NZ592462A - High light-transmission sheet material - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a high light-transmission sheet material which comprises a base fabric formed from a fibrous material, a front surface IR reflecting resin layer formed on a front surface of the base fabric, and a back surface thermoplastic resin layer formed on a back surface of the base fabric and which overall has a visible light transmission of 40 to 80 percent, wherein at least the front surface IR reflecting resin layer contains interference mica particles in a content of 0.5 to 5 percent by mass based on a total composition mass of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer, and either one or both of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer and the back surface thermoplastic resin layer includes at least one type of particles selected from ultrafine titanium oxide particles having a particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 micrometre and ultrafine zinc oxide particles having a particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 micrometre in a content of 0.3 to 3% by mass, based on the total composition mass of each of the layers.

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 592462 W711 DESCRIPTION Title of Invention HIGH LIGHT-TRANSMISSION SHEET MATERIAL Technical Field The present invention relates to a high light-transmission sheet material. More specifically, the present invention relates to a high light-transmission 10 sheet material which is provided with high light- transmission, superior UV blocking ability, and superior IR blocking ability and is in particular suitably used for constructing summer pool tents, greenhouses, compost sheds, and other such facilities where sufficient light 15 transmission is required and warehouse tents, medium- and large-sized tents, truck tarps, shade tents, and other coated sheet structures.

Background Art High light-transmission sheet material which has a visible light transmission (JIS Z8722) of 40 to 80% is being used for summer pool tents, greenhouses, compost sheds, etc. Further, recently, in general sheet structures, a high light-transmission is often demanded 25 from the viewpoint of saving the energy required for lighting. This material can be suitably used for warehouse tents, medium- and large-size tents, truck tarps, shade tents, and other sheet structures.

However, the conventional high light-transmission 30 sheet materials gave priority to the light transmission in the visible light region (400 to 780 |^m) and did not consider the UV region (280 to 400 pm) or the IR region (780 to 2500 pm) much at all. The spaces inside sheet structures made using such high light-transmission sheet 35 materials were bright, but were hot and provided insufficient protection against harmful UV.

Specifically, conventional high light-transmission sheet materials are superior in transmission of light of the visible light region (400 to 780 jam) , but did not have a sufficient blocking effect in the IR region (780 5 to 2500 f4m) and were high in transmission or absorption. IR, which was transmitted through or absorbed from the front surface side of the sheet material, directly warmed the space at the back surface side of the sheet material. Further, the absorbed IR raised the temperature of the 10 sheet material and discharged radiant heat from the back surface side of the sheet material, so the material was poor in blocking ability. The inside space of a sheet structure made using such a sheet material, while bright, easily became hot in particular in the summer season. If 15 using air-conditioning like in usual buildings, the inside temperature could be lowered, but the sheet material itself was low in heat insulating ability, so the efficiency of the air-conditioning was extremely poor. If considering the energy cost and the accompanying 20 load on the environment, the space formed by a sheet structure using a conventional high light-transmission sheet material was not practically preferable.

Further, conventional high light-transmission sheet materials have not been found to have sufficient blocking 25 effect even in the UV region. The UV which reaches the ground surface is divided into B waves (280 to 315 (xm, below, abbreviated as "UV-B") and A waves (315 to 400 fim, below, abbreviated as "UV-A"). UV-B changes in amount reaching the earth's surface depending on changes in the 30 ozone layer, but is said to be a cause of skin cancer and cataracts, while UV-A reaches the ground surface without being absorbed much at all in the atmosphere, passes through the human skin to reach the epidermis, and becomes a cause of damage to DNA and faster aging of the 35 skin.

UV-B includes wavelengths at which UV causes deterioration of the weatherability of resin. To keep down the deterioration of the weatherability of a sheet material itself caused by UV, sometimes a UV absorbent is added to the resin. The results in a high light-transmission sheet material which blocks UV-B. However, for UV-A, 6ven if adding a usual UV absorbent, there is almost no blocking effect. Further, the wavelength is close to the visible light region as well, so this as difficult to block by a high light-transmission sheet material. Further, recently, penetration and harm by UV-A to the skin and retina have become concerns. It has become strongly desired to block UV-A as well from the viewpoint of health and beauty.

As technology providing sheets maintaining light transmission while blocking IR (heat shielding ability), for example, Patent document 1 and Patent document 2 disclose the method of kneading a naphthalocyanine compound into a transparent film as a heat ray absorbent, but with this method, there was the problem in the sustainability of the weatherability and heat ray shielding effect of the naphthalocyanine compound. Further, for example, Patent document 3 and Patent document 4 disclose the method of coating the surface of a film base with a solution containing antimony-doped tin oxide (below, abbreviated as "ATO") particles or tin-doped indium oxide (below, abbreviated as "ITO") particles. Furthermore, for example, Patent document 5 discloses the method of kneading ATO particles or ITO particles into a thermoplastic resin film. However, with each method, ATO particles and ITO particles are extremely expensive, so this is disadvantageous economically. Further, when coating ATO particles or ITO particles on a film base, there was the problem that the coated layer would peel off from the base and the heat ray shielding effect would be reduced.

Further, for example, Patent document 6 and Patent document 7 disclose the method of using, as the heat ray shielding material, weight average particle size 0.6 to 1.5 pm coarse particle titanium oxide for inclusion in the thermoplastic resin film or coated layer. If including coarse particle titanium oxide, compared with 5 including pigment-use titanium oxide (particle size 0.2 to 0.4 jmri) , while the light transmission in the visible light region is improved, to obtain a sheet material with a visible light transmission (JIS Z8722) of 40 to 80%, the amount of addition of coarse particle titanium oxide 10 is limited and as a result a sufficient shielding ability cannot be obtained. Further, to obtain a superior heat shielding ability, it is necessary to increase the amount of coarse titanium oxide particles contained in the resin layer. If the small range of content of the coarse 15 titanium oxide particles, there is an effect of improvement of the light transmission of the visible light region, but if the content becomes greater, there was the problem that the shielding ability of the resin layer increased in the same way as titanium oxide for 20 pigment use and the light transmission of the film material in the visible light region became lower.

As the technique for providing a sheet maintaining the light transmission and blocking UV (280 to 400 jxm) , the general practice is to include an organic UV 25 absorbent, but with an organic UV absorbent, it is difficult to absorb the UV-A (315 to 400 |jm) . Further, an organic UV absorbent easily bleeds out to the sheet surface, so there was the problem of a drop in the UV absorption ability in a short time. Therefore, for 30 example, Patent document 8, Patent document 9, and Patent document 10 propose the method of introducing ultrafine inorganic fine powder of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, alumina, magnesium oxide, iron oxide, etc. These ultrafine inorganic fine powders are superior in long 35 term stability and superior in durability compared with organic UV absorbents, but while the ultrafine particle titanium oxide effectively blocked UV-B (280 to 315 |Jm) , it was insufficient in blocking UV-A (315 to 400 |xm) . Further, ultrafine zinc oxide particles block UV-A (315 to 400 fxm) more efficiently than ultrafine particle titanium oxide, but even so this was not to a sufficient level. Further, these sheets maintain the light transmission and block UV, but have almost no IR blocking effect (heat shielding ability). There was therefore the problem that sheet structure spaces comprised of sheet materials using such sheets were bright, but easily became extremely hot in the summertime.

