JP2007516917A - Laminated glass spot mounting system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a direct point-mounted laminating system comprising (1) a thermoplastic intermediate layer, (2) at least one sheet of rigid structural load bearing layer (structural layer), and (3) at least one receptor means. And (4) at least one attachment means, wherein the thermoplastic intermediate layer is bonded to at least one sheet of the structural layer at at least one surface, and the at least one receptor means further comprises , Adhesively bonded to the thermoplastic intermediate layer, and thereby adhesively bonded to the structural layer,
The receptor means mechanically receives said attachment means, with the additional condition that the attachment means and / or the receptor means are made of a material having an expansion coefficient of about 90% to about 110% of the expansion coefficient of the structural layer. It is in such a position.

Description

(Cross-reference of related applications)
This application is based on PCT application number PCT / US03 / 24118 (filed July 31, 2003), which claimed the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 400,234 (filed July 31, 2002). ) Insist on the benefits.

  Laminated glass is useful in homes and buildings, shelves in cabinets and display cases, and other articles where structural strength and improved safety in glass are desired. In architecture, it is advantageous to attach the glass to the frame and building support structure by means of a direct point-support system using bolts and / or other non-adhesive fasteners. is there. For example, the bolted glazing system allows a minimal, highly transparent appearance to be designed. In automotive applications, it is desirable to attach glazings to vehicles to obtain structural integrity, ease of installation / replacement, and to create movable glazings for boarding / exiting, ventilation, etc. .

  Manufacturing a glazing system (hereinafter referred to as “bolted glass”) that can be coupled to the support structure by direct point attachment is not entirely free of problems. The use of a bolted glass system can be difficult due to various factors inherent in the conventional bolted glass process. For example, bolted glass systems require the use of tempered glass, which can reduce optical transparency. In addition, a single glass-ply and polymer interlayer are often treated as non-static structural elements.

  Conventional safety laminated glass generally includes a thermoplastic sheeting provided between sheets of glass or other transparent plastic material. These laminated glass composite materials are required to satisfy strict requirements including impact resistance, weather resistance, and transparency. However, the presence of the intermediate layer can also cause difficulties when using bolted glass. The creep of the intermediate layer can occur due to the clamping force of the point attachment to the support structure. Another problem in using bolted glass laminates is that the holes in the interlayer must be aligned with the glass holes during the lamination process. In conventional bolted glass systems, further problems with the conformability between the intermediate layer and the fasteners, as well as the durability of the attachment, can occur.

  One such problem is that stress factors can accumulate in the glass laminate as a result of differences in the physical properties of the materials used to construct the laminate. In structural laminates intended to be used to support other objects, the laminate as an architectural support structure is used during assembly of the laminate or for the intended use. Somewhere in between, stress can lead to failure of the laminate.

  It would be desirable to have a bolted glass laminate capable of overcoming the problems of conventional bolted glass systems.

  In one aspect, the present invention is a direct point-attached lamination system comprising: (1) a thermoplastic intermediate layer; (2) at least one sheet of a rigid load bearing layer (structural layer); (3) At least one receptor means, and (4) at least one attachment means, wherein the thermoplastic intermediate layer is bonded to at least one sheet of the structural layer on at least one surface, and at least One receptor means is further adhesively bonded to the thermoplastic interlayer and thereby adhesively bonded to the structural layer, wherein the attachment means and / or the receptor means is about 90% to about 90% of the expansion coefficient of the structural layer. With the further condition that it is made of a material having an expansion coefficient of about 110%, the receptor means is in a position to mechanically receive the attachment means. .

  In another aspect, the present invention is a method for making a glazing system suitable for direct spot attachment to a support structure, comprising: (1) a thermoplastic interlayer; (2) a rigid structure: Assembling a laminate comprising at least one sheet of load bearing layer (structural layer), (3) at least one receptor means, and (4) at least one attachment means, wherein the thermoplastic intermediate layer comprises: At least one surface is bonded to at least one sheet of the structural layer, and at least one receptor means is further adhesively bonded to the thermoplastic interlayer, thereby adhesively bonding to the structural layer The attachment means and / or the receptor means are made from a material having an expansion coefficient of about 90% to about 110% of the expansion coefficient of the structural layer. In a further proviso that, in a position such as receptor means receive the mechanically said mounting means.

