JPH058341A - Light shielding winding material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a visor screen window material which provides transparent and untransparent conditions regardless of environmental temp. by laminating a polymer material and water on a transparent sheet-like body consisting of at least one inorg. or org. material to form a visor screen layer and incorporating a heating device and a cooling device in a transparent sheet-like body. CONSTITUTION:A visor screen layer 13 is constituted of a polymer film prepd. by impregnating a polymer material exhibiting sol-gel transformation at a temp. at 0 deg.C or higher and 80 deg.C or lower with water. In addition, an ITO transparent conductive thin film 14 for heat generation and a device for energizing electricity constitutes a heating device. On the other hand, On each one face of inorg. glasses 11 and 12, an ITO thin film is vapor-deposited and the faces of the inorg. glasses 11 and 12 on which the ITO thin film is respectively formed are faced each other and the polymer film impregnated with water is sandwiched between them and in addition, the periphery is sealed so as to have no scattering and evaporation of the liq. the prepd. window material becomes untransparent at a transition temp. or higher and transparent at the transition temp. or lower.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light-shielding window material, and more particularly to a light-shielding window material capable of artificially adjusting the light transmittance of the window as desired.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been already known that N-isopropylacryl (or methacryl) amide coexisting with water exhibits a sol-gel transition at a certain temperature (Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-7948, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7948). 1-36841
Issue). Further, it is described in the above publication that this material is used for applications such as skylights and greenhouses. That is, this technique is configured to block light when the temperature is high and to allow the light to pass when the temperature is low, and it is intended to automatically prevent the internal temperature from being unnecessarily raised by sunlight. However, in this technology, reasons other than temperature, such as
Even if it is desired to block the visual field from the outside, there is a problem that the light cannot be shielded unless the environmental temperature is higher than the transition temperature.

On the other hand, there is a technique of switching between transparent and opaque using a liquid crystal (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-62615).
Issue). Further, it has been attempted to control the light transmittance by applying electrochromic or photochromic (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-85274). However, the former method using liquid crystals is generally limited to limited applications because expensive liquid crystals are used. Further, since the liquid crystal has insufficient light resistance, it is not advantageous for use as a window material. Further, when the electrochromic or photochromic is applied as a light shielding window material or a light control window material, the light resistance is further worse than that of the liquid crystal.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive light-shielding window material which can arbitrarily obtain a transparent and opaque state regardless of environmental temperature.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The gist of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a transparent plate made of at least one inorganic material or organic material at a temperature of 0 ° C. or higher and 80 ° C. or lower. A light-shielding window material characterized in that a polymer material exhibiting a sol-gel transition is laminated with water to form a light-shielding layer, and at least one transparent plate-like body is incorporated with a heating device and / or a cooling device. Exists.

The sol referred to in the present invention is a water-soluble polymer.
It is an aqueous solution solubilized in water, water-hydrophilic solvent, salt water, etc., and is visually transparent (light transmittance 60
% Or more). The gel referred to in the present invention means a state in which the water-soluble polymer is insoluble in the aqueous solution and is visually opaque (light transmittance is 40% or less).

[0007]

In the present invention, the light-shielding layer is formed by laminating the polymer material with water on the transparent plate-like body, and at least one transparent plate-like body is equipped with a heat generating device and / or a cooling device. is there. This polymer material exhibits a gel-sol transition at a certain temperature (transition temperature). Therefore, when the environmental temperature is below the transition temperature, the polymeric material has hydrophilicity, the polymeric material is transparent by dissolving or swelling in water to form a sol, and the true material is also transparent, When it is desired to make the window material opaque at such an ambient temperature, when the light-shielding layer is heated to a transition temperature or higher by a heating device, the polymer material has hydrophobicity or becomes insoluble in water and gels, and the window material is in an opaque state. Becomes The heating may be continued if the opaque state is desired to be maintained, and the heating may be stopped if the transparent state is desired.

On the other hand, when the environmental temperature is above the transition temperature, the polymeric material is hydrophobic, the polymeric material is insoluble in water and is in a gel state, and the window material is in an opaque state. At such an environmental temperature, when it is desired to make the window material transparent, when the light-shielding layer is cooled to a temperature below the transition temperature with a cooling device, the polymer material becomes hydrophilic or dissolves or swells in water to form a sol. It becomes transparent and changes to a state where visible light can be transmitted.

As described above, in the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily switch between transparent and opaque by utilizing the property of exhibiting a sol-gel transition in the state where a polymer material and water coexist.

[0010]

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

(Transparent Plate) The transparent plate used in the present invention may be an inorganic material or an organic material. That is, it is necessary to be transparent, but any material that has a predetermined strength and can be used for a window can be used regardless of glass, plastic, or the like.