In this way, in high light-transmission sheet materials, no material which sufficiently blocks harmful UV and is superior in heat shielding ability has yet been provided.

Prior art documents Patent documents Patent document 1: 20 No. 2003-265033 Patent document 2: No. 2003-265034 Patent document 3: No. 10-250001 25 Patent document 4: No. 10-250002 Patent document 5: No. 9-140275 Patent document 6: 30 No. 2006-314218 Patent document 7: No. 2007-295858 Patent document 8: No. 6-238829 35 Patent document 9: No. 7-173303 Japanese Patent Publication (A) Japanese Patent Publication (A) Japanese Patent Publication (A) Japanese Patent Publication (A) Japanese Patent Publication (A) Japanese Patent Publication (A) Japanese Patent Publication (A) Japanese Patent Publication (A) Japanese Patent Publication (A) RECEIVED at IPONZ on 8 DECEMBER 2011 Patent, document 10: Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2004-331679 Summary of Invention 5 The present invention, is aimed at providing a high light-transmission sheet material which is provided with a high light-transmission, superior UV blocking ability, and superior IR shielding ability and is suitable for use in particular for summer pool tents, greenhouses, compost 10 sheds, and other facilities where light transmission is required and warehouse tents, medium- and large-size tents, truck tarps, shade tents, and other sheet structures. It is an object of the present invention to go at least some way towards meeting this aim, and/or to at IS least provide the public with a useful choice.

The inventors engaged in intensive studies to solve the above problems and as a result discovered that in a sheet material comprised of a base fabric and thermoplastic resin layer, by blending in specific 20 interference mica particles and at least one type of oxide selected from ultrafine titanium, oxide particles and ultrafine zinc oxide particles into the resin layer forming the sheet material in specific amounts, a high light-transmission sheet material which has a high light-25 transmission, a superior UV blocking ability, and a superior IR shielding ability all together is obtained and thereby completed the present invention.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a high light-transmission sheet material which 30 comprises a base fabric formed from a fibrous material, a front surface IR reflecting resin layer which is formed on a front surface of the base fabric, arid a .back surface thermoplastic resin, layer which is formed on a back surface of the base fabric and which, overall has a 35 40 to 8 0% visible light transmission (measured by JIS Z8722), wherein at least the front surface IR reflecting resin layer contains interference mica particles in a content 0.5 to 5 mass% based on the total mass of the composition of the front surface IR RECEIVED at IPONZ on 8 DECEMBER 2011 reflecting resin layer, and in that one or both of the front, surface IR reflecting resin layer and the back surface thermoplastic resin layer includes at least, one type of particle selected from ultrafine titanium, oxide 5 particles having a 0.01 to 0.5 jjiu particle size and ultrafine zinc oxide particles having a 0.01 to 0.5 pjn particle size in a content of 0.3 to 3% by mass, based on the total mass of the compositions.

In the high, .light-transmission, sheet material of the 10 present invention, preferably the interference mica particles are coated with a thin titanium oxide layer or a multilayered thin, layer comprised of three layers of titanium oxide/silicon oxide/titanium oxide.

In the high light-transmission sheet material of the IS present invention, preferably the ultrafine titanium oxide particles and ultrafine zinc oxide particles are respectively treated on their surfaces with at least one member selected from aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon oxide, polysiloxane, and stearic acid. 2 0 In the high light-transmission sheet material of the present invention, preferably a stainproof layer is further formed on. the front surface IR reflecting resin layer.

In the high light.-t.ransmissi.on sheet material of the 25 present invention, preferably the stainproof layer contains at least one member selected from ultrafine titanium oxide particles having a particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 pin and ultrafine zinc oxide particles having a particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 }iin, in a content of 0.3 to 3 30 mass% based on the total composition mass of the stainproof layer.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification and claims means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which includes the "comprising", other features besides the features prefaced by this term in each statement can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in similar manner. (followed by page 7a) RECEIVED at IPONZ on 8 DECEMBER 2011 7a - In the description in this specification reference may be made to subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims of the current application. That subject matter should be readily identifiable by a person skilled in the art and may assist in putting into practice the invention as defined in the claims of this application.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

The high light-transmission sheet material of the present invention has a high light-transmission, superior UV blocking ability, and superior IR shielding ability all together. By using this high light-transmission sheet material for summer pool tents, greenhouses, compost (followed by page 8) sheds, or other facilities where light transmission is required and for warehouse tents, medium- and large-sized tents, truck tarps, shade tents, and other sheet structure spaces, it is possible to provide comfortable 5 spaces which are "bright, sufficiently block harmful UV, and are superior in heat shielding ability", in particular, it becomes possible to improve working environments in the summer and reduce the energy expended for lighting, air-conditioning, etc.

Mod of Carrying Out the Invention As the fibrous material used for the base fabric for the high light-transmission sheet material of the present invention, polypropylene fiber, polyethylene fiber, polyester fiber, nylon fiber, vinylon fiber, and other 15 synthetic fibers, cotton, hemp, and other natural fibers, acetate and other semisynthetic fibers, and glass fiber, silica fiber, alumina fiber, carbon fiber, and other inorganic fibers are used. These may be used alone or may be used mixed in two or more members. The form of the 20 fibrous material may be multifilament yarn, staple fiber spun yarn, monofilament yarn, split yarn, tape yarn, etc. The structure of the base fabric which is used in the present invention may be any of a woven fabric, knitted fabric, or nonwoven fabric. When using a woven fabric, 25 the weave structure may be any of a plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, mock, etc., but a plain weave fabric is superior in balance of the warp and weft properties of the obtained high light-transmission sheet material, so is preferably used in the present invention. When using a 30 knitted fabric, a weft-inserted tricot of a Rashel knit is preferably used. These woven or knitted fabrics include coarse weave woven fabrics comprised of yarns including warps and wefts arranged in parallel with spaces between them (void volume of maximum 80%, 35 preferably 5 to 50%) and non-coarse woven or knitted fabrics (woven fabrics in which substantially no spaces are formed between yarns). As nonwoven fabrics, spun bond nonwoven fabrics etc. may be used. The fiber base fabric is, if necessary, treated for water repellency, prevention of water absorption, adhesiveness, flame retardancy, etc.