  In yet another aspect of the present invention, the present invention is a method for making a laminated glass load bearing structure system suitable for point attachment directly to a support structure via attachment means and receptor means. Selecting materials for constructing the laminate such that the attachment means and / or the receptor means have an expansion coefficient in the range of about 90% to about 110% of the expansion coefficient of the glass.

  In one embodiment, the present invention is a load bearing support system that includes a thermoplastic intermediate layer interposed between at least two rigid structural supports. The rigid support structure may be plastic, metal, wood, stone, glass or the like. The support structure is preferably rigid plastic or glass, and most preferably the rigid support structure is glass. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the glass transmits most wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum. In another preferred embodiment, the glass or intermediate layer may be colored or a decorative image may be printed thereon. The load bearing support system can be attached to the support structure via direct point attachment, wherein the direct point attachment includes a receptor for receiving attachment means, the receptor being Embedded in the intermediate layer in a state of receiving the attachment means. In practicing the present invention, the load bearing support system is attached to the support structure and is supported by the support structure via attachment means received by the receptor.

  Support structures for the purposes of the present invention may be buildings, wall surfaces, panels, ceilings, floors, stairs, suspension wires, or other various building structures or substructures having a load bearing function. For the purposes of the present invention, windows are not considered load bearing structures because they support a load greater than the load placed on them when they are fitted into the frame. Because it is not asked for.

  A load bearing system for the purposes of the present invention may be a floor or ceiling, a staircase, a table, a chair, a desk, a pillar, a foundation for display, or something that can exert load bearing capabilities.

  Suitable attachment means may be any means for attaching the laminate to the support structure. Suitable attachment means may include at least one of, for example, bolts, metal pins, clamps, nails, screw nails, ropes, chains, tethers, snaps, clips, or various combinations thereof. An important point to consider is that the attachment means is suitable, i.e. it can provide sufficient support and strength in the intended load bearing application.

  Suitable receptor means may be any that can work with the attachment means to provide attachment between the glazing system and the support structure. Suitable receptor means can be constructed of a variety of materials that are generally considered to be robust, such as: metals such as steel, aluminum, titanium, brass, lead, chromium, copper Such as plastics, such as polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, polyurethane, nylon, poly (alkyl) acrylates, etc., natural materials such as stone, wood, etc., or composite materials obtained from suitable materials described herein. It is done. However, the receptor material can be bonded to the polymer material used as the intermediate layer and / or is a material capable of lining the hole or recessed area holding the receptor means. Thus, as stated earlier in this specification, it must have a coefficient of expansion that is compatible with other materials used in the laminate.

  Suitable thermoplastic interlayers are those that can form an adhesive bond to the glass and even to the structural material used to form the receptor for the attachment means. Anything can be used. Suitable thermoplastic interlayers have the necessary adhesion to the glass and to the fixtures and / or receptors so that the laminate is as intended in building or industrial applications. Any intermediate layer may be used as long as it exhibits performance. For example, a suitable intermediate layer can be obtained from an acid copolymer formed by copolymerizing ethylene with an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or derivative thereof. While derivatives of carboxylic acids are well known, preferred derivatives are ionomeric polymers formed by neutralizing, in whole or in part, acid copolymers suitable for use herein. Suitable acid copolymers or ionomers can be purchased, for example, under the trade names Surlyn (R) and / or Nuclel (R), commercially available from the Applicant. Other suitable thermoplastic interlayers include, for example, “stiff” polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyesters such as low levels of plasticization (less than 30 pph plasticizer) Examples thereof include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyurethane. Multilayer laminates comprising different interlayer combinations (composite interlayers) are also considered within the scope of the present invention.

