversely affects the visual appearance nor the adhesive behavior of the image layer.

An inhomogeneous composite is reliably ensured if the two adhesive intermediate layers consist of different materials, so that the enclosed image layer is constantly subjected to a voltage when there is a change in temperature, and thus the formation of bubbles or bubbles can be prevented.

The unwanted wave or blistering can in particular reliably avoided if the two adhesive intermediate layers consist of materials with different thermal expansion coefficients. This ensures that the image layer of the intermediate adhesive layer and / or the plate, which has the greater coefficient of thermal expansion remains reliably stretched even when heating the composite plate unit, with respect to the intermediate adhesive layer and / or the plate with the larger coefficient of thermal expansion slightly concave Krünunung the entire composite panel unit is done.

Tests have shown that it is also favorable to prevent the formation of waves when the two intermediate adhesive layers have different adhesive properties, since the image unit enclosed by the two intermediate adhesive layers is thus tensioned differently on both sides.

To form an inhomogeneous plate / image layer / plate composite, which results in a warp of the entire composite plate unit instead of a corrugation of the image layer enclosed between the plates, it is also advantageous if the two intermediate adhesive layers have different material thickness. For example, an inhomogeneous composite is created, although on both sides of the intermediate adhesive layers of the same material, are provided with the same coefficient of thermal expansion, but the plates have a different material thickness.

It is preferred that at least one intermediate adhesive layer is a film, preferably an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) film, polyvinyl acetate (PVA) film, polyvinyl butyral (PvB) film, or the like. EVA films have proven their worth in practice, since they do not require an autoclave to bond the glass plate to the image layer, unlike the known polyurethane films. As ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer films (EVA films) in particular films from Sekisui, Bridgestone and Takeda are preferred, with the S-LEX-EN film Sekisui the best results in terms of bond strength could be achieved.

If an adhesive intermediate layer consists of cast resin, a reliable composite of the image layer with the adjacent glass plate is given, whereby, of course, various types of cast resin can be used. Likewise has become also proven in tests that an adhesive intermediate layer consists of silicone adhesive.

In order to prevent moisture from penetrating to the image layer enclosed between the plates and thus the strength of the composite plate unit is no longer given or unwanted wave formation of the image layer occurs, it is advantageous if the outer circumference of the plates, on the narrow sides Insulating layer, preferably made of silicone, is provided.

When a photo, slide, inkjet, laser, screen or the like is provided as an image layer, various composite disk units can be manufactured in a variety of variations, and the production of photos, inkjet, laser and the like is easy the composite panel unit. In particular, it is advantageous in terms of long-lasting light fastness of the composite plate unit when photos are used as an image layer when a photo developed by the silver bleaching method (P3X method) is provided. In this case, preference is given to using so-called Ilfochrom photos of Ilford, which were produced by the silver bleaching process, since these have the highest light resistance of all known photographic films. Such photos also bring the advantage that they have polyester as the carrier material, and thus with the two adjacent (glass) plates form an extremely resistant composite almost in the manner of bulletproof glass. Likewise, the image layer enhances the acoustic insulation of the (glass) plates, making them particularly suitable for use as partitions.

In order to achieve different optical effects with the composite panel unit, it is favorable if the image layer is transparent, translucent or opaque. Hiebei, the image layer may have a variety of substrates, wherein the carrier material in a transparent or translucent image layer usually consists of triacetate or polyester, while in opaque image layers preferably polyester films or polyethylene paper is used as a carrier material. The composite plate unit according to the invention can thus also be used very well as a light regulator which regulates or reduces incident light.

if the composite panel unit has an area greater than 2 m ² , preferably greater than 4.5 m ² , it can be advantageously used for outdoor applications such as facades, windows and the like, resulting in an attractive appearance to the viewer from the outside and at the same time the incident Light in the interior reflects the motif of the image layer similar to a slide projection.

The method for producing a composite panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the Hildschicht is connected on both sides using adhesive intermediate layers with the glass plates surface, wherein the intermediate adhesive layers have a different thermal expansion behavior. By this production method, in which adhesion intermediate layers with different thermal expansion behavior are used on the two sides of the image layer, it is possible to produce composite panels in which the image layer does not form waves or bubbles even with temperature changes, so that they can be used in particular in outdoor applications ,

If the glass plates are glued autoclave-free, a much more energy-saving production of the composite plate unit is achieved compared to known manufacturing processes in which the composite plate unit is bonded by means of a polyurethane film in an autoclave.

For a reliable composite of the image layer with the plates, it is advantageous if the composite plate unit is bonded under negative pressure. To increase the adhesion tendency of the image layer, it is advantageous if the image layer is cleaned on both sides before bonding, preferably degreased.

For a simple and cost-effective production and for the simple application of a negative pressure for the bonding, it is advantageous if the gluing of the image layer takes place with at least one glass plate in a plastic envelope. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the plastic sleeve is evacuated with at least one glass plate to preferably substantially 0.8 bar prior to bonding the image layer, thereby advantageously also reducing the humidity in the plastic sleeve. A high moisture content in the composite panel unit is particularly disadvantageous when using Ilfochromfotos, as this affects the light fastness of the photo becomes.