The resin which can be used for the front surface IR reflecting resin layer and back surface thermoplastic resin layer of the high light-transmission sheet material of the present invention is a thermoplastic resin (including thermoplastic elastomers). A polyvinyl 10 chloride resin, polyvinyl chloride-based copolymer resin, polyolefin resin, polyolefin-based copolymer resin, polyurethane resin, polyurethane-based copolymer resin, polyacrylic resin, polyacryl-based copolymer resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl acetate-based 15 copolymer resin, polystyrene resin, polystyrene-based copolymer resin, polyester resin, polyester-based copolymer resin, fluorine-containing copolymer resin, etc. are used alone or in combinations of two or more resins. Among these thermoplastic resins, a polyvinyl 20 chloride resin (including soft to semihard polyvinyl chloride resins containing a plasticizer, stabilizer, etc.), polyolefin-based copolymer resin, polyurethane-based copolymer resin, polyester-based copolymer resin, fluorine-containing copolymer resin, etc. are preferable. 25 The above-mentioned "polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl chloride-based copolymer resin" specifically includes polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride copolymer 30 resin, vinyl chloride-acrylic acid copolymer resin, vinyl chloride-urethane copolymer resin, etc.

Further, the above-mentioned "olefin resin, olefin-based copolymer resin" specifically includes polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-a-olefin copolymer 35 resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, ethylene- acrylic acid copolymer resin, ethylene-acrylic acid ester copolymer resin, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer resin, ethylene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer resin, a reactor polymerization resin of polypropylene with ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR rubber) or its polymer alloy PP-EPR resin, a reactor polymerization resin of 5 polypropylene with ethylene-propylene-conjugated diene-based rubber (EPDM rubber) or its polymer alloy PP-EPDM resin, etc.

The front surface IR reflecting resin layer and back surface thermoplastic resin layer of the high light-10 transmission sheet material of the present invention can be colored with an organic pigment or inorganic pigment and, if necessary, include a plasticizer, stabilizer, filler, UV absorbent, binder, flame retardant, anti-mold agent, slip agent, etc.

In particular, a UV absorbent is used for the purpose of improving the weathering resistance of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer itself and the back surface thermoplastic resin layer itself. For example, a benzophenone-based compound, benzotriazole-20 based compound, cyanoacrylate-based compound, triazine- based compound, acryl polymer to which UV absorbing units are graft polymerized, etc. are used. If including an UV absorbent in the front surface IR reflecting resin layer or back surface thermoplastic resin layer, this 25 effectively acts on the sheet material's UV-B (280 to 315 |xm) blocking ability.

The interference mica particles contained in the front surface IR reflecting resin layer of the high light-transmission sheet material of the present 30 invention are preferably coated on the mica surfaces with a titanium oxide thin layer or with a multilayered thin layer comprised of three layers of titanium oxide/silicon oxide/titanium oxide. The covering rate of the interference mica particles with the above titanium 35 oxide-containing thin layer is preferably 35 to 70%. If this is less than 35%, the ability to block IR from sunlight is insufficient, while if this is over 70%, the sheet material falls in transparency or, due to the catalytic activity of the titanium oxide, the sheet material falls in weathering resistance. This covering rate is more preferably 45 to 60%. The method of 5 production of the interference mica particles coated with this titanium oxide-containing thin layer is not particularly limited. For example, the method of using hydrolysis of titanium tetrachloride to coat the mica particle surface with titanium hydroxide and further 10 sintering this to cause the titanium oxide to crystallize is used. Note that the "covering rate of the titanium oxide on the mica surface" means the ratio of the mass of the thin layer in terms of titanium dioxide to the total mass of the mica particle coated with the titanium oxide-15 containing thin layer.

The content of the interference mica particles contained in the front surface IR reflecting resin layer of the high light-transmission sheet material of the present invention, from the balance of the light 20 transmission and heat shielding ability, is preferably 0.5 to 5 mass% based on the total composition mass of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer. If the content of the interference mica particles is less than 0.5 mass%, the resultant sheet material is excellent in light 25 transmission, but the IR transmission becomes too high and a sufficient heat shielding ability cannot be obtained. Further, if the content of the interference mica particles is over 5 mass%, the light transmission of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer falls, a 40 30 to 80% visible light transmission cannot be obtained for the sheet material as a whole, the surface color and the light transmission color of the sheet material become rainbow colors, and glare or irritation sometimes occur.

The ultrafine titanium oxide particles and/or 35 ultrafine zinc oxide particles included in one or both of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer and back surface thermoplastic resin layer of the high light- transmission sheet material of the present invention are selected from titanium oxide particle and/or zinc oxide particles having a particle size 0.01 to 0.5 fxm. If this particle size is less than 0.01 jxm, the desired UV-A 5 blocking effect becomes hard to obtain, while, further, if the particle size is over 0.5 Jim, the desired transparency cannot be obtained.

The ultrafine titanium oxide particles and/or ultrafine zinc oxide particles which are used in the 10 present invention are preferably ones surface treated so as to improve the dispersing property in the resin and deactivating ability. As the surface treatment agent, for example, one or more members selected from aluminum oxide (AI2O3) , zirconium oxide (ZrC>2) , silicon oxide (Si02) , 15 polysiloxane, stearic acid, etc. are used. The content of the ultrafine titanium oxide particles and/or ultrafine zinc oxide particles is preferably 0.3 to 3 mass% based on the total composition mass of the resin layer. If the content of the ultrafine titanium oxide particles and/or 20 ultrafine zinc oxide particles is less than 0.3 mass%, a sufficient blocking effect of UV light (in particular UV-A) cannot be obtained. Further, if the content of the ultrafine titanium oxide particles and/or ultrafine zinc oxide particles is over 3 mass%, even if the particle 25 size is 0.01 to 0.5 (4m, the light transmission will drop and a 40 to 80% visible light transmission of the film material as a whole will not be able to be obtained. Further, when jointly using ultrafine titanium oxide particles and ultrafine zinc oxide particles, the mass 30 ratio is preferably ultrafine titanium oxide particles:ultrafine zinc oxide particles = 1:0.5 to 2. In this way, it is first by using, as the materials forming the sheet material, interference mica particles and ultrafine titanium oxide particles and/or ultrafine zinc 35 oxide particles in respectively specific amounts that it becomes possible to maintain the light transmission at a sufficiently high level while imparting the ability to block UV, including UV-A, and thereby possible to provide a high light-transmission sheet material which sufficiently blocks harmful UV and furthermore is 5 superior in heat shielding ability.

In the high light-transmission sheet material of the present invention, to prevent a drop in the heat shielding effect and a drop in the light transmission due to stain deposition along with the elapse of time and to 10 maintain a beautiful appearance, at least one layer of a stainproof layer may be provided on the front surface IR reflecting resin layer. The stainproof layer is not particularly limited in method of formation and material so long as not impairing the high shielding ability and 15 light transmission of the high light-transmission sheet material and not being accompanied with excessive blocking ability. Such a stainproof layer may, for example, be suitably selected from a coating layer formed by coating a resin solution comprised of at least one 20 member selected from an acryl-based resin or fluorine- based resin made soluble in a solvent, a coating layer including silica particles or colloidal silica together with the resin, a hydrophilic coating layer formed by coating a coating agent including an organosilicate 25 and/or its condensate, a photocatalystic coating layer formed by coating a coating agent including a photocatalystic inorganic material (for example, photocatalystic titanium oxide) and a binder, a film layer obtained by laminating a film having at least an 30 outermost surface formed by a fluorine-based resin, by a binder or hot melting, etc.