  The intermediate layer of the present invention may be any thickness as long as a structurally sound laminate is obtained when used for the purposes described herein. The thickness may actually be determined depending on the intended use of the laminated structure. If the application is determined, an appropriate thickness can be easily obtained. For purposes of the present invention, the interlayer or composite interlayer of the present invention can have any thickness in the range of about 0.150 mm to about 20 mm. The thickness of the intermediate layer is at least about 0.200 mm, depending on the intended purpose or glazing application. In yet other applications or uses, the intermediate layer can be at least about 0.250 mm or an integer multiple thereof, or at least about 1 mm or an integer multiple thereof, or at least about 1.33 mm or an integer multiple thereof. In some other applications, it may be appropriate to define the thickness of the intermediate layer as thick as 10, 11, 12, 13 or 15 mm. The thickness of the intermediate layer used can also be determined from other factors such as cost and commercial availability.

  The laminate can be made according to known conventional glass lamination techniques, provided that the laminate must be perforated for receiving receptors and attachment means, and the thermoplastic The intermediate layer must form an adhesive bond with the glass surface and also with the receptor so that the intermediate layer, the receptor and the glass surface are integrated with a suitable adhesive force.

  In carrying out the present invention, for example, shelves, floors, ceilings, treads or treads, stairs, furniture such as tables, chairs or bookcases, stands for household appliances, stands for stereo devices or televisions, and / or Alternatively, the laminate is preferably used for load bearing applications such as similar applications. Other applications include, for example, handrails, sloped or curtain wall glazing structures, vehicle width lights, vehicle sunroofs and / or moon roofs. In such applications, the inherent stress in the laminate can result in premature cracking or breakage when attempting to carry a load on the laminate.

In the present invention, a method is provided for substantially suppressing or minimizing the occurrence of stress cracks in a load-carrying glass laminate, wherein here, by appropriately selecting the constituent materials, The internal stress in the laminate is significantly reduced. By matching the materials used to make the attachment means and / or receptor means to have a similar coefficient of expansion as the glass used in the laminate, in the laminate of the invention It has been found that the internal stress can be substantially reduced. Matching the constituent materials by the methods described herein results in a laminate having improved stability during the fabrication process and even under load stress. Select attachment means and / or receptor means so that the coefficient of expansion (CTE _m ) of the selected material is about 90% to about 110% of the coefficient of expansion (CTE _g ) of the glass used to make the laminate. Should be. Most CTE _m of preferably from about 92% to about 8% of the CTE _g, more preferably be about 94% to about 6% of the CTE _g, be about 95% to about 105% of the CTE _g preferable.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment, the attachment means and / or receptor means includes the following materials: metals, plastics such as polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, polyurethane, nylon, poly (alkyl) acrylates, etc. Natural materials such as stone and wood. More preferably, the constituent material for the attachment means and / or the receptor means is a metal selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, titanium, brass, lead, chromium, copper and the like. A material is selected so that it has a linear expansion coefficient that is relatively close to that of the glass used in the laminate.

  In order to obtain improvements as described herein, it is critical for the present invention to properly match the expansion coefficient of the glass with the expansion coefficients for the attachment means and the receptor means. Conventional methods can be used to determine the coefficient of expansion of the materials used to practice the present invention, or alternatively, these values can be verified from the physical properties table for those materials. It is also possible to do it easily.

  The thickness of the glass can also be varied depending on the intended use and usage of the laminate. When considered in this specification, the thickness of the glass used may be any amount as long as a laminate that satisfies the intended purpose of the laminate can be obtained, provided that the thickness of the glass sheet is It is desirable to be between a minimum thickness (desired from a cost standpoint) and a maximum thickness (preferred in relation to laminate strength). The thickness of the glass sheet useful herein should be at least 0.25 mm.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the construction material used for the attachment means and / or receptor means is such that the CTE of the attachment means and / or receptor means at constant pressure (CTE _m ) is that of the glass at constant pressure. Glasses can be matched to be about 95% to about 105% of CTE (CTE _g ). CTE _m is preferably about 96% to about 104% of CTE _g , more preferably about 97% to about 103%, and most preferably about 98% to about 102%.

