US20160122911A1

US20160122911A1 - Illuminated fabric comprising glass fibres

Info

Publication number: US20160122911A1
Application number: US14/898,996
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Franz; Josef FASCHING; Bohuslav Mikulecky; Nadege Ombe Wandji; Catherine Jacquiod; Philippe Espiard
Original assignee: Saint Gobain Adfors SAS
Current assignee: Saint Gobain Adfors SAS
Priority date: 2013-06-18
Filing date: 2014-06-11
Publication date: 2016-05-05
Also published as: JP2016526615A; CN105452550A; EP3011093A1; FR3007042A1; FR3007042B1; CN105452550B; JP6574172B2; WO2014202868A1

Abstract

A luminous woven fabric comprises a woven textile support comprising warp yarns and weft yarns selected from binding yarns and optical fibers capable of emitting light sideways. The binding yarns comprise glass yarns representing at least 50% by weight relative to the total weight of the binding yarns forming the woven textile support.

Description

The invention relates to a luminous woven fabric comprising a woven textile support. According to the invention, the expression “woven textile support” is understood to mean a sheet consisting of yarns based on directionally distributed fibers that is obtained by weaving or knitting. Weaving is the result of interlacing, in a same plane, yarns positioned in the direction of the warp (referred to hereinbelow as warp yarns) and yarns positioned perpendicular to the warp yarns, in the direction of the weft (referred to hereinbelow as weft yarns). The binding obtained between these warp yarns and these weft yarns is referred to as a weave.
Luminous woven fabrics currently exist that comprise a woven textile support obtained by weaving yarns referred to as binding yarns and optical fibers. Such luminous woven fabrics are for example described in applications WO 2005/026423, WO 2008/035010, WO 2008/062141 and WO 2008/087339.
The optical fibers are capable, once connected to a light source, of emitting light sideways owing to the presence of invasive alterations along their surface.
The binding yarns make it possible to ensure the good cohesion of the whole of the woven textile support and to impart, as a function of their nature, their dimension and/or their mechanical properties, particular properties to the textile support.
According to the invention, the expression “binding yarn” comprises all yarns or fibers other than optical fibers, that is to say all yarns or fibers that do not have the property of being able to emit light sideways and therefore that are not directly connected or connectable to a light source.
Among the luminous woven fabrics currently available on the market, a distinction should be made as a function of the lighting levels that may be obtained. Most only make it possible to obtain low lighting levels that correspond to ambient lighting in a dark environment.
One of the objectives of the invention is to produce a luminous woven fabric that has excellent lighting performances especially high lighting levels and a uniform luminance over the whole of the surface of the luminous woven fabric. The excellence of these performances is conveyed in particular by properties sufficient to enable the use of the luminous woven fabric as a light fixture.
Another objective of the invention is to produce a luminous woven fabric that has excellent fire behavior, reaction and resistance (hereinbelow fire properties) in particular in order to satisfy the regulatory requirements of products intended for building applications.
The complexity of luminous woven fabrics makes it difficult to improve the lighting properties without lowering the fire properties. Known luminous woven fabrics, corresponding to those described in the aforementioned patent applications, preferably comprise woven textile supports with:

- binding yarns comprising synthetic polymer fibers of organic nature such as polyester or polyamide fibers, and
- optical fibers of organic nature.

Organic materials do not intrinsically have good fire properties. Increasing the density of optical fibers in order to increase the lighting is not capable of improving these properties, or even is carried out to the detriment of said properties.
Finally, the optimization of the lighting properties and of the fire behavior must be obtained without damaging the other properties expected for any woven fabric, in particular without modification of the mechanical properties such as the tensile strength, impact strength, tear strength and moisture resistance, or modification of the other optical properties such as the opacity.
There is therefore a need to develop novel luminous woven fabrics that make it possible to obtain an improvement in the lighting performances that is conveyed by a good uniformity and high lighting levels and an improvement in the fire behavior while keeping all the properties expected for a luminous or non-luminous woven fabric, intended for example for building applications, at least equal.
Surprisingly, the applicant has succeeded in obtaining a luminous woven fabric that satisfies all of the required properties comprising a high proportion of glass yarns used as binding yarns arranged in combination with optical fibers.
The invention therefore relates to a luminous woven fabric comprising a woven textile support comprising warp yarns and weft yarns selected from binding yarns and optical fibers capable of emitting light sideways, characterized in that the binding yarns comprise glass yarns representing at least 50% by weight of the total weight of the binding yarns forming the woven textile support.
The luminous woven fabrics described in the prior art documents are not limited to those comprising synthetic polymer binding fibers of organic nature. However, these documents do not contain any indication regarding problems inherent to weaving luminous woven fabrics comprising glass yarns. Neither do these documents contain indications regarding how to co-weave yarns having different natures and properties. The teachings of these documents are not sufficient to make it possible to produce a luminous woven fabric according to the invention.
Indeed, numerous processing difficulties result from the complexity of the luminous woven fabric, high proportion of glass yarns and combination of yarns based on fibers of different nature, but also constraints imposed in terms of lighting properties, fire properties and mechanical properties. The choice of using glass yarns has a considerable impact on the weaving process and the properties of the luminous woven fabric.
The glass yarns, unlike most of the other textile fibers of organic nature, are not elastic and break. This leads, on the one hand, to premature wear of the weaving loom by abrasion and, on the other hand, to the formation of hard and abrasive glass debris, by friction with the equipment or with the other fibers.
The glass yarns, due to their abrasive nature, are also capable of deteriorating the yarns of different nature constituting the woven textile support, in particular the yarns of organic nature that are more sensitive to wear by abrasion. The risk of breaking or degradation of the yarns of organic nature during co-weaving with glass yarns is high and detrimental. This is even more true when the yarns of organic nature are optical fibers since the lighting properties may also be impaired.
Finally, the glass yarns are a priori not compatible with the step of creating invasive alterations on the optical fibers, such as sandblasting, since the risk of degradation of the glass yarns, which may extend up to breakage, is also high.
The choice of characteristics such as the raw materials used, the proportion thereof, the type of weave, the mesh opening that depends on the density of the weft and warp yarns, makes it possible to reduce the abrasion phenomena and the probability of breakage of the yarns. The textile support of the invention may be woven with a high density of glass yarns and optical fibers without breakage or deterioration of said optical fibers. But above all, this woven textile support may be treated optically so as to create the invasive alterations on the optical fibers by sandblasting without deterioration of the glass yarns and therefore without degradation of the woven fabric.
The luminous woven fabric according to the invention, optimized so as to be able to contain a large amount of glass yarns, has the following advantages:

- an improvement in the fire properties with, in particular, an increase in the fire resistance and a decrease in the gross calorific value (GCV),
- an improvement in the lighting performances in particular linked to the optical properties of the glass yarns,
- an improvement in the mechanical strength, in particular in the tensile strength, making it possible to use the luminous woven fabric as a reinforcing element,
- a reduced cost since the glass yarns are more economical than the polymer textile yarns conventionally used, and this a fortiori by comparison with polymer yarns specifically treated to improve the fire behavior such as TREVIRA® polyester yarns.