Further, between the stainproof layer and the front surface IR reflecting resin layer, if necessary, an adhesive layer for improving the adhesion between the 35 stainproof layer and the front surface IR reflecting resin layer, a guard layer for inhibiting decomposition of the resin in the front surface IR reflecting resin layer by the photocatalyst, an additive migration blocking layer for blocking the additives contained in the front surface IR reflecting resin layer from migrating to the stainproof layer, etc. may be formed.

Further, the side of the high light-transmission sheet material of the present invention opposite to the side where the stainproof layer is formed may be formed with a back surface adhesive layer to thereby impart high frequency heating melt bondability and hot air melt 10 bondability with the stainproof layer. Alternatively, to prevent the additives contained in the back surface side adhesive layer or thermoplastic resin layer from migrating to the stainproof layer resulting in a drop in the stainproofing property while storing the high light-15 transmission sheet material rolled up, the back surface side (surface opposite to the stainproof layer) may be formed with an additive migration blocking layer.

In the stainproof layer of the high light-transmission sheet material of the present invention, to 20 further improve the weathering resistance of the high light-transmission sheet material and strengthen the blocking of harmful UV, the stainproof layer may contain at least one member selected from ultrafine titanium oxide particles having a particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 |im 25 and ultrafine zinc oxide particles having a particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 (Jin. The ultrafine titanium oxide particles and/or ultrafine zinc oxide particles are preferably contained, in a content of 0.3 to 3 mass% based on the mass of the stainproof layer. If the content is less than 30 0.3 mass%, sufficient effects of improvement of the weatherability of the sheet material and harmful UV blocking sometimes cannot be obtained. Further, if the content of the ultrafine titanium oxide particles and/or ultrafine zinc oxide particles is over 3 mass%, even if 35 the particle size is 0.01 to 0.5 |xm, the resultant stainproof layer will exhibit blocking property and the resultant sheet material will sometimes fall in light transmission. Further, when using the ultrafine titanium oxide particles and the ultrafine zinc oxide particles together, by mass ratio, preferably ultrafine titanium 5 oxide particles:ultrafine zinc oxide particles=l:0.5 to 2. Further, the ultrafine titanium oxide particles and/or ultrafine zinc oxide particles which are contained in the stainproof layer is preferably one treated on its surface to improve the dispersibility in the stainproof layer. As 10 the surface treatment agent, one or more member selected from aluminum oxide (AI2O3) , zirconium oxide (Zr02) , silicon oxide, polysiloxane, stearic acid, etc. are used.

The high light-transmission sheet material of the present invention is a flexible sheet material comprised 15 of a base fabric formed by a fibrous material on the front surface of which a front surface IR reflecting resin layer is provided and on the back surface of the base fabric of which a back surface thermoplastic resin layer is provided. Its form is preferably a tarpaulin, 20 sail cloth, or other waterproof film material. Among these, in the case of sail cloth, as the resin ingredient of the front and back resin layer, a thermoplastic resin able to be dissolved in an organic solvent, a thermoplastic resin emulsion (latex) which is emulsion 25 polymerized in water, a dispersion resin comprised of a thermoplastic resin forcibly dispersed in water to stabilize it or another aqueous dispersion resin, a soft polyvinyl chloride resin paste sol, etc. is used. As the coating method, dipping (processing of both surfaces of 30 fiber fabric) and coating (processing of one surface or processing of both surfaces of fiber fabric) etc. may be used. At tarpaulin is preferably produced by the method of laminating a film or sheet which is formed by the calendaring method or T-die extrusion method on to one 35 surface or both surfaces of a base fabric through an adhesive layer or by the method of hot lamination through the open voids at the two surfaces of the fiber fabric.

Further, it may be obtained by a method combining dipping, coating, and film lamination.

Examples The present invention will be explained further using the following examples and comparative examples. In these examples and comparative examples, the test methods used for measuring the UV blocking rate, visible light transmission, and heat shielding rate in the initial 10 state and after one year outdoor exposure were as follows: (1) UV blocking rate The film material was measured for UV blocking rate by using a Spectrophotometer Model V-670 (made by JASCO) 15 to determine the UV transmissions at the respective wavelength regions of UV-B and UV-A (UV-B: 280 to 315 |om, UV-A: 315 to 400 fxm) based on JIS R3106 and calculating the rate in accordance with formula (1).

UV blocking rate (%)=100%-UV transmission (%)... (1) 20 Furthermore, the UV blocking rate was used to evaluate the sheet material for UV blocking ability in the following three classes: UV blocking rate Class 95% or more 3 90% to less than 95% 2 Less than 90% 1 (2) Visible light transmission The sheet material was measured for visible light transmission using a Spectrophotometer CM-3600d (made by 30 Konica-Minolta) in accordance with JIS Z8722.

Furthermore, the visible light transmission was used to evaluate the film material for light transmission by the following three classes.

Visible light transmission Class 40% to 80% 3 % to less than 40% 2 Less than 30% 1 (3) Heat shielding rate The sheet material was measured for heat shielding rate using an IR lamp simulating sunlight. The ratio by which the film material blocked radiant heat was measured by the following test environment and test method.

Test environment: At the center of the ceiling part of a box-shaped structure with inside dimensions of a height of 45 cm x width of 35 cm x length of 35 cm and with outside air temperature blocking ability and air-tightness, an incandescent lamp (100V, 500W photoreflector lamp, for daylight color, made by Toshiba) was attached so as to create a test environment for evaluation of the heat shielding ability. Next, in both the vertical and horizontal directions, acrylic resin bars having 0.5 cm square cross-sections were used as beams to assemble a box-shaped frame of an outside shape of a height of 5 cm x width of 10 cm x length of 15 cm by using an instant adhesive. At the four side surfaces, top surface, and bottom surface of the box-shaped frame, the test sheet material was fastened by two-sided adhesive tape with the front surface facing outward so as to prepare an air-tight test box. Further, at the center of the bottom part inside this test box, a sensor of a thermoconductivity meter (Shotherm HFM thermoconductivity meter, made by Showa Denko) was attached. The test box covered by the test sheet material (for comparison, a test box without the test sheet material attached being used) was attached to the center of the bottom part of the box-shaped structure and fastened so that the direction of the line connecting the center point of the lamp and the center point of the test box was superposed over the vertical direction. The distance from the front end of the lamp and the ceiling part of the test box inside this box-shaped structure was 35 cm. Further, the box-shaped structure was set in a 20°C constant temperature chamber.

Test method: A test box without the test sheet material attached was placed in the box-shaped structure, a sealed state was set, the lamp was turned on, the heat flow rate (kcal/m2h) was measured every minute, and the 5 heat flow rate qn (kcal/m2h) 30 minutes after lighting was measured. The temperature inside the box-shaped structure was returned to the same 20°C as the inside of the constant temperature chamber, then a test box to which the test film material was attached was placed in the 10 box-shaped structure, a sealed state was set, the lamp was turned on, the heat flow rate (kcal/m2h) was measured every minute, and the heat flow rate qc (kcal/m2h) 30 minutes after lighting was measured.