(Polymer Material) In the present invention, a polymer material which exhibits a sol-gel transition at a certain temperature is used. However, in order to use it as a window material, its transition temperature must be within a temperature range that does not affect the ambient temperature (environmental temperature). When the temperature of the window material is in the range of 0 to 80 ° C., the influence on the environmental temperature is not so large, and therefore, in the present invention,
The target is a polymer material having a transition temperature in the range of -80 ° C. In addition, it is preferable to use a polymer material having a transition temperature in the range of 15 to 55 ° C. because the influence on the environmental temperature can be further reduced.

Examples of such polymer materials include those represented by the following formulas (A ₁ ), (A ₂ ), and (B).

[Chemical 4]

[Chemical 5]

[Chemical 6]

The transition temperature largely depends on the primary structure of the polymer. For example, poly-N-isopropylacrylamide having the structures of the general formulas (A ₁ ) and (A ₂ ) has a transition temperature of 30 ° C. and poly-N- Acrylic piperidine has a transition temperature of 5.5 ° C, and poly-N-ethylacrylamide has a transition temperature of 72 ° C. Further, in the polyether system having the skeleton (B), the transition temperature is 62 ° C. for polyvinyl methoxyethyl ether in which R is a methyl group, and the transition temperature is 20 ° C. for polyethoxyvinyl ethyl ether in which R is a methyl group.

Such a polymer material can be generally synthesized by either radical polymerization method or cationic polymerization method.

In the case of the radical polymerization method, the polymerization is carried out in the presence of a suitable initiator. In the cationic polymerization, ordinary polymerization conditions may be used, but it is desirable to add a Lewis acid base that stabilizes an unstable growing carbon cation. By adding Lewis acid base, the molecular weight distribution can be sharpened, and it becomes possible to change the gel and sol in a short time, and it is possible to switch between light shielding and light transmitting in a short time. It will be possible.

Generally, in the polymer system represented by the general formulas (A ₁ ) and (A ₂ ), polymerization is carried out by a radical polymerization method, while
The polymer represented by the general formula (B) is polymerized by a cationic polymerization method. Further, the molecular weight of the polymer material thus obtained is not particularly specified,
It is desirable that the molecular weight is 1000 or more. When the molecular weight is 1000 or more, processing into a film shape is facilitated. In addition, a polyfunctional monomer may be added to partially crosslink the polymer. Post-crosslinking can also be performed by irradiation with an electron beam or the like. When crosslinking is performed, it is preferable that the degree of crosslinking is 2 or more per molecule.

(Light-shielding layer) Generally, such a polymer material is dissolved in water to be used in a solution state, or it is processed into a film after crosslinking and impregnated with water to swell. It is used as it is. In order to avoid freezing of water, it is desirable to add an inorganic salt such as NaCl or a hydrophilic solvent having a high boiling point such as ethylene glycol.

A method of forming the light shielding layer will be specifically described.

When used in the swollen state, first, the polymer material is partially cross-linked to form a film. When this film is impregnated with water, the film becomes swollen. This film may be attached to a transparent plate by using a binder, or when a plurality of transparent plates are used, the film is sandwiched between two transparent plates to seal the periphery. You may comprise like a laminated glass. When the number of the transparent plate-like bodies is one, it is preferable to form a processing moisture-proof layer on the film surface in order to prevent the moisture from being dispersed to the outside. For example, the SiO ₂ film may be formed by sputtering.

On the other hand, when used in the state of an aqueous solution, a plurality of transparent plate-like bodies are opposed to each other to form a space between the transparent plate-like bodies. The light-shielding layer can be formed in an aqueous solution state by enclosing the aqueous solution of the polymer material in the space thus formed and sealing the periphery with a suitable sealing material.

In the present invention, the ratio of the polymeric material to water is 0.1 parts by weight of water with respect to 1 part by weight of the polymeric material.
It is preferable that the amount is 0.5 to 0.5 parts by weight. That is, when the proportion of water is out of the range of 0.1 to 0.5 parts by weight with respect to 1 part by weight of the polymer material, switching between transparent and opaque may not occur.

(Heating Device / Cooling Device) Next, a device for heating and cooling will be described.

In the heating device, for example, a transparent conductive thin film is formed on a transparent plate-like body, and means for energizing the conductive thin film (for example, an electrode connected to a power source) is connected to the conductive thin film. It can be configured by

More specifically, an ITO (mixture of indium oxide and tin oxide) thin film is formed on one or both of the two transparent plate-like bodies, and the sol-gel transition is made with the two transparent plate-like bodies. By sandwiching a water-containing polymer film showing the above into laminated glass and connecting electrodes to ITO, a light-shielding window material provided with a heating device is formed.