The luminous woven fabrics of the invention have a good fire resistance. They are difficult to ignite, or are even nonflammable according to certain embodiments. The glass does not ignite, does not propagate the flame and does not release any smoke or toxic gas.
The luminous woven fabrics of the invention have improved lighting performances. The glass is a material that has excellent transparency to visible light. The use of glass yarns makes it possible to avoid losses of light in the luminous woven fabric and therefore to increase the optical efficiency and the luminance. Furthermore, the glass in its textile form diffuses the light by multi-reflection and constitutes an excellent light reflector due to its naturally white appearance. The particular diffusion and reflection optical properties of the glass yarns help to increase the lighting levels and also the uniformity of the luminance over the whole of the surface of the woven fabric.
The luminous woven fabric of the invention is an ecological alternative solution to the existing luminous woven fabrics comprising woven textile supports mainly consisting of plastic yarns. Indeed, the luminous woven fabric of the invention minimizes the use of materials derived from the oil industry. This is even more true given that, in the case of using optical fibers of partially or completely mineral nature, a luminous woven fabric is obtained, of which the proportions of plastic in the woven textile support are low or even zero. Added to this is the better durability and recyclability of mineral materials relative to plastic materials.
In order to obtain the luminous woven fabric of the invention, a set of characteristics has been optimized in a correlated manner such as the proportions and/or the dimensions of binding yarns made of glass and of optical fibers, and the weight ratios of the weft yarns and warp yarns, of the binding yarns and of the optical fibers. The combination of these characteristics allows a luminous woven fabric to be obtained that has improved lighting and fire behavior performances while retaining a weavability that is compatible with an industrial implementation.
The woven fabric according to the invention has a structure that is referred to as a three-dimensional structure in that it has a certain thickness when flat. The woven fabric according to the invention comprises two faces that define two main opposite surfaces. At least one face is used as a lighting surface. According to one embodiment, the woven textile support comprises a single face used as a lighting surface, hereinafter referred to as main lighting surface or face. According to another embodiment, the woven textile support comprises two faces used as lighting surfaces.
Certain embodiments that are particularly advantageous from the point of view of the fire performances and/or lighting performances are described hereinbelow.
According to one embodiment variant of the invention that is advantageous from the point of view of the fire performances, the glass yarns represent at least 30%, preferably at least 40%, and better still at least 50%, by weight of the weight of the woven textile support. The weight of the woven textile support corresponds to the total weight of the weft yarns and of the warp yarns, i.e. to the weight of all of the binding yarns and optical fibers. The luminous woven fabrics that satisfy this characteristic may in particular have a gross calorific value of less than 15 MJ/kg.
According to one embodiment variant that makes it possible to obtain excellent lighting levels, the luminous woven fabric comprises:

- optical fibers having a diameter greater than or equal to 500 μm used as weft yarn and/or as warp yarn in a density of at least 8 yarns/cm, and
- warp yarns comprising sized glass yarns used as binding yarns.

According to another variant, additional treatments that have the objective of giving the luminous woven fabric supplementary functionalities are carried out. These treatments may in particular have the role of imparting mechanical, reflecting, diffusing, decorative, fire resistance, impact strength, abrasion resistance, anti-soiling, washability, antistatic or other properties. The improvement in the mechanical properties or in the dimensional stability of the woven textile support may be particularly advantageous in the case of greige fabric, i.e. of fabric not coated or refined in any way leaving the weaving loom. For these purposes, the luminous woven fabric comprising two faces, at least one of which is used as a lighting surface, may also comprise at least one additional coating.
According to one embodiment variant of the invention, the luminous woven fabric comprises a fire retardant coating, preferably on a face used as a main lighting surface. The combination, within one and the same luminous woven fabric, of the luminous textile support and of the fire retardant coating contributes even more to obtaining excellent fire properties.
According to one embodiment variant of the invention, the luminous woven fabric comprises a structuring coating, preferably on a face that is not used as a lighting surface. This additional structuring coating is advantageously of white color and/or reflective and/or predominantly based on material of mineral nature. The combination, within one and the same luminous woven fabric, of the luminous textile support and of the structuring coating contributes even more to obtaining an excellent lighting performance while making it possible to obtain a good mechanical strength.
According to other embodiments of the invention, the luminous woven fabric combines the aforementioned variants.
The woven textile supports of the invention may comprise a weave selected in particular from plain, twill, satin or jacquard fabric weaves.
Depending on the type(s) of weave chosen, it is possible to favor the presence of the optical fibers on one of the faces of the woven textile support while ensuring a good strength of the woven textile support. The weave is selected in order to maximize the proportion of optical fibers emerging on the face used as main lighting surface of the luminous woven fabric. In the case of a luminous woven fabric where each of the faces is used as a lighting surface, it is possible, by the choice of the weave, to adjust the lighting level by adjusting the presence of the optical fibers emerging from one or the other side of the luminous woven fabric.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the woven textile support comprises at least one portion woven with a twill weave and more preferably still a satin weave. The satin weave is preferably selected from 4-harness satin, 6-harness satin, 8-harness satin, 10-harness satin and 12-harness satin weaves. The choice of a satin weave advantageously enables the weft yarn or the warp yarn to be more visible on one of the faces of the woven textile support. Advantageously, the woven textile support comprises a weft-effect satin weave on the face used as lighting surface, preferably a 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-harness or more satin weave.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the woven textile support comprises at least one portion woven with a plain weave since this type of weave makes it possible to ensure a good strength of the woven fabric.
The optical fibers and the binding yarns, preferably glass yarns, are used as warp yarns and/or as weft yarns. The optical fibers are preferably used as weft yarns. The glass yarns are preferably used as warp yarns. The glass yarns may also advantageously be used as weft yarns and as warp yarns. According to one embodiment, the woven textile support comprises glass yarns as warp yarns and a combination of glass yarns and optical fibers as weft yarns.
The configuration comprising the optical fibers used as weft yarns makes it possible to allow a certain length of optical fibers to stick out beyond the sides, that is to say at the edge of the luminous textile support. This enables the subsequent connection to the lighting means or light sources.
The configuration comprising the optical fibers used as warp yarns enables lengths to be obtained that are much greater than that which the width of the weaving loom allows with the optical fiber as weft yarns.
According to one embodiment, the binding yarns forming the woven textile support may comprise yarns or fibers other than glass yarns. The binding yarns may in particular comprise a combination of glass yarns and yarns of different nature such as yarns based on organic, metal or mineral fibers other than glass fibers.
According to another embodiment, all the binding yarns are glass yarns, that is to say that all the yarns other than optical fibers are glass yarns.
The glass yarns that are suitable according to the invention and their manufacturing process are described for example in “Fibres de verre de renforcement” [Reinforcing glass fibers], Techniques de l'Ingénieur, Traité Plastiques et Composites [Treatise on Plastics and Composites]. The glass yarns are formed from filaments having a diameter in general of between 5 and 24 μm, preferably of between 6 and 16 μm, and better still of between 8 and 13 μm. The glass yarns are produced from conventional raw materials necessary for the manufacture of glass such as silica, lime, alumina and magnesia. The glass yarns that are suitable according to the invention include in particular E-glass yarns and silica yarns.
Preferably, the glass yarns forming the woven textile support are present in a large amount by weight and by number. According to this embodiment, the binding yarns, that is to say the yarns or fibers other than the optical fibers are predominantly glass yarns by weight and by number. The glass yarns used as binding yarns may represent, by weight relative to the total weight of the binding yarns forming the woven textile support, in order of increasing preference, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 99%.
According to variants of the invention, the glass yarns represent, by weight relative to the weight of the woven textile support, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80% or at least 90%. The higher the proportions of glass yarns in the woven textile support, the better the fire performances. Luminous woven fabrics comprising at least 50% by weight of glass yarns have, in particular, gross calorific values of less than 15 MJ/kg.
The glass yarns are defined by their tex count or linear mass density which is a function of the diameter and of the number of base filaments forming the yarn. The tex corresponds to the mass in grams of 1000 m of yarn. The glass yarns preferably have a count of between 2.8 and 4800 tex, preferably a count of greater than or equal to 34 tex, preferably from 50 tex to 800 tex.
The glass yarns used as warp yarns have, in order of increasing preference, a count of greater than 34 tex, of between 50 and 800 tex, of between 60 and 250 tex, of between 60 and 140 tex, of between 60 and 80 tex.
The density of the warp yarns is at least 5, preferably at least 7 and optionally between 7 and 9 yarns/cm. The density of the warp yarns may be higher. For example, the density of the warp yarns may be greater than or equal to 55 yarns/cm when the tex of the warp yarns is low, for example between 2.8 and 60 tex.
The density of the glass yarns used as warp yarns is at least 5, preferably at least 7 and better still between 7 and 9 yarns/cm.
The glass yarns used as weft yarns have, in order of increasing preference, a count of greater than 34 tex, of between 50 and 800 tex, of between 100 and 250 tex, of between 120 and 220 tex.
The density of the weft yarns (comprising the binding yarns and the optical fibers) is, in order of increasing preference:

- at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25 yarns/cm, and/or
- at most 60, at most 35 yarns/cm.

The density of the glass yarns used as weft yarns is at least 5, preferably from 8 to 20 yarns/cm, and/or the density of optical fibers as weft yarns is at least 5, preferably from 8 to 20 yarns/cm.
The product of the tex of the glass yarns and of the density of the glass yarns by number of yarns per centimeter, as weft or as warp, is greater than 500. The product of the tex of the glass yarns and of the density of the glass yarns by number of yarns per centimeter as weft is preferably greater than 900 and better still between 900 and 2500.
The glass yarns may be twisted glass yarns having at least 5, at least 10, at least 15 or at least 20 twists/m.
The glass yarns are preferably previously finished when they are formed and may then be sized. The finish is a treatment product that is applied to the surface of the glass fibers after they leave the spinneret for forming the glass fibers. All the glass yarns are in general finished. Sizing, unlike finishing, is a treatment carried out “subsequently”, that is to say after manufacture of the glass yarns. The use of finished and optionally sized glass yarns makes it possible to minimize frictions between fibers or yarns during the weaving.
Finishing consists in applying a finishing composition comprising at least one finishing agent. For finishing agents, reference may be made to the finishing agents described in “Fibres de verre de renforcement” [Reinforcing glass fibers], Technique de l'Ingénieur, Traités Plastiques et Composites [Treatise on Plastics and Composites].
Sizing consists in applying a sizing composition comprising at least one sizing agent. The same compositions may be used for finishing or sizing. At the end of the sizing step, each glass yarn, preferably used as warp, is coated with a sheath, which covers the whole of its periphery.
The sized glass yarns, more particularly when they are used as warp binding yarns, help to facilitate the increase in the density of the optical fibers in the luminous woven fabric and consequently the lighting levels. The luminous woven fabrics according to this embodiment have densities of optical fibers of greater than or equal to 10 yarns/cm and better still of greater than or equal to 12.
For the sizing operation, reference may be made to application WO 2009/071812. As sizing agents that are suitable according to the invention, mention may be made of the sizing agents based on polysaccharides, preferably natural polysaccharides, in particular starch, starch derivatives such as carboxymethyl starch or hydroxyethyl starch ether, cellulose derivatives, in particular carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), galactomannans, or else protein derivatives. Mention may also be made of sizing agents based on entirely synthetic polymers. In this case, these are for example polyvinyl alcohols (PVAs), polyacrylates, polyvinyl acetate, or else polyester. The sizing agents are deposited via impregnation on the yarns before weaving.
Advantageously, the glass yarns used as warp yarns are sized and comprise, as sizing agents, natural polysaccharides and polyvinyl alcohols.
The total mass of sizing agents relative to the total mass of the glass yarns coated with said sizing agents is preferably between 0.1% and 5% and better still between 0.5% and 2.5%. The glass yarns coated with sizing agents comprise a sheath consisting of said sizing agents which covers the whole of the periphery of said yarns.
According to one embodiment, the woven textile support comprises warp yarns comprising sized glass yarns used as binding yarns and weft yarns comprising glass yarns used as binding yarns. The weft yarns are preferably only finished. The binding yarns used as warp yarns are sized glass yarns, of which the proportion by weight of sizing agent relative to the weight of the yarns coated with said sizing agents is between 1% and 2.5%.
The optical fibers may be formed from a mineral or organic material and may be one-component or two-component optical fibers.
The mineral materials are for example selected from the group comprising glass, quartz, silica. The organic materials are for example selected from the group comprising polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), cyclic olefins (COP) and fluoropolymers.
A sheath may cover the optical fibers in order to protect them. In this case, the optical fibers are made of two materials and have a core covered by a sheath which may be of a different nature. These structures are also referred to as core-shell structures.
As two-component optical fibers that are very particularly suitable, mention may be made of the fibers comprising a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) core and a sheath based on a fluoropolymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
Among the optical fibers that are very particular suitable, mention may be made of the one-component optical fibers based on silica or two-component optical fibers comprising a silica core and a polymer sheath. The use of optical fibers of this type of partially or completely mineral nature makes it possible to increase even more the proportion of mineral materials in the woven textile support and in particular to give it unrivalled fire resistance and recyclability properties.
Advantageously, the woven textile support comprises, by weight relative to the weight of the woven textile support, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% of compound of mineral nature.
The one-component or two-component optical fibers advantageously have a diameter:

- of greater than 100 μm, preferably of greater than 200 μm and better still of greater than 250 μm,
- of less than 2000 μm, preferably of less than 1000 μm and better still of less than 750 μm,
- of between 100 and 1000 μm, preferably from 200 to 550 μm, preferably from 450 to 550 μm.

When the fibers used are core-shell fibers, the thickness of the sheath is between 2 and 15 μm, preferably between 5 and 10 μm.
The product of the mean diameter of the optical fibers in micrometers and of the density of the optical fibers by number of fibers per centimeter as weft or as warp is greater than 2000, preferably greater than 4000, preferably greater than 5000 and better still greater than 6000.
The optical fibers comprise invasive alterations, corresponding to notches or small slits, which enable the extraction of light at the fibers since they modify the angle of reflection of the light rays inside the fiber and the lateral transmission of light outside of the fiber. The optical fibers therefore make it possible both to convey the light inside their structure but also to emit the light sideways. Consequently, the optical fibers make it possible to guide the light, in a distributed manner, inside the luminous woven fabric and to diffusely illuminate the main surfaces of the luminous woven fabric.
The invasive alterations may be obtained in various ways and in particular by abrasive processes such as sandblasting, chemical attack or melting by means of a high-intensity light ray such as a laser.
The invasive alterations may be carried out on the optical fibers before or after weaving. When they are carried out after weaving, they may be created before or after deposition of additional coatings as defined below on the woven textile support.
Preferably, the optical fibers comprise invasive alterations obtained by sandblasting. Unexpectedly, the sandblasting treatment does not damage the glass yarns. Even more unexpectedly, this treatment makes it possible to obtain an excellent uniformity of the luminance over the whole of the surface of the luminous woven fabric.
When the alterations are created after weaving during a subsequent step, it is possible to vary:

- the location of these invasive alterations so as to define a particular pattern in order to produce a signage, or to display a message or an image,
- the surface density or the size of the invasive alterations created from one zone to the next of the woven fabric, for example, in order to produce uniform lighting of the luminous woven fabric, by decreasing the surface density at the zones in the vicinity of the light sources or in order to deliberately obtain lighting gradients.

Preferably, the optical fibers extend outside of the surface defined by the woven fabric corresponding to the edge of the luminous woven fabric. The optical fibers may be braided or assembled in the form of bundles so as to unite a variety of free ends opposite a same light source, preferably at the edge of the luminous woven fabric. Regarding the manufacture of the luminous woven fabric and the connection of the optical fibers, reference may be made to patent FR 2859737.
The optical fibers therefore comprise free ends capable of being connected or arranged opposite a light source in order to transmit the light and emit the light sideways at the alterations.
The woven textile support advantageously has:

- a basis weight of between from 100 to 2500 g/m², 250 to 1000 g/m², and/or
- a thickness of less than 5 mm, preferably of between 0.25 μm and 5 mm.

The luminous woven fabric comprises one or more point light sources arranged opposite at least one free end of an optical fiber, preferably at the edge of the woven fabric. Alternatively, the woven fabric may comprise an extended light source arranged opposite a plurality of free ends of optical fibers. This or these light sources are connected to the optical fibers. The optical fiber(s), preferably the end(s) of the optical fibers, optionally cut or braided, are connected to the light sources.
The light sources intended to light the free ends of the optical fibers may be of different natures, and in particular be in the form of light-emitting diodes or of extended sources such as incandescent lamps, fluorescent tubes or discharge tubes incorporating a gas such as neon. The light sources are advantageously light-emitting diodes.
Advantageously, an optical lens may be inserted between the source and the ends of the optical fibers in order to concentrate the light on said ends and limit the light transmission losses.
The luminous woven fabric according to the invention advantageously has a luminance of at least 100 cd/m², better still of at least 150 cd/m²and even better still of at least 200 cd/m². These luminance values are obtained when 150 optical fibers are connected in an appropriate manner to a light source, for example a light source that emits an appropriate luminous flux. According to the invention, the term “luminance” is understood to mean the intensity of an extended source in a given direction, divided by the apparent area of this source in this same direction measured according to the ISO 23539:2005 luminance standard. A high luminance makes it possible to obtain levels of lighting sufficient so that the luminous woven fabric of the invention constitutes a lighting source by itself.
According to the invention, it is considered that a luminous woven fabric makes it possible to obtain levels of lighting sufficient to ensure the light fixture function when it satisfies the recommended lighting values (lux) of the NF EN 12464-1 European standard for lighting technology of workplaces. For example, a luminous woven fabric (1 m×1 m) connected to one or more suitable light sources, having a luminance at normal incidence of 440 cd/m², makes it possible to obtain lighting at 2 m of 100 lux, illumination sufficient for lighting a reception or an entrance hall.
The invention therefore makes it possible to obtain light fixtures that can be adjusted via their shape by giving the luminous woven fabric various shapes.
The luminous woven fabric may comprise an additional coating, for example added by impregnation of the woven fabric (impregnated coating) or by introduction of a coating to the surface(s) of the luminous woven fabric (surface coating).
The luminous woven fabric of the invention comprising two faces, at least one of which is used as a lighting surface, may also comprise at least one additional coating selected from reflective coatings, structuring coatings, optionally intumescent fire retardant coatings, coatings having a good cleanability and diffusing coatings.
A distinction should be made among the additional coatings depending on the impact that they have on the lighting levels. Indeed, the luminous woven fabric according to the invention comprises two main faces that define two opposite main surfaces. The two faces are not always equivalent, for example depending on the weave selected. When the additional coating decreases, deliberately or not, the lighting levels that may be obtained by the luminous woven fabric, it will preferably be placed on the face not used as the main lighting surface.
The luminous woven fabric may comprise an additional coating on the face not used as the main lighting surface, in particular selected from reflective coatings and structuring coatings.
The use of a luminous woven fabric comprising a reflective coating makes it possible to increase the amount of light exiting from a side of the luminous woven fabric. The reflective coating may be an opaque coating, preferably white, deposited on one of the surfaces of the textile supports, such as a paint.
According to the invention, use is preferably made of coatings that make it possible both to improve the mechanical properties and the optical properties of the luminous woven fabrics. These coatings, referred to hereinbelow as structuring coatings, comprise:
(i) a binder and optionally
(ii) filling materials.
The filling materials are in general inert mineral materials preferably selected from fillers and/or pigments. Advantageously, the fillers are elements having a size of less than 80 microns.
The binders may be organic polymer binders, for example selected from polymers or copolymers of polyurethane, of poly(meth)acrylate such as for example a styrene-acrylic copolymer, and of polyamide, copolymers of styrene and butadiene (SBR “styrene-butadiene rubber”) and/or polymers based on polysaccharides in particular based on starch.
These structuring coatings are preferably obtained from a liquid or viscous solution comprising the binder, filling materials and optionally a solvent or dispersing medium, applied according to any conventional deposition process in particular by padding, dip coating, drying, spraying, brush coating, roll coating or knife coating. The structuring coating according to the invention may, after drying, be essentially located at the surface of the luminous woven fabric or impregnate at least one portion of the thickness of the luminous textile support.
According to a first variant, the structuring coating is a surface coating and remains mainly on the surface(s) of the luminous woven fabric. Such a coating comprises a considerable proportion of filling materials. According to this embodiment, the additional structuring coating is on a face that is not used as a lighting surface. The structuring coating comprises, by weight relative to the total weight of (i) and (ii):