The heat shielding rate was calculated in accordance with 15 the formula (2).

Heat shielding rate (%)= [(qn-qc)/qn] x 100... (2) Furthermore, the heat shielding rate was used to evaluate the sheet material for heat shielding ability in three classes as shown below: Heat shielding rate Class % or more 3 % to less than 30% 2 Less than 20% 1 (3) Outdoor Exposure Test 25 A test sheet material was set on an outdoor exposure table, with the front surface facing upward, while made to face South at a slant angle of 30 degree as an outdoor exposure test (1 year).

Example 1 1. Formation of undercoat layer As a base fabric, a polyester multifilament yarn plain woven fabric of the following weave structure was used. (750 denier x 750 denier)/(19 yarns /inch x 20 35 yarns/inch) Basis mass: 125 g/m2 This base fabric was immersed in a solvent dilution of the resin composition of the following formulation 1 including a paste polyvinyl chloride resin to impregnate the base fabric with the resin solution, the base fabric 5 was squeezed and dried at 150°C for 1 minute, then the resin-impregnated base fabric was heat treated at 185°C for 1 minute so as to form an undercoat layer. The amount of deposition of the resin on the basic fabric was 125 g/m2 <Formulation 1> Undercoat layer Paste polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 70 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Calcium carbonate 10 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Toluene (solvent) 20 parts by mass 2. Formation of front surface IR reflecting resin layer and back surface thermoplastic resin layer Next, a front surface IR reflecting resin film (0.26 20 mm thickness) comprised of a resin composition of the following formulation 2 including a straight polyvinyl chloride resin and a back surface resin film (0.26 mm thickness) comprised of a resin composition of the following formulation 3 were prepared by calendaring. 25 These were bonded to the front surface and back surface of the above undercoat layer impregnated base fabric to form a 250 g/m2 IR reflecting resin layer on the front surface, and a 250 g/m2 back surface thermoplastic resin layer on the back surface, and prepare a high light-30 transmission sheet material having a total mass 750 g/m2. <Formulation 2> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 96 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass 35 DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Interference mica particles 3 mass% Ultrafine zinc oxide particles 1 mass% 5 [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: to 65 (jm, with Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple layer thin film-coated structure. Thin coat covering rate: 45 mass% Particle size of ultrafine zinc oxide particles: 0.02 fom, with surface-coating aluminum oxide (A1203) layer 10 <Formulation 3> Back surface thermoplastic resin layer composition (PVC-based) Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass 15 Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown 20 in Table 1.

Example 2 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to prepare a high light-transmission sheet material.

However, the front surface IR reflecting resin layer 25 composition was changed to the resin composition of the following formulation 4. <Formulation 4> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 96 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Interference mica particles 3 mass% Ultrafine titanium oxide particles 1 mass% [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: 25 to 65 |xm, with Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple layer thin film-coated structure. Thin coat covering rate: 45 mass% Particle size of ultrafine titanium oxide particles: 5 0.02 fxm, with surface-coating aluminum oxide (A1203) layer This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 1.

Example 3 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to prepare a high light-transmission sheet material.

However, the front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition was changed to the resin composition of the following formulation 5. <Formulation 5> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 96 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Interference mica particles 3 mass% Ultrafine particle zinc oxide 0.5 mass% Ultrafine particle titanium oxide 0.5 mass% [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: 25 to 65 |jm, with Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple layer thin film-coated structure. Thin coat covering rate: 45 mass% 30 Particle size of zinc oxide: 0.02 ^im, with surface- coating aluminum oxide (A1203) layer Particle size of titanium oxide: 0.02 ^m, with surface-coating aluminum oxide (A1203) layer This high light-transmission sheet material was 35 subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 1.

Example 4 1. Formation of undercoat layer As a base fabric, a polyester multifilament yarn plain woven fabric of the following structure was used. 5 (750 denier x 750 denier)/(19 yarns/inch x 20 yarns/inch) Basis mass: 125 g/m2 This base fabric was immersed in a solvent dilution of the resin composition of the following formulation 6 10 including a polyurethane-based resin to impregnate the base fabric with the resin solution, the base fabric was squeezed and dried at 150°C for 1 minute, then the resin-impregnated base fabric was heat treated at 185°C for 1 minute to thereby deposit resin on the basic fabric in an 15 amount of 125 g/m2 so as to form an undercoat layer. <Formulation 6> Polyurethane-based resin undercoat layer Polycarbonate-based polyurethane resin dispersion 100 parts by mass Cyclic phosphonic acid ester compound 5 parts by mass Melamine-coated ammonium polyphosphate (polymerization degree n=1000) 10 parts by mass Melamine cyanurate 10 parts by mass Carbodiimide compound (curing agent) 5 parts by mass Paraffin-based water repellent (water absorption preventing agent) 10 parts by mass 2. Formation of front surface IR reflecting resin layer and back surface thermoplastic resin layer (olefin-based resin) Next, a front surface IR reflecting resin film (0.26 mm thickness) comprised of a resin composition of the following formulation 7 including an olefin-based resin and a back surface resin film (0.26 mm thickness) 35 comprised of a resin composition of the following formulation 8 were prepared by calendaring. These films were bonded to the front surface and back surface of the above undercoat layer impregnated base fabric to form a 250 g/m2 IR reflecting resin layer on the front surface, form a 250 g/m2 back surface thermoplastic resin layer on 5 the back surface, and prepare a high light-transmission sheet material having a total mass 7 50 g/m2. <Formulation 7> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (olefin-based resin) polyolefin-based resin 96 mass% Polypropylene resin 50 parts by mass Styrene-based copolymer resin 25 parts by mass Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin 25 parts by mass Basic hindered amine compound 1 part by mass Thermal degradation preventer 0.2 part by mass Melamine-covered ammonium polyphosphate 20 parts by mass Melamine cyanurate 20 parts by mass Interference mica particles 3 mass% Ultrafine particle zinc oxide 1 mass% [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: 25 to 65 ^im, with a Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple thin layer-coated structure. Thin layer covering rate: 45 mass% Particle size of zinc oxide: 0.02 ^m, with surface-25 coating aluminum oxide (A1203) layer <Formulation 8> Back surface thermoplastic resin layer composition (olefin-based resin) Polypropylene resin 50 parts by mass Styrene-based copolymer resin 25 parts by mass Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin 25 parts by mass mass Basic hindered amine compound 1 part by mass Thermal degradation preventer 0.2 part by mass Melamine-covered ammonium polyphosphate 20 parts by Melamine cyanurate 20 parts by mass This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 1.

Example 5 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to 5 prepare a high light-transmission sheet material.