  The present invention will be further described using the following examples and comparative examples. These examples are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention, nor are they claimed or described in detail inconsistent with the invention claimed or described herein. Should not be used to define

  The following examples show the results of finite element simulations for the generation of stress in various mounting systems. They show that the internal residual stress of the system can be minimized by proper selection of the metal insert type and the thickness of the intermediate layer. Fig. 1 shows the details of the insert and the finite element model used.

Example 1
The insert is made from 304 stainless steel and 0.76 mm SentryGlas® Plus and uses a polymer interlayer shim. Table 1 shows the expected system residual stress generation after cooling from the fabrication temperature.

(Example 2)
The insert is made from a titanium alloy and 0.76 mm SentryGlas® Plus and uses a polymer interlayer shim. Table 1 shows the expected system residual stress generation after cooling from the fabrication temperature. Note that this example is expected to show minimal system residual stress.

(Example 3)
The insert is made from 17-4PH stainless steel and 2.29 mm SentryGlas® Plus and uses a polymer interlayer shim. Table 1 shows the expected system residual stress generation after cooling from the fabrication temperature.

Example 4
The insert is made from a titanium alloy and 2.29 mm SentryGlas® Plus and uses a polymer interlayer shim. Table 1 shows the expected system residual stress generation after cooling from the fabrication temperature.

(Example 5)
The insert is made from 17-4PH stainless steel and 0.76 mm SentryGlas® Plus and uses a polymer interlayer shim. Table 1 shows the expected system residual stress generation after cooling from the fabrication temperature.

(Example 6)
A glass laminate can be prepared by the following method. A sheet of tempered glass of 3000 mm × 200 mm × 6 mm (thickness) is washed with a deionized aqueous solution of trisodium phosphate (5 g / liter), rinsed thoroughly with deionized water and dried. A sheet of glass is laid flat or alternatively placed in a position to make a laminate. An ionomer resin sheet (thickness 0.76 mm) made of 81% ethylene and 19% methacrylic acid, 37% neutralized with sodium ions and having a melt index (MI) of 2, Place on the exposed surface of the glass. The moisture level of the ionomer sheet should be less than 0.06% by weight. The ionomer sheet is given a surface roughness by an embossing method so that air between each assembled boundary surface can be easily released. A second glass part is placed on the ionomer sheet and a second part of the ionomer resin (which may be the same as or different from the first ionomer sheet) is placed on the second glass. Put on the top. The third glass part is then placed over the second ionomer sheet, but the second and third glass sheets are recessed so that the insert can fit into the laminate assembly. Have a place. A third ionomer sheet (which may be the same as or different from the other ionomer sheets) is then placed on the third glass sheet, and the fourth glass sheet is placed over the third ionomer sheet. In a laminated assembly with alternating glass / ionomer sheets, wherein the inner glass sheet forms a recessed area suitable for receiving metal inserts. Additional ionomer material is placed in the recessed area to allow a “mechanical” bond between the insert and the ionomer to complete the laminate assembly. This insert is a suitable material having an appropriate coefficient of thermal expansion, as included in the subject of this patented technology. For example, titanium metal can be used as an insert material. Polyester tape pieces can be used to tape the pre-assembly and retain the relative placement of the layers. Nylon cloth strips can also be placed around the pre-assembly to facilitate air venting between the layers. The preassembly is then placed in a nylon vacuum bag connected to a vacuum pump. A vacuum is applied to substantially remove the intervening air (reducing the pressure of the air in the bag to less than 50 mbar absolute pressure). The laminated assembly is then placed in an air autoclave and the pressure and temperature are increased from ambient temperature to 135 ° C. and 200 psi over 15 minutes. The temperature and pressure must then be held for a sufficient amount of time (typically 30-120 minutes) to ensure that the laminated assembly is properly heated. The temperature is then reduced to 40 ° C. within 20 minutes, the pressure is reduced to normal pressure, and the unit is removed. The laminated assembly is then mechanically tested for high load bearing applications as deemed necessary or convenient for stair treads, floor tile units, ceilings, handrails, ramps and curtain wall glazing structures, etc. To do.