- 10% to 60%, preferably 10% to 25%, of binder (i) and
- 40% to 90%, preferably 75% to 90%, of filling materials (ii).

Preferably, the total weight of (i) and (ii) represents at least 90%, at least 95% and better still at least 99% of the total weight of the structuring coating.
As surface structuring coating that is very particular suitable according to the invention for ensuring the dimensional stability of the woven fabric, mention may be made of a structuring coating comprising a preferably acrylic binder, mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate and optionally pigments.
The coating may be obtained by application of a composition, preferably an aqueous composition, having a high solids content, preferably of greater than 65%.
Such an additional structuring coating is advantageously present in an amount of 25 to 1000 g/m², preferably of 50 to 250 g/m², preferably at least 120 g/m². The weights of coating per unit of surface area correspond to the weight of the dry coatings, that is to say after elimination of the optional solvent or dispersing media.
According to one variant, the additional structuring coating may be an impregnated coating. Such a coating is obtained by application of a composition having a lower solids content. Preferably these coatings also have a lower proportion by weight of filling materials (ii) relative to the total weight of (i) and (ii). They may be applied to the face that is not used as the main lighting surface and/or to the face that is used as the main lighting surface. The objective of these coatings is mainly to improve the mechanical strength. These coatings are not necessarily opaque. These coatings are not incompatible with the treatments intended to create the invasive alterations on the optical fibers and do not disrupt the extraction of light. Such coatings may therefore be deposited on the woven textile support before the step of creating the invasive alterations, in particular on the face of the luminous woven fabric directly that is exposed to said treatment.
The impregnated structuring coating may comprise, by weight relative to the total weight of (i) and (ii):

- 70% to 100%, preferably 70% to 98%, of binder (i) and
- 0 to 30%, preferably 2% to 30%, of filling materials (ii).

Such an additional structuring coating is advantageously present in an amount of 25 to 1000 g/m², preferably of 25 to 100 g/m².
The structuring coatings may also be reflective, in particular when they comprise reflective filling materials or opacifying and non-absorbent filling materials such as calcium carbonate and/or titanium dioxide.
These structuring coatings are advantageously white. For this purpose, the structuring coating comprises preferably at least 2%, preferably at least 5% and better still at least 10% by weight of white pigments such as titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, zinc sulfate or zinc oxide relative to the total weight of the structuring coating.
The reflective structuring coatings are applied preferably to the face that is not used as the main lighting surface. The structuring coating may then preferentially reflect the light emitted by the textile support on the side chosen to be the lighting face. The use of such a structuring coating makes it possible to obtain a gain in the luminance, that is to say that a luminous woven fabric comprising said coating may exhibit an increase in its luminance relative to the same luminous woven fabric that does not comprise said coating.
The luminous woven fabric may comprise an additional coating on the face used as the main lighting surface that is selected from optionally intumescent fire retardant coatings, coatings having a good cleanability and diffusing coatings, preferably that are transparent or translucent.
The luminous woven fabric may comprise an optionally intumescent fire retardant coating, preferably that is transparent, which imparts fire resistance properties. Preferably, the fire retardant and/or intumescent coating is applied at least to the face used as the lighting surface.
The expression “fire retardant coating” is understood to mean a coating that imparts flame retardant properties, that is to say a coating that makes it possible to inhibit or retard the combustion of the underlying material when the latter is subjected to excessive heat and/or to retard the spread of a flame in the material.
The expression “intumescent coating” is understood to mean a coating capable of undergoing expansion in the event of exposure to excessive heat that makes it possible to retard the combustion of the coated article.
The fire retardant coating comprises fire retardants, for example selected from phosphorus-containing and halogen-containing compounds, such as oxides, hydroxides or mixtures, and mineral fillers.
The fire retardant and intumescent coating comprises intumescent agents consisting of a composition comprising at least a source of acid, a source of carbon and a source of gas. The source of acid may be selected from phosphorus-containing and sulfate-containing compounds. Preferably, the source of acid comprises at least one phosphorus-containing compound selected from ammonium phosphates. The source of carbon may be selected from hydroxylated compounds, in particular polyhydric alcohols such as pentaerythritol and dipentaerythritol. The source of gas may be selected from nitrogen-containing compounds, in particular melamine and derivatives thereof, dicyandiamide or urea.
As optionally intumescent fire retardant coating, the intumescent varnish Char17, sold by IRIS Vernici, is suitable.
The fire retardant coating is advantageously present in an amount of from 100 to 350 g/m², preferably from 150 to 250 g/m².
The thickness of the fire retardant coating is advantageously between 50 and 500 μm, preferably 100 to 250 μm. preferably less than 200 μm.
The luminous woven fabric may comprise a coating having a good cleanability. This property is for example obtained by the choice of a formulation that renders the coating smooth, nonporous and/or resistant to certain solvents or to water. It is thus easy to clean the surface of the luminous woven fabric comprising said coating by simply passing a sponge over it.
The luminous woven fabric may comprise a colored decorative coating containing pigments or dyes of organic nature.
The luminous woven fabric may comprise a diffusing coating. This coating makes it possible to modify the final appearance of the woven fabric by introducing a decorative value (pattern, image, colors, message) and/or homogenizing the light coming from the woven fabric and thus perfecting the flatness of light. The diffusing coating may be selected from diffusing polymer films such as Duratrans films, diffusing woven fabrics of voile type, Satinovo®-type glass plates. It being possible for the diffusing coating to be joined to the luminous textile support by any known means, for example by adhesive bonding.
The additional coatings may combine several functions. Advantageously, the optionally intumescent fire retardant coating may also have a good cleanability. The structuring coating may also be a colored decorative coating.
The luminous woven fabrics may also comprise several additional coatings. By way of example, mention may be made of a luminous woven fabric comprising:

- a structuring additional coating on a face that is not used as a lighting surface, and
- an additional coating selected from optionally intumescent fire retardant coatings, coatings having a good cleanability and diffusing coatings on a face used as a lighting surface.

The luminous woven fabric may advantageously comprise sets of colors that may be obtained by virtue of the light sources used for lighting the optical fibers but also by coloring the various optical fibers or binding yarns.
Coloring the fibers is understood to mean the fact of using yarns that are tinted or coated with a colored layer before being woven or else the fact of printing the woven textile support with a colored pattern, after weaving, by processes such as screenprinting or inkjet printing.
The woven textile support may therefore be of white color corresponding to the natural appearance of the glass fiber or tinted with another color by virtue of the use of a glass fiber tinted or coated before weaving.
The luminous woven fabric may comprise at least one luminous decorative pattern located on at least one portion of the surface of the luminous woven fabric capable of emitting light. The decorative pattern may be obtained by carrying out the step of creating invasive alterations on said portion of the surface of the woven fabric provided for the decorative pattern. The pattern is for example produced using a mask or a stencil before the treatment that enables the extraction of the light. In this embodiment, the product formed may make it possible to obtain, from a standard woven textile support, personalized woven fabrics that reveal patterns by difference in reflection of the light when the light source is switched off and difference in intensity of extraction of the light when the light source is switched on.
The woven textile support may comprise a “textile” decorative pattern or a decorative weave, in particular a jacquard pattern. According to the invention, the expression “jacquard pattern” is understood to mean a pattern obtained by producing a woven textile support that combines several types of weave in the same woven textile support. By using colored yarns, the jacquard weave allows very compact patterns and even the reproduction of an image. A jacquard pattern therefore corresponds to a pattern created by a change of weave or of color in a region of the woven textile support. The decorative pattern may then define a logo or a signage message, resulting directly from the weaving of regions having differences in surface density of optical fibers. The jacquard pattern may be, as desired, treated in positive mode (luminous pattern on switched-off background) or negative mode (non-luminous pattern on luminous background).
The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing a luminous woven fabric as defined above. The process comprises a step (b) of weaving optical fibers and binding fibers so as to form a woven textile support, the binding fibers comprise glass yarns, the glass yarns represent at least 50% by weight relative to the total weight of the binding yarns forming the woven textile support.
The process advantageously comprises a step (a) of sizing the glass yarns that is carried out before the weaving step.
The process comprises a step (c) during which invasive alterations are created on the optical fiber(s), which is preferably carried out after the weaving step.
The process advantageously comprises a step of applying one or more additional coatings to one or each face of the woven textile support. When the luminous woven fabric comprises an impregnated additional coating applied to the face intended to act as the main lighting surface, the step (c) of creating invasive alterations, preferably sandblasting, may be carried out after the application of said coating, that is to say on the pre-impregnated woven fabric.
The process advantageously comprises a step during which a decorative pattern is created on a portion of the surface of the luminous woven fabric, said decorative pattern being obtained by carrying out the step (c) of creating invasive alterations on the portion of the surface of the luminous woven fabric provided for the decorative pattern.
The process comprises a step (d) of optical connection of the optical fibers to a light source. During this step, the optical fiber(s), preferably the end(s) of the optical fibers, optionally cut or braided, are connected to light sources.
A process for manufacturing a luminous woven fabric according to the invention may comprise the following steps:

- a step (a) of sizing the glass fibers,
- a step (b) of weaving,
- a step (c) of creating invasive alterations, for example by sandblasting, laser treatment, chemical treatment,
- a step (d) of optical connection of the optical fibers to a light source,
- a step (e) of electrical connection of the light source.

The luminous woven fabric may have a decorative and/or lighting function depending on its luminance. In particular it enables the production of lighting, ambient lighting or else backlighting for a display in particular.
The luminous woven fabric may be:

- uniform with a standard textile weave,
- decorative with a geometric or figurative pattern created in the woven textile support (jacquard pattern) or by repeat of a uniform textile support (treatment for extraction of the light controlled by masking, printing, adhesive bonding, deposition of a film or of a woven fabric that is decorative, diffusing or transparent,
- informative with a logo, a message, an identity or a signage.

The luminous woven fabrics make it possible to produce light over a portion or over all of their surface. They are more particularly suitable for interior illumination or lighting of housing on walls, partitions, ceilings or floors as a design or decorative product.
The luminous woven fabric may be used as a separating partition between two spaces, in particular as an extrafine luminous partition such as screen walls or shojis (Japanese partitions) for fitting out offices, apartments or downsized premises.
The luminous woven fabric may be used as luminous wallcovering or frieze to be painted, to be varnished, to be adhesively bonded and/or to be hung in order to cover all or some of a partition selected from walls, floors or ceilings. The luminous woven fabric may be hung using staples or attachment systems conventionally used for installing hung fabrics.
The luminous woven fabric may be used for producing luminous blinds such as vertical blinds, Japanese panels, roller blinds and Venetian blinds.
The luminous woven fabric may be used as a constituent element of flat or 3-dimensional light fixtures, which are adhesively bonded to or hung on a support or which are self-supported. It may form a thin, light, rollable luminous surface able to be opened out and transported for the purposes, for example, of lighting buildings of light, or even mobile, structure such as tents, marquees and pergolas.
The luminous woven fabric may also be used as a diffuse light source in the form of luminous panels or boards for lighting mobile or immobile partitions, partitions used for organizing and partitioning open-plan spaces or lighting premises that do not have natural lighting and windows, or else premises used for high-precision work (watchmaking, jewelry, electronics, etc.). It may be used in luminous devices for light therapy or well-being purposes by simulating owing to suitable light sources the cycle of the day and daylight.
The luminous woven fabric may be used as lighting in an ATEX (explosive atmosphere) or wet environment or even in immersion in water owing to an electric power supply for the light sources that is offset and low-voltage. The advantage of the optical fibers is then to be able to provide the light at a significant distance from the power source and therefore from a potential source of sparks. The luminous woven fabric, by making possible to extract the light from the optical fibers over a large surface area, therefore opens the way for an offset source of diffuse light (plane or path of light, signage) that may find an application in an ATEX zone.
Finally, the luminous woven fabric comprising an offset low-voltage electric power supply is also an advantageous solution regarding the lighting of all wet environments such as swimming pools, spas and also exterior signage applications.