However, the front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition was changed to the resin composition of the following formulation 9, while the back surface thermoplastic resin layer composition was changed to the 10 resin composition of the following formulation 10. <Formulation 9> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 97 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass 15 DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass 20 Interference mica particles 3 mass% [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: 25 to 65 |am, with a Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple layer thin coating structure. Thin layer covering rate: 45 mass% <Formulation 10> Back surface thermoplastic resin 25 layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 99 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass 30 Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Ultrafine particle zinc oxide 1 mass% [Note] Particle size of zinc oxide: 0.02 fjin, with a 35 surface-coating aluminum oxide (AI2O3) layer This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 1.

Example 6 The same procedure was performed as in Example 5 to prepare a high light-transmission sheet material.

However, the back surface thermoplastic resin layer composition was changed to the resin composition of the following formulation 11. <Formulation 11> Back surface thermoplastic resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 99 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Ultrafine particle titanium oxide 1 mass% [Note] Particle size of titanium oxide: 0.02 jum, with surface-coating (AI2O3) layer 20 This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 1.

Example 7 The same procedure was performed as in Example 5 to 25 prepare a high light-transmission sheet material.

However, the back surface thermoplastic resin layer composition was changed to the resin composition of the following formulation 12. <Formulation 12> Back surface thermoplastic resin 30 layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 99 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass 35 Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Ultrafine particle zinc oxide 0.5 mass% Ultrafine particle titanium oxide 0.5 mass% [Note] Particle size of zinc oxide: 0.02 jam, with surface-coating aluminum oxide (A1203) layer 5 This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 1.

Example 8 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to 10 prepare a high light-transmission sheet material.

However, an acrylic resin stainproof layer was formed as follows on the front surface IR reflecting resin layer.

The front surface IR reflecting resin layer of the sheet material which was prepared in Example 1 was coated 15 with an acrylic resin constituted by the solvent dilution of the resin composition of the following formulation 13 using a gravure coater to a coated amount of 25 g/m2, was dried at 120°C for 1 minute, then was cooled to form a 5 g/m2 stainproof layer. <Formulation 13> Acrylic resin-based stainproof treatment solution composition Acrylic resin: Acryplen Pellets HBS001 (made by Mitsubishi Rayon) parts by mass Toluene-MEK (50/50 mass ratio) (solvent) 80 parts by mass This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected for the above tests. The test results are shown 30 in Table 2.

Example 9 The same procedure was performed as in Example 8 to prepare a high light-transmission sheet material.

However, to the acrylic resin stainproof layer on the 35 front surface IR reflecting resin layer, ultrafine zinc oxide particles having a particle size of 0.02 fxm (aluminum oxide surface-coated) were added in 1 mass% and the acrylic resin-based stainproof treatment solution composition was changed to a solution composition of the following formulation 14. <Formulation 14> Acrylic resin-based stainproof treatment solution composition Acrylic resin/ultrafine particle zinc oxide = 99/1 parts by mass 10 Acryl resin: Acryplen Pellets HBS001 (made by Mitsubishi Rayon) Toluene-MEK (50/50 mass ratio) (solvent) 80 parts by mass 15 This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 2.

Example 10 The same procedure was performed as in Example 8 to 20 prepare a high light-transmission sheet material.

However, to the acrylic resin stainproof layer on the front surface IR reflecting resin layer, ultrafine titanium oxide particles having a particle size of 0.02 jam (aluminum oxide surface-treated) were added in 1 mass% 25 and the acrylic resin-based stainproof treatment solution composition was changed to a solution composition of the following formulation 15. <Formulation 15> Acryl resin-based stainproof treatment solution composition 30 Acrylic resin/ultrafine particle titanium oxide = 99/1 parts by mass Acryl resin: Acryplen Pellets HBS001 (made by Mitsubishi Rayon) Toluene-MEK (50/50 mass ratio) (solvent) 80 parts by mass This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected for the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 2.

Example 11 The same procedure was performed as in Example 8 to prepare a high light-transmission sheet material.

However, to the acrylic resin stainproof layer on the front surface IR reflecting resin layer, ultrafine zinc oxide particles having a particle size of 0.02 (xm 10 (aluminum oxide surface-coated) and ultrafine titanium oxide particles having a particle size of 0.02 fim (aluminum oxide surface-coated) were added in respectively 0.5 mass% and the acrylic resin-based stainproof treatment solution composition was replaced by 15 to a solution composition of the following formulation 16. <Formulation 16> Acrylic resin-based stainproof treatment solution composition Acrylic resin/ultrafine particle 20 zinc oxide/ultrafine particle titanium oxide = 99/0.5/0.5 parts by mass Acryl resin: Acryplen Pellets HBS001 (made by Mitsubishi Rayon) 25 Toluene-MEK (50/50 mass ratio) (solvent) 80 parts by mass This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown 30 in Table 2.

Example 12 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to prepare a high light-transmission sheet material.

However, a photocatalystic stainproof layer was formed on 35 the front surface IR reflecting resin layer as follows: The front surface IR reflecting resin layer was coated with a photocatalystic stainproof layer constituted by solvent dilutions of the resin compositions of the following formulations 17 and 18 using gravure coaters to give coated amounts of 15 g/m2, dried at 100°C for 1 minute, then cooled to form a 1.5 5 g/m2 bonding/guard layer and photocatalystic stainproof layer. <Formulation 17> Coating solution composition for bonding/guard layer of photocatalystic stainproof layer Ethanol-ethyl acetate 10 (50/50 mass ratio) solution containing 8 wt% (solid content) of acryl silicone resin of silicone content of 3 mol% 100 parts by mass Polysiloxane constituted by 15 Methyl Silicate MS51 (Colcoat) in 20% ethanol solution 8 parts by mass Silane coupling agent constituted by y-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane 1 part by mass <Formulation 18> Coating solution composition for photocatalyst stainproof layer Water-ethanol (50/50 weight ratio) solution in which is dispersed sulfuric acid acidified silica 25 sol equivalent to titanium oxide content 10 wt% 50 parts by mass Water-ethanol (50/10 mass ratio) solution in which is dispersed sulfuric acid acidified silica 30 sol equivalent to silicon oxide content 10 wt% 50 parts by mass This high light-transmission sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 2.

The sheet materials which were obtained in Examples 1 to 12 exhibited a superior UV blocking ability in an UV-A blocking rate of 95% or more, a superior light transmission of a visible light transmission in 40% or more, and a superior heat shielding ability in a heat shielding rate of 30% or more and were high light-transmission sheet materials which sufficiently blocked 5 harmful UV and were superior in heat shielding ability as well. Further, in Examples 8 to 12, a stainproof layer was formed on the front surface IR reflecting resin layer. Compared with Example 1 in which no stainproof layer was formed, even after outdoor exposure for 1 year, 10 the drop in light transmission and heat shielding ability was small, and the initial UV blocking ability, light transmission, and heat shielding ability were maintained. Comparative Example 1 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to 15 prepare a sheet material. However, the formulation of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer of Example 1 was changed to the following formulation 19,and interference mica particles and utrafine particle zinc oxide were not added to prepare the sheet material. 20 <Formulation 19> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass 25 Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass This sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 3. 30 The resultant sheet material, compared to the film material which was obtained in Example 1, was substantially the same in level in visible light transmission, but was inferior in UV blocking rate (in particular UV-A) and heat shielding rate and was 35 insufficient in harmful UV blocking ability and heat shielding ability.