If casting resin is used as the adhesive intermediate layer, it is advantageous if first the image layer is connected only to a first glass plate, preferably in a plastic envelope, and only in a second method step does a second glass plate be connected to the first glass plate after the image layer has been bonded becomes. Thus, after the first process step, an adhesive may be framed at the edge of the glass plate / image layer composite on the image side, thereby keeping the second glass plate spaced from the image layer to rest on the image layer, and the cavity thereafter with cast resin can be filled.

In the two-sided use of films as adhesive intermediate layers, it is favorable for efficient, time-saving production of the composite plate unit, when the image layer is simultaneously connected to both glass plates.

• Fig. 1 eine Ansicht der Verbundglaseinheit in einer auseinandergezogenen noch nicht zusammengefügten Stellung;
• Fig. 2 eine Ansicht der Verbundglaseinheit in einer zusammengefügten Stellung;
• Fig. 3A einen Teilbereich des Schnitts gemäß der Linie III-III in Fig. 2;
• Fig. 3B ebenfalls einen Teilbereich gemäß dem Schnitt III-III in Fig. 2, jedoch mit einer unterschiedlichen Haft-Zwischenschicht; und
• Fig. 4 einen Schnitt einer Verbundglaseinheit mit zwei Bildschichten.

The invention will be explained below with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the drawings, to which, however, it should not be limited. In detail, in the drawing:

• Figure 1 is a view of the laminated glass unit in an exploded not yet assembled position.
• Fig. 2 is a view of the laminated glass unit in an assembled position;
• 3A shows a portion of the section along the line III-III in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 3B also a portion according to the section III-III in Figure 2, but with a different adhesive intermediate layer. and
• 4 shows a section of a laminated glass unit with two image layers.

In Fig. 1, a composite glass unit 1 is shown in a not yet assembled position, wherein the two glass plates 2 are visible, between which an image layer 3 by means of both sides of the image layer 3 provided intermediate adhesive layers 4, 4 'is glued.

Before bonding the image layer 3, which is preferably an Ilfochrome photo, this becomes an increase the adhesive capacity initially degreased on both sides.

Then, the image layer 3 is applied with the interposition of an adhesive intermediate layer 4 on the glass plate 2. Thereafter, the second glass plate 2 with the interposition of a second adhesive intermediate layer 4 'on the glass plate / image layer composite 1' applied. The entire not yet glued laminated glass unit is then coated with a plastic sheath or foil (not shown) and sealed airtight. Subsequently, a vacuum pump is connected to the plastic sheath and thus generates a negative pressure of about 0.83 bar. For gluing the image layer 3 with the adhesive intermediate layers 4, 4 'or for bonding these with the glass plates 2, the entire glass plates / image layer composite is "baked" in an oven.

After the end of the gluing process and cooling of the laminated glass unit, the plastic shell is removed.

As an alternative to the simultaneous bonding of a glass plate / image layer / glass plate unit, the image layer 3 can also first be produced with a glass plate 2 to form a composite 1 ', as is shown in FIG. 1 with the dashed dividing line 5. After the gluing of the image layer 3 with a single glass plate 2, the second glass plate 2 can be placed on the image layer side with the aid of a glue applied like a frame, and the enclosed cavity can be filled with casting resin. Only in a second method step, the second glass plate 2 is then bonded by means of the second cast resin adhesive intermediate layer 4 'with the already glued glass plates / image layer composite 1'.

After bonding, a laminated glass unit 1, as shown in Fig. 2, wherein after bonding to the narrow side 6 on the circumference of the glass plates 2, a silicone bond 7 is applied to reliably prevent moisture from the outside to the between the glass plates 2 enclosed image layer 3 can penetrate; Too high a moisture content in the laminated glass unit would, on the one hand, reduce the strength of the composite and, on the other hand, worsen the lightfastness of the image layer 3 when using an Ilfochrome photo.

It is essential here that the two adhesive intermediate layers 4, 4 'shown schematically in FIGS. 3a and 3b consist of different materials, since an inhomogeneous bond is thus present; whereby unwanted wave formation of the image layer 3 between the two glass plates 2 is prevented when the laminated glass unit 1 is heated. For an inhomogeneous glass plate / image layer / glass plate composite is in particular the different thermal expansion behavior and the different adhesiveness of the two adhesive intermediate layers 4, 4 'with the Image layer responsible.

For reliable bonding, which at the same time does not adversely affect the light fastness of the laminated glass unit, in particular films with a material thickness of about 0.25-0.4 mm of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB ), since these are also suitable for gluing without autoclave. This in turn results in the advantage of a much more energy-efficient production of the laminated glass unit in comparison to the bonding of the layers in an autoclave.

In tests, in particular, a film of modified EVA has proven to be favorable, which is commercially available under the name S-LEX-EN film Sekisui. Instead of the plastic films, however, an intermediate adhesive layer of cast resin or silicone adhesive may also be provided, which has a material thickness of about 1 mm.

In this case, the above-mentioned adhesive intermediate layers 4, 4 'can be combined as desired to obtain a laminated glass unit 1 with different adhesive intermediate layers 4, 4'.