EXAMPLES

I. Yarns and Fibers Used

The tables below assemble the characteristics of the glass yarns and of the optical fibers use. E-glass yarns were used as warp yarns and as weft yarns.


Binding yarns	Direction	tex	Twists	Sizing	Name

Sized	Warp	68	Right	20 per m	Yes	EC9
glass yarn			(Z)			68 Z20
Glass yarn	Weft	136	Z	28 per m	No	EC11
						136 Z28
Glass yarn	Weft	204	Z	28 per m	No	EC11
						204 Z28


Optical fibers	Core/shell nature	Diameter	tex

FO1	PMMA/fluoropolymer (PTFE)	250 μm	60
FO2	PMMA/fluoropolymer (PTFE)	500 μm	200

II. Woven Textile Supports Tested

The woven textile supports produced comprise the following weaves:

- upper side (corresponds to the main lighting surface): 4-, 8- and 12-harness satin weave,
- lower side: plain weave.

The binding yarns used as warp yarns are sized glass yarns having a density of 7.9 yarns/cm. The binding yarns used as weft yarns are all glass yarns.
The following parameters were studied:

- densities of optical fibers used as weft yarns: from 8 to 12 yarns/cm,
- densities of glass yarns used as weft yarns: from 8 to 12 yarns/cm,
- count of the glass yarns used as weft binding yarns: 136 and 204 tex,
- diameter of optical fibers: 250 and 500 μm.


	Optical fibers	Satin	Weft binding fibers

Ref.	Diameter	Density	weave	tex	Density	WW %

1	250 μm	8 yarns/cm	4	204	8 yarns/cm	82
2	250 μm	8 yarns/cm	8	136	8 yarns/cm	77
3	250 μm	8 yarns/cm	8	204	8 yarns/cm	82
4	250 μm	12 yarns/cm	4	136	12 yarns/cm	75
5	250 μm	12 yarns/cm	8	204	12 yarns/cm	81
6	500 μm	8 yarns/cm	4	136	8 yarns/cm	50
7	500 μm	8 yarns/cm	4	204	8 yarns/cm	58
8	500 μm	8 yarns/cm	8	136	8 yarns/cm	50
9	500 μm	10 yarns/cm	4	136	10 yarns/cm	49
10	500 μm	10 yarns/cm	4	204	10 yarns/cm	56
11	500 μm	12 yarns/cm	8	136	12 yarns/cm	47
12	500 μm	12 yarns/cm	8	204	12 yarns/cm	55
13	500 μm	14 yarns/cm	8	68	14 yarns/cm	35

The VVVV % corresponds both to the proportions by weight of compounds of mineral nature relative to the weight of the woven textile support and to the weight percentage of glass yarns relative to the weight of the woven textile support.
In order to obtain a good weavability and a sufficient mechanical strength, the choice of the weave, the density of optical fibers and the density of binding fibers was adapted in particular in order to avoid the presence of knots too close together or too far apart.
The woven textile supports then underwent a treatment step in order to create invasive alterations on the optical fibers. The treatment step was carried out by sandblasting or by laser abrasion. Next, a step of connecting the optical fibers was carried out. This step consists in assembling a certain number of optical fibers, depending on their diameter, into a bundle and in joining the ends of the optical fibers to a system comprising a light source. The light sources used are light-emitting diodes (OSRAM Dragon Plus® LUW W5AM LEDs).

III. Evaluation of the Optical Performances

The woven textile supports were cut into several samples and underwent either an abrasion by sandblasting or a laser abrasion in order to create invasive alterations on the optical fibers. The luminance was then measured at the normal relative to the emitting surface and the relative standard deviation was also measured. The luminance values are obtained when 150 optical fibers are connected in an appropriate manner to a light source emitting an appropriate luminous flux.


	Sandblasting	Luminance (cd/m²) Laser

		Relative		Relative
	Mean Lum.	standard	Mean Lum.	standard
Ref	(cd/m²)	deviation (%)	(cd/m²)	deviation (%)

6	145	57%	171	100%
7	149	56%	159	128%
9	191	45%	195	85%
12	214	24%	222	113%

The luminous woven fabrics have a good opacity even without additional coatings and also high and uniform luminance values.
Surprisingly, and this being more particularly for sandblasting, the glass yarns are not altered during this step. More importantly, low relative standard deviations are obtained by sandblasting. These low standard deviations demonstrate the excellent uniformity of the luminance of the luminous woven fabric.
The best lighting performances are obtained with woven textile supports comprising optical fibers having a diameter of 500 μm and a density of at least 8 yarns/cm, preferably of at least 10 yarns/cm and better still of at least 12 yarns/cm. The use of sized glass yarns as warp yarns contributes to the possibility of increasing the density of the optical fibers.

IV. Evaluation of the Fire Resistance

The burning behavior in the event of fire is assessed according to two criteria: the reaction to fire and the fire resistance. A uniform material is considered to have a satisfactory reaction to fire, when its gross calorific value (GCV) determined according to the EN ISO 1716 standard is below a threshold value. The GCV corresponds to the amount of heat released by the complete combustion of the unit of mass of the fuel, the water produced being entirely condensed at the end of the operation. It is expressed in megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg). In order to evaluate the reaction to fire, measurements of the gross calorific value (GCV) were therefore carried out on the following woven fabrics:

- PES woven fabric: woven fabric comprising binding yarns made of polyester (100%),
- woven fabric B: luminous woven fabric comprising optical fibers and binding yarns made of polyester as described in application FR 2859737,
- luminous woven fabric of the invention comprising the woven textile support 1 without additional coating,
- luminous woven fabric of the invention comprising the woven textile support 11 without additional coating.

GCV (MJ/kg)

PES woven	Woven	Woven	Woven
fabric	fabric B	fabric 1	fabric 11

25.00	22.68	4.28	14.16

The luminous woven fabrics of the invention have particularly advantageous reaction to fire properties that are illustrated by the notable reduction in the GCVs relative to the CGVs of existing woven fabrics.