At this time, it is desirable that the ITO thin film, which is a heating element, be formed on the side of the polymer film because it is advantageous because the heat transfer effect to the light shielding layer can be increased. The resistance of the conductive thin film (ITO thin film) used is 10
It is desirable to set it to 0 ohm / cm ² or more. If it is less than 100 ohm / cm ² , the transparency of the ITO thin film is lowered, and it takes too long to reach the required temperature.

As another mode of the heating device, it is possible to preliminarily spread a high resistance wire such as a nichrome wire on the glass in a mesh or in parallel to form a heating part.

The cooling device may be constructed as follows, for example. After a polymer film exhibiting a sol-gel transition is laminated with two transparent plate-shaped bodies, the transparent plate-shaped body is further provided with a space. The periphery of the two sheets of glass and the transparent plate-like body provided later is sealed with rubber, for example. A means for letting the refrigerant into and out of this space is provided. The means for inflowing and outflowing the refrigerant may be configured by communicating with the space, providing a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, and further connecting a refrigerant source to the refrigerant inlet. As the refrigerant, for example, a fluid such as cooled water or cooled air may be used.

When the transition temperature is room temperature or higher, it is normally in a transparent state. When making a window opaque, heat it to make it opaque. Conversely, when the transition temperature is below room temperature, it is usually opaque. When cooled to a temperature below the transition temperature, a transparent state is obtained. Generally, the heating method is preferable to the cooling method because the heating method is simpler and less expensive than the cooling method. Further, if both a heating device and a cooling device are provided, the transition speed becomes faster, and it becomes possible to obtain a transparent or opaque state in a short time.

[0030]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment.

In this example, inorganic glass was used as the transparent plate, and poly-N-isopropylacrylamide was used as the polymer material. The window material had the structure shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, 11 and 12 are inorganic glasses. Reference numeral 13 denotes a light shielding layer, which is composed of a polymer film impregnated with water. 14 is IT for fever
O is a transparent conductor thin film, and constitutes a heating device with a means (not shown) for energizing.

In this example, poly-N-isopropylacrylamide having a molecular weight of 1200 was processed into a film having a thickness of 100 μm after crosslinking. The film was impregnated with water. In addition, 0.2 part by weight of water was impregnated with 1 part by weight of the film.

On the other hand, the inorganic glass 11 and the inorganic glass 12
Each one side of I has a resistance of 15 Ω / cm ²
The TO thin film 14 was deposited.

The inorganic glass 11 and the inorganic glass 12 are
The polymer film 13 impregnated with water is sandwiched between the surfaces on which the TO thin films 14 are formed facing each other, and the periphery is sealed to prevent the liquid from scattering and evaporating.
A laminated glass type window material as shown in was obtained.

When the sol-gel transition temperature of the window material produced as described above was measured, it had a transition point at 28 ° C to 32 ° C, became opaque above the transition temperature, and transparent below the transition temperature. .

Further, when the window material was placed in an environment having an ambient temperature of 20 ° C. and the ITO thin film was energized, it became opaque 5 seconds after the energization. When the energization was stopped, it became transparent in about 10 seconds. This can change the light transmission coefficient arbitrarily as a light shielding material, and is sufficiently practical.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment.

In FIG. 2, 21 and 22 are inorganic glasses,
23 is the same polymer film as in Example 1.

In this example, instead of the ITO thin film of Example 1, a high resistance wire 24 as shown in FIG.

Other conditions were the same as in Example 1, and the high resistance wire 24 was energized.

The results obtained were similar to the examples.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment.

This example is an example having both a heating device and a cooling device.

In FIG. 3, 31, 32 and 33 are glass. 34 is the same polymer film as in Example 1. 35
Is the same ITO thin film as in Example 1. Reference numeral 36 denotes a space portion whose periphery is sealed, and the child space portion 36 is provided with a refrigerant inlet 37 and a refrigerant outlet 8. The refrigerant inlet 37 is connected to a refrigerant source (not shown).

The same film used in Example 1 (thickness 1
After impregnating water with a 00 μm poly-N-isopropylacrylamide film), a window material having a structure as shown in FIG. 3 was produced.

This window material was placed in an environment having an ambient temperature of 40 ° C. (at this ambient temperature, it was in an opaque state), and air at 25 ° C. was introduced into the space 6 from the refrigerant inlet 37 to cool the film. The window material changed from an opaque state to a transparent state with a change time of about 5 seconds.