Comparative Example 2 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to prepare a film material. However, the formulation of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer of Example 1 was changed to the following formulation 20, ultrafine 5 particle zinc oxide was not added, and only interference mica particles were added in 3 mass% to prepare the sheet material. <Formulation 20> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 97 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Interference mica particles 3 mass% [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: 25 to 65 |am, with a Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple layer thin 20 coating structure. Thin coat covering rate: 45 mass% This sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 3.

The obtained sheet material, compared to the film material which was obtained in Example 1, was 25 substantially the same in level in the visible light transmission and heat shielding rate, but was inferior in UV blocking rate (in particular UV-A) and was insufficient in harmful UV blocking ability.

Comparative Example 3 30 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to prepare a sheet material. However, the formulation of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer of Example 1 was changed to the following formulation 21, interference mica particles were not added, and only ultrafine 35 particle zinc oxide was added in 1 mass% to prepare the sheet material. <Formulation 21> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 99 mass% Straight vinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Ultrafine particle zinc oxide 1 mass% [Note] Particle size of zinc oxide: 0.02 urn, with aluminum oxide (AI2O3) surface treated covering This film material was used for the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 3.

The obtained film material, compared to the film 15 material which was obtained in Example 1, was the same in level in the UV blocking rate and visible light transmission, but was inferior in the blocking rate and was insufficient in blocking ability.

Comparative Example 4 20 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to prepare a sheet material. However, the formulation of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer of Example 1 was changed to the following formulation 23 and the amount of interference mica particles was reduced to 0.5 mass% to 25 prepare the sheet material. <Formulation 22> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 98.5 mass% straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass 30 DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass 35 Interference mica particles 0.5 mass% Ultrafine particle zinc oxide 1 mass% [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: to 65 fxm, with a Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple layer thin coating structure. Thin film covering rate: 45 mass% Particle size of zinc oxide: 0.02 |xm, with a surface-coating aluminum oxide (A12C>3) layer 5 This sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 3.

The obtained sheet material, compared to the film material which was obtained in Example 1, was the same in level in visible light transmission, but was inferior in 10 UV blocking rate (in particular UV-A) and heat shielding rate and was insufficient in harmful UV blocking ability and heat shielding ability.

Comparative Example 5 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to 15 prepare a sheet material. However, the formulation of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer of Example 1 was changed to the following formulation 23 and the amount of interference mica particles was increased to 7 mass% to prepare the sheet material. <Formulation 23> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 92 mass% Straight vinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Interference mica particles 7 mass% Ultrafineparticle zinc oxide 1 mass% [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: 25 to 65 (xm, with a Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple layer thin coating structure. Thin coat covering rate: 45 mass% Particle size of zinc oxide: 0.02 jxm, with surface 35 coating aluminum oxide (A1203) layer This film material was subjected to the above tests.

The test results are shown in Table 3.

The obtained sheet material, compared to the sheet material which was obtained in Example 1, was the same in level in UV blocking rate and heat shielding rate, but 5 was inferior in visible light transmission and was insufficient in light transmission.

Comparative Example 6 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to prepare a sheet material. However, the formulation of the 10 front surface IR reflecting resin layer of Example 1 was changed to the following formulation 24 and the amount of ultrafine zinc oxide particles was decreased to 0.1 mass%. <Formulation 24> Front surface IR reflecting resin 15 layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 96.9 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass 20 Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Interference mica particles 3 mass% Ultrafine particle zinc oxide 0.1 mass% [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: to 65 |om, with a Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple layer thin coating structure. Thin coat covering rate: 45 mass% Particle size of zinc oxide: 0.02 |0.m, with a surface coating aluminum oxide (Al203) layer 30 This sheet material was subjected to the above tests. The test results are shown in Table 3.

The obtained sheet material, compared to the sheet material which was obtained in Example 1, was substantially the same in level in visible light 35 transmission and heat shielding rate, but was inferior in UV blocking rate and was inferior in harmful UV blocking ability.

Comparative Example 7 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 to prepare a sheet material. However, the formulation of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer of Example 1 was 5 changed to the following formulation 24 and the amount of the ultrafine zinc oxide particles was increased to 5 mass% to prepare the film material. <Formulation 24> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 92 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Interference mica particles 3 mass% Ultrafine particle zinc oxide 5 mass% [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: 20 25 to 65 |xm, with a Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple layer thin coating structure. Thin coat covering rate: 45 mass% Particle size of zinc oxide: 0.02 fxm, with a surface-coating aluminum oxide (A1203) layer This sheet material was subjected to the above 25 tests. The test results are shown in Table 3.

The obtained sheet material, compared to the sheet material which was obtained in Example 1, was the same in level in UV blocking rate and heat shielding rate, but was inferior in visible light transmission and was 30 insufficient in light transmission.

Comparative Example 8 The same procedure was performed as in Example 2 to prepare a sheet material. However, the ultrafine titanium oxide particles of Example 2 (particle size: 0.02 fxm) 35 were changed to coarse titanium oxide particles (particle size 0.6 to 1.5 [xm) and the formulation of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer was changed to the following formulation 25 to prepare the sheet material. <Formulation 25> Front surface IR reflecting resin layer composition (PVC-based) Soft polyvinyl chloride resin 96 mass% Straight polyvinyl chloride resin 100 parts by mass DOP (plasticizer) 35 parts by mass CDP (flame retardant plasticizer) 25 parts by mass Epoxidized soybean oil 4 parts by mass Ba-Zn-based stabilizer 2 parts by mass Benzophenone-based UV absorbent 0.5 part by mass Interference mica particles 3 mass% Coarse particle titanium oxide 1 mass% [Note] Particle size of interference mica particles: 15 25 to 65 |4.m, with a Ti02/Si02/Ti02 multiple layer thin coating structure. Thin coat covering rate: 45 mass% Particle size of coarse titanium oxide particles: 0.6 to 1.5 jjiti This sheet material was subjected to the above 20 tests. The test results are shown in Table 3.

The obtained sheet material, compared with the sheet material which was obtained in Example 2, was the same in level in UV blocking rate and heat shielding rate, but was inferior in visible light transmission and was 25 insufficient in light transmission as a sheet material.