V. Addition of Additional Coatings

1. Structuring Coating
Structuring coating compositions were tested comprising:

- an acrylic-type binder selected from styrene-acrylic binders and/or a starch-based binder,
- calcium carbonate as filler, and
- a white pigment of TiO₂type.

The compositions comprise water as solvent.


Composition
(% dry matter)	Comp. A	Comp. B	Comp. 1

Binder	94.4%	76.5%	78%
Fillers	—	—	20%
Pigment	1.3%	19.7%	2%
Additives	4.3%	3.8%	—
Solids content	4%	4.5%	72%
in the composition

Compositions A and B form, after application, impregnated structuring coatings. They may be applied to one or each of the faces of a luminous textile support. The amounts deposited using a spatula on the woven textile supports are respectively 26 g/m²(comp. A) on a single face and 42 and 46 g/m², respectively for compositions A and B, when these compositions are applied to each of the faces.
Compositions 2 and 3 respectively comprising 5% and 10% by weight of pigment relative to the weight of dry matter of said compositions (corresponding to the weight of the coatings) were also tested. These compositions have a solid content of greater than 50%.
Compositions 1 to 3 were respectively applied to a single surface of the various luminous woven fabrics by knife coating. The drying was carried out at ambient temperature.
The table below gives:

- the grammage (basis weight in g/m²) of the luminous woven fabrics without coating corresponding to the grammage of the luminous textile supports,
- the grammage of the coatings applied obtained following application of composition 1.


Ref. of the	Support	Coating
textile supports	grammage	grammage

2	272	120
3	218	219
4	273	171
5	303	254
6	384	94
7	369	183
8	424	129
9	364	136
10	460	127
11	525	118
12	613	118

Luminance measurements carried out on these various luminous woven fabrics optionally coated with structuring coatings show a gain linked to the presence of the structuring coatings of at least 9%.
Fire resistance tests carried out on these various luminous woven fabrics coated with structuring coatings without a fire retardant coating show that they retain their fire resistance property and gain an excellent mechanical strength.
CIE94 calorimetric measurements were carried out on luminous woven fabrics comprising a textile support 11 coated with a structuring coating obtained from a composition 1, 2 or 3.


Composition	CIE94 Delta-E	Visual evaluation

Composition 1	Reference	Slightly yellow appearance
Composition 2	0.99	Slightly yellow appearance
Composition 3	1.67	White appearance

The presence of at least 10% by weight of white pigment relative to the total weight of binder and filling material in the structuring coating is advantageous.
2. Optical Performances of a Woven Fabric Coated Prior to Treatment by Sandblasting
Luminous woven fabrics comprising a woven textile support 7 are coated before the step of creating invasive alterations. A first luminous woven fabric is obtained by depositing the composition B on each face. A second woven fabric was produced comprising a structuring coating obtained from composition 1 deposited on the face not intended to be used as the main lighting surface (rear coating) and therefore on the face that does not directly undergo the step of creating invasive alterations by sandblasting.
The luminous performances after sandblasting of the luminous woven fabrics comprising the structuring coatings obtained from compositions B or 1 are given in the table below. These luminance values are obtained when 150 optical fibers are connected in an appropriate manner to a light source emitting an appropriate luminous flux.


	Sandblasting

Textile support coated		Relative standard
with structuring coating	Mean Lum. (cd/m²)	deviation (%)

Comp. 1	149	56%
Comp. B	140	50%

A luminous greige woven fabric may advantageously be reinforced mechanically by a structuring coating before the sandblasting treatment intended to enable the extraction of the light. The luminous performances are then very similar to the same woven fabric coated simply on the rear face.
3. Fire Retardant Coating
A fire retardant coating obtained from a composition comprising intumescent agents was used. The fire retardant coatings are applied to one face of the luminous woven fabrics. These luminous woven fabrics may also comprise a structuring coating. The thickness of the fire retardant coating is around 200 μm. Fire resistance tests show that the use of a fire retardant coating makes it possible, in all cases, to improve the fire resistance.
In conclusion, these tests show that in order to obtain a luminous woven fabric simultaneously having excellent lighting properties, satisfactory mechanical strength and excellent fire resistance, a compromise must be found between:

- the choice of the raw materials, in particular the choice of the nature of the yarns, of the density thereof and of the count thereof and therefore indirectly of the density of the woven textile support,
- the choice of the type of weave and in particular of the number of knots that has an influence on the mechanical strength of the woven textile support,
- the optional use of a structuring coating that makes it possible to compensate for the use of a weave comprising few knots.

Claims

1. A luminous woven fabric comprising a woven textile support comprising warp yarns and weft yarns selected from binding yarns and optical fibers capable of emitting light sideways, wherein the binding yarns comprise glass yarns representing at least 50% by weight of the total weight of the binding yarns forming the woven textile support.

2. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glass yarns represent at least 30% by weight of the weight of the woven textile support.

3. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 2, wherein the luminous woven fabric comprises two faces, at least one of which is used as a lighting surface, and at least one additional coating selected from reflective coatings, structuring coatings, optionally intumescent fire retardant coatings, coatings having a good cleanability and diffusing coatings.

4. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a fire retardant coating on a face used as a lighting surface.

5. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a structuring coating on a face that is not used as a lighting surface.

6. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 5, wherein the structuring coating comprises, by weight relative to the total weight of (i) and (ii):

10% to 60% of binder (i) and

40% to 90% of filling materials (ii).

7. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an impregnated structuring coating on a face that does not act as a main lighting surface and/or on a face that acts as a main lighting surface.

8. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 7, wherein the impregnated structuring coating comprises, by weight relative to the total weight of (i) and (ii):

70% to 100% of binder (i) and

0 to 30% of filling materials (ii).

9. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 3, wherein the structuring coating is reflective.

10. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a structuring coating on a face that is not used as a lighting surface, and

an additional coating selected from optionally intumescent fire retardant coatings, coatings having a good cleanability and diffusing coatings on a face used as a lighting surface.

11. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical fibers have a diameter of between 100 and 1000 μm.

12. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warp yarns comprise sized glass yarns used as binding yarns.

13. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the optical fibers have a diameter greater than or equal to 500 μm and are used as weft yarn and/or as warp yarn in a density of at least 8 yarns/cm, and

the warp yarns comprise sized glass yarns used as binding yarns.

14. The luminous woven fabric as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one light source connected to at least one end of an optical fiber.

15. A process for manufacturing a luminous woven fabric as in claim 1, comprising:

weaving optical fibers and binding fibers so as to form a woven textile support, the binding fibers comprising glass yarns represent at least 50% by weight of the total weight of the binding yarns forming the woven textile support.