(Example 4) Poly-N- used in Example 1
A light-shielding glass was produced under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that polyvinyl methoxy ether was used instead of the isopropylacrylamide film. The window material thus obtained has a transition point at 60 ° C to 65 ° C and has an ambient temperature of 20 ° C.
At 0 ° C, the change from transparent to opaque was 15 seconds and vice versa.

(Example 5) Poly-N- used in Example 1
A light-shielding glass was produced under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that poly-N-isopropylmethacrylamide was used instead of the isopropylacrylamide film. The transition temperature at this time was 41 ° C to 44 ° C.

(Example 6) Poly-N- used in Example 1
A light-shielding glass was produced under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that poly-N, N diethylacrylamide was used instead of the isopropylacrylamide film. The transition temperature at this time was 30 ° C to 35 ° C.

(Embodiment 7) In this embodiment, an example using one sheet of inorganic glass is shown.

An ITO thin film was formed on one surface of the inorganic glass in the same manner as in Example 1. Further, a polymer film (poly-N-isopropylacrylamide film) impregnated with water was attached thereto with a binder to form a window material.

The transition temperature, the rate of change from transparent to opaque, etc. were almost the same as in Example 1. However, the production is
It was easier than the window material of Example 1.

Example 8 In this example, SiO ₂ was sputtered on the surface of the polymer film in Example 7.
A film was formed. In this example, the life was longer than in the case of Example 7. Here, the life is the time until no change to transparent / opaque is exhibited even if heating or cooling is performed.

Example 9 In this example, an aqueous polymer solution was used instead of the polymer film of Example 1. As the polymer, poly-N-isopropylacrylamide was used as in Example 1. The ratio of water to poly-N-isopropylacrylamide was 0.4 part by weight of water to 1 part by weight of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide.

In this example, two inorganic glasses are made to face each other with a gap and the periphery is sealed with a sealing material to form a space, and a polymer aqueous solution is sealed in the space to form a window material. did. The other points were the same as in Example 1.

For the window material of this example, the switching time between transparent and opaque was measured, but the time required for switching was longer than in the case of Example 1.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a light shielding window material according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a light shielding window material according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a light shielding window material according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Transparent plate (glass) 12 Transparent plate (glass) 13 Light-shielding layer (polymer film) 14 Heating device (ITO thin film) 21 Transparent plate (glass) 22 Transparent plate-like body (glass) 23 Light-shielding layer (polymer film) 24 Heating device (high resistance wire) 31 Transparent plate (glass) 32 Transparent plate (glass) 33 Transparent plate (glass) 34 Light-shielding layer (polymer film) 35 Heating device (ITO thin film) 36 Space Department 37 Refrigerant inlet 38 Refrigerant outlet

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location C08F 16/18 MKY 6904-4J 20/56 MNC 7242-4J 26/06 MNM 7242-4J F25D 17 / 02 302 8511-3L H05B 3/84

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A light-shielding layer comprising a transparent plate-like body made of at least one inorganic material or organic material, and a polymer material exhibiting a sol-gel transition at a certain temperature of 0 ° C. to 80 ° C. laminated with water. And a heat-generating device and / or a cooling device incorporated in at least one transparent plate-like body. 2. The light shielding window material according to claim 1, wherein the polymer material is a material exhibiting a sol-gel transition at 15 ° C. or higher and 55 ° C. or lower. 3. The light-shielding window material according to claim 1, wherein the polymer material is a material represented by the following general formula (A ₁ ) or (A ₂ ). [Chemical 1] [Chemical 2] 4. The light-shielding window material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the polymer material is a material represented by the following general formula (B). [Chemical 3] 5. The light-shielding window according to claim 1, wherein the light-shielding layer is formed by impregnating a film made of a cross-linked polymer material with water. Material. 6. The light-shielding window material according to claim 5, wherein a moisture-proof layer is formed on the surface of the film. 7. The light-shielding layer is configured by enclosing an aqueous solution of a polymer material in a space formed by two transparent plate-shaped members facing each other.
The light-shielding window material according to any one of 1. 8. The heating device comprises a transparent conductive thin film made of indium tin oxide or the high resistance wire, and means for energizing the transparent conductive thin film or the high resistance wire. Claims 1 to 4
The light-shielding window material according to any one of 1. 9. The cooling device comprises a space formed by two opposed transparent plate-like bodies and a means for letting a refrigerant flow into and out of the space. The light-shielding window material according to claim 7. 10. The ratio of the polymer material to water is 0.1 to 0.5 part by weight of water with respect to 1 part by weight of the polymer material. The light-shielding window material according to any one of items.