In particular, for an inhomogeneous composite, it is also advantageous to provide the films 8 on both sides of the image layer 3 in different numbers of layers as adhesive intermediate layers. For example, as shown in Fig. 3b, on one side only a single film 8 may be applied as an adhesive interlayer 4, while for bonding to a second glass plate 2, two films 8 for forming the adhesive interlayer 4 'are stacked.

In addition to photos, inkjet or laser printouts can also be used as image layer 3, it being possible in all cases for different carrier materials of image layers 3 to be used. To produce a transparent or translucent laminated glass unit 1 triacetate or polyester is preferred as a carrier material. In contrast, for the production of opaque laminated glass units, the image layer 3 can be used as a carrier material, for example paper, polyethylene paper or polyester films sold under the brand name Melinex.

When photos are used as the image layer 3, prints of positive on one of the abovementioned substrates are preferred because of their high lightfastness which are then developed using the silver dye bleaching process. In particular, the film Ilfochrom Ilford preferred here. On the other hand, however, prints of negatives may also be used on one of the abovementioned support materials, but these have a lower resistance to light.

However, in order to avoid the formation of corrugations of the image layer 3 bonded between the glass plates 2, it is only essential that the two adhesion intermediate layers 4, 4 'provided for bonding comprise different materials, in particular with different coefficients of thermal expansion and different adhesiveness, whereby, instead of a wave formation of the image layer 3, the entire laminated glass unit 1 slightly warps when heated, but this curvature is so insignificant that it does not adversely affect the appearance of the laminated glass unit.

FIG. 4 shows a section of a laminated glass unit with two image layers 3. In order to achieve an inhomogeneous composite, although adhesive intermediate layers 4, 4 'are provided in this embodiment, each of the same material and with the same material thickness, but the glass plates 2 with, for example, 2 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm different material thicknesses, so that results in a different thermal expansion behavior on each of the two sides of the image layers 3 and thus the image layers 3, even with strongly changing ambient temperatures, as often occurs in outdoor applications, such as facade or the like, stay reliably taut without it being too undesirable Wave or blistering comes.

Of course, the laminated glass unit can also have three or more image layers, it is only essential that the image layers remain taut even with changing ambient temperatures.

Claims (21)

1. A laminated panel unit (1) comprising at least one image layer (3) between at least two transparent or translucent glass panels (2), wherein for an area-contact gluing of the image layer (3) with neighbouring panels (2), one intermediate adhesive layer (4, 4') is provided on each side thereof, characterised in that the two intermediate adhesive layers (4, 4') following each image layer (3) have a different thermal expansion behaviour so that the image layer (3), due to the inhomogeneous laminate, is tensioned between the glass panels in case of temperature changes.
2. A laminated panel unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the two intermediate adhesive layers (4, 4') are made of different materials.
3. A laminated panel unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the two intermediate adhesive layers (4, 4') are made of materials having different thermal expansion coefficients.
4. A laminated panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the two intermediate adhesive layers (4, 4') have different gluing abilities.
5. A laminated panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the two intermediate adhesive layers (4, 4') have different material thicknesses.
6. A laminated panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that at least one intermediate adhesive layer (4, 4') is a sheet, preferably an ethylene vinyl-acetate copolymer (EVA) sheet, polyvinyl acetate (PVA) sheet, polyvinyl butyral (PVB) sheet or the like.
7. A laminated panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that one intermediate adhesive layer (4, 4') is made of a casting resin.
8. A laminated panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that one intermediate adhesive layer (4, 4') is made of silicone adhesive.
9. A laminated panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that on the periphery of the panels (2), at the narrow sides (6) thereof, an external insulating layer (7), preferably of silicone, is provided.
10. A laminated panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that a photograph, a slide, an ink-jet, laser, silkscreen print or the like is provided as the image layer (3).
11. A laminated panel unit according to claim 10, characterised in that a photograph developed according to the silver-bleaching method is provided.
12. A laminated panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the image layer (3) is transparent, translucent or opaque.
13. A laminated panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the laminated panel unit has an area of larger than 2 m², preferably larger than 4.5 m².
14. A method for producing a laminated panel unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the image layer (3) is connected with area contact on either side thereof with the glass panels (2) by using intermediate adhesive layers (4, 4'), the intermediate adhesive layers (4, 4') having a different thermal expansion behaviour.
15. A method according to claim 14, characterised in that the glass panels (2) are glued without the use of an autoclave.
16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the laminated panel unit (1) is glued together at a negative pressure.
17. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterised in that the image layer (3) is cleaned, preferably degreased, on either side before gluing.
18. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterised in that gluing of the image layer (3) with at least one glass panel (2) is effected in a plastics envelope.
19. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterised in that the plastics envelope, before the image layer (3) is glued to at least one glass panel (2), is evacuated, preferably to substantially 0.8 bar.
20. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, characterised in that after connecting the image layer (3) to the first glass panel (2), a second glass panel (2) is connected thereto.
21. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, characterised in that the image layer (3) is simultaneously connected to the two glass panels (2).

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