  In the above examples, the following numerical values were used as the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for the material:

(Example 7)
In accordance with the preparation method described in Example 1, a laminate (55 mm × 80 mm) was prepared using a mild steel insert having a length of 80 mm, a width of 20 mm, and a thickness of 0.6 mm. The steel part was laminated into an area defined by two outer layers of glass 20 mm deep and 20 mm wide. The same metal insert should be laminated to the other side of the laminate, so that the metal tab can be attached to a tensile tester (Instron ^* ), or a normal tensile test or otherwise The test was conducted according to the test method described in ASTM D638. This method allowed evaluation of the force required to pull the insert out of the laminate structure. The failure mode in this case was a metal failure of the outer tab of the laminate. The insert remained intact in the laminate and no noticeable damage, deformation, delamination or separation was observed between the metal insert and the surrounding ionomer material.

It is a figure of the laminated body which shows insert. FIG. 2 is a view showing the insert more clearly visible in the laminate of FIG. 1 except for its upper layer.

Claims (13)

A direct point-mounted laminating system comprising: (1) a thermoplastic intermediate layer; (2) at least one sheet of a rigid load bearing layer (structural layer); (3) at least one receptor means; 4) at least one attachment means, wherein the thermoplastic intermediate layer is bonded to at least one surface to at least one sheet of the structural layer, and at least one receptor means further comprises Adhesively bonded to the thermoplastic intermediate layer and thereby adhesively bonded to the structural layer;
The attachment means is mechanically attached to the attachment means, provided that the attachment means and / or the receptor means are made of a material having an expansion coefficient of about 90% to about 110% of the expansion coefficient of the structural layer. Laminated system, characterized in that it is in a position to receive the means.   The laminated system according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic intermediate layer is a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing ethylene and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof.   The lamination system of claim 2, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of about 0.30 mm to about 1.5 mm.   4. The lamination system of claim 3, wherein each glass sheet has a thickness of at least about 0.25 mm.   The lamination system according to claim 4, wherein the laminate includes at least two sheets of glass.   6. The lamination system of claim 5, wherein each glass sheet has an expansion coefficient in the range of about 5 ppm to about 10 ppm per degree Celsius.   The lamination system of claim 6 wherein the attachment means and / or the receptor means are made of a material having an expansion coefficient of about 92% to about 108% of the expansion coefficient of the glass.   8. Laminating system according to claim 7, wherein the attachment means and / or the receptor means are made of a material having an expansion coefficient of about 94% to about 106% of the expansion coefficient of the glass.   9. Laminating system according to claim 8, wherein the attachment means and / or the receptor means are made from a material having an expansion coefficient of about 95% to about 105% of the expansion coefficient of the glass.   10. Laminating system according to claim 9, characterized in that the attachment means and / or the receptor means are metallic materials.   11. The lamination system of claim 10, wherein the laminate is useful as a floor tile, stair tread, glass wall, or ceiling tile. A method for preparing a glazing system suitable for point attachment directly to a support structure, comprising: (1) a thermoplastic intermediate layer; (2) at least one rigid structural load bearing layer (structural layer) Assembling a laminate comprising a sheet of sheets, (3) at least one receptor means, and (4) at least one attachment means, wherein the thermoplastic intermediate layer is at least one of the structural layers on at least one surface. Is bonded to a sheet, and at least one receptor means is further adhesively bonded to the thermoplastic interlayer and thereby adhesively bonded to the structural layer;
The attachment means is mechanically attached to the attachment means, provided that the attachment means and / or the receptor means are made of a material having an expansion coefficient of about 90% to about 110% of the expansion coefficient of the structural layer. A method characterized by being in a position to receive the means. A method for making a glass laminated glazing system suitable for point attachment directly to a support structure via attachment means and receptor means, wherein the attachment means and / or the receptor means is attached to the glass. Selecting a material for constructing the laminate to make from a material having an expansion coefficient of about 90% to about 110% of the expansion coefficient.

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