Table 1 Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7 Stainproof layer - - - - - - - Front surface IR reflecting resin layer Thermoplastic resin layer PVC-based resin 96 mass% PVC-based resin 96 mass% PVC-based resin 96 mass% polyolefin-based resin 96 mass% PVC-based resin 97 mass% PVC-based resin 97 mass% PVC-based resin 97 mass% Interference mica particles 3 mass% 3 mass% 3 mass% 3 mass% 3 mass% 3 mass% 3 mass% Ultrafine zinc oxide particles 1 mass% ~ 0.5 mass% 1 mass% Ultrafine titanium oxide particles ~ 1 mass% 0.5 mass% Base fabric Polyester filament plain woven fabric Back surface thermoplastic resin layer Thermoplastic resin layer PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% Olefin-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 99 mass% PVC-based resin 99 mass% PVC-based resin 99 mass% Ultrafine zinc oxide particles 1 mass% 0.5 mass% Ultrafine titanium oxide particles 1 mass% 0.5 mass% UV blocking rate (%) UV-B 99.9(3) [99.9(3)] 99.9 (3) 99.9 (3) 99.9(3) 99.9(3) 99.9 (3) 99.9(3) UV-A 97.4(3) [97.4(3)] 97.6(3) 98.0(3) 97.2(3) 96.2(3) 97.3 (3) 96.3(3) Visible light transmission (%) 55.0 (3) [50.2(3)] 54.1(3) 54.5(3) 53.6(3) 55.0(3) 56.2 (3) 56.1 (3) Heat shielding rate (%) 34.4(3) [31.0(3)] 36.2(3) .7 (3) 34.1 (3) 34.1 (3) 34.0 (3) 34.5(3) Remarks Bracketed numerical values indicate measurement values after outdoor exposure for 1 year Table 2 Ex. 8 Ex. 9 Ex. 10 Ex. 11 Ex. 12 Stainproof layer Type Acryl-based resin 100 mass% Acryl-based resin 99 mass% Acryl-based resin 99 mass% Acryl-based resin 99 mass% Photocatalystic titanium oxide Ultrafine zinc oxide particles 1 mass% — 0.5 mass% — Ultrafine titanium oxide particles — - 1 mass% 0.5 mass% Front surface IR reflecting resin layer Thermoplastic resin layer PVC-based resin 96 mass% PVC-based resin 96 mass% PVC-based resin 96 mass% PVC-based resin 96 mass% PVC-based resin 96 mass% Interference mica particles 3 mass% 3 mass% 3 mass% 3 mass% 3 mass% Ultrafine zinc oxide particles 1 mass% 1 mass% 1 mass% 1 mass% 1 mass% Base fabric Polyester filament plain weave fabric Back surface thermoplastic resin layer Thermoplastic resin layer PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% UV blocking rate (%) UV-B 99.9 (3) [99.9(3)] 99.9 (3) 99.9(3) 99.9(3) 99.9(3) [99.9(3)] UV-A 97.8(3) [98.0(3)] 97.2(3) 96.8(3) 97.0(3) 96.6 (3) [96.5(3)] Visible light transmission (%) 55.0(3) [53.8(3)] 54.1 (3) 54.5(3) 53.6(3) 55.1 (3) [55.0 (3)] Heat shielding rate (%) 34.4(3) [32.7(3)] 36.2(3) .2 (3) 34.1(3) 34.9(3) [34.9(3)] Remarks Bracketed numerical values indicate measurement values after outdoor exposure for 1 year Table 3 Comp. Ex. 1 Comp. Ex. 2 Comp. Ex. 3 Comp. Ex. 4 Comp. Ex. 5 Comp. Ex. 6 Comp. Ex. 7 Comp. Ex. 8 Stainproof layer - - - - - - - - Front surface IR reflecting resin layer Thermoplastic resin layer PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 97 mass% PVC-based resin 99 mass% Olefin-based resin 98.5 mass% PVC-based resin 92 mass% PVC-based resin 96.9 mass% PVC-based resin 92 mass% PVC-based resin 96 mass% Interference mica particles ~ 3 mass% 0.5 mass% 7 mass% 3 mass% 3 mass% 3 mass% Ultrafine zinc oxide particles " ~ 1 mass% 1 mass% 1 mass% 0.1 mass% mass% Coarse titanium oxide particles ~ ~ — " ~ 1 mass% Base fabric Polyester filament plain weave fabric Back surface thermoplastic resin layer Thermoplastic resin layer PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% PVC-based resin 100 mass% Ultrafine zinc oxide particles Ultrafine titanium oxide particles UV blocking rate (%) UV-B 99.9(3) 99.9(3) 99.9(3) 99.9(3) 99.9(3) 99.9(3) 99.9(3) 99.9 (3) UV-A 81.2 (1) 88.2 (1) 90.2(2) 92.3 (2) 96.8 (3) 90.8(2) 98.2 (3) 98.0 (3) Visible light transmission (%) 68.3 (3) 56.2 (3) 67.8(3) 62.6 (3) 29.8(1) 56.0 (1) 28 (1) .1 (1) Heat shielding rate (%) 8.2(1) 34.2 (3) 9.0(1) 9.5(1) 38.2(3) 34.3(1) 34.8 (3) 36.7 (3) Industrial Applicability The high light-transmission sheet material which is obtained according to the present invention has a high light-transmission, superior UV blocking ability, and 5 superior IR blocking ability all together. In particular, by using it for summer pool tents, greenhouses, compost sheds, or other facilities where high light-transmission is required and for warehouse tents, medium- and large-sized tents, truck tarps, shade tents, and other sheet 10 structure spaces, it is possible to provide comfortable spaces which are "bright, sufficiently block harmful UV, and are superior in heat shielding ability", in particular, it becomes possible to improve working environments in the summer and reduce the energy expended 15 for lighting, air-conditioning, etc.

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 8 DECEMBER 2011

Claims (6)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: CLAIMS

1. A high light-transmission sheet material which comprises a base fabric formed from a fibrous material, a front surface IR reflecting resin layer formed on a front 5 surface of the base fabric, and a back surface thermoplastic resin layer formed on a back surface of the base fabric and which overall has a visible light transmission (determined by JIS Z8722} of 40 to 80%, wherein at least the front 10 surface IR reflecting resin layer contains interference mica particles in a content of 0-5 to 5% by mass based on a total composition mass of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer, and either one or both of the front surface IR reflecting resin layer and the back 15 surface thermoplastic resin layer includes at least one type of particles selected from ultrafine titanium oxide particles having a particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 fim and ultrafine zinc oxide particles having a particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 (.ira in a content of 0.3 to 3% by mass, based 20 on the total composition mass of each of the layers.

2. A high light-transmission sheet material as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interference mica particles are coated by a thin titanium oxide film or a thin multilayer film comprising three layers of titanium 25 oxide/silicon, oxide/titanium oxide.

3. A high light-transmission sheet material as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ultrafine particle titanium oxide and ultrafine particle zinc oxide are respectively treated on their surfaces by at least one 30 type of agent selected from aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon oxide, polysiloxane, and stearic acid.

4. A high light-transmission sheet material as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a stainproof' layer is further formed on said front surface IR 35 reflecting resin layer.

5. .A high light-transmission sheet material as set forth in claim 4, wherein said stainproof layer contains RECEIVED at IPONZ on 7 February 2012 - 42 - at least one type of member selected from ultrafine titanium oxide particles having a particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 (.mi and ultrafine zinc oxide particles having a particle size 0.01 to 0.5 pra in a content of 0.3 to 3% toy 5 mass, based on the total composition mass of the stainproof layer.

6. A high light-transmission sheet material as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, substantially as herein described with reference to any example thereof.