WO2019145617A1

WO2019145617A1 - Electro-conductive composition for a material, and applications thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2019145617A1
Application number: PCT/FR2019/050029
Authority: WO
Inventors: Margaux BARDOU
Original assignee: Bardou Margaux
Priority date: 2018-01-29
Filing date: 2019-01-07
Publication date: 2019-08-01
Also published as: FR3077294A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a material composition which is characterised in that it comprises a base material which is mixed with a binder and at least one powdered electro-conductive material, the concentration of said powdered electro-conductive material being examined in order to obtain the necessary electro-conductivity. The invention also relates to a capacitive composite application which is characterised in that it consists of a mixture of a base material, a binder and at least one powdered electro-conductive material, the concentration of said powdered electro-conductive material being examined in order to obtain the necessary electro-conductivity. Applications: capacitive, electro-conductive, heating, Faraday cage.

Description

Title: ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVE COMPOSITION FOR MATERIAL AND SES

APPLICATIONS

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of electrical conductivity and capacitive applications and especially to adaptations to implement such an application in the best conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The interactions concerned by the invention relate to the following applications:

- electrical conduction,

- capacitive,

- Faraday cage.

Capacitive applications are, for example, devices employing the capacitive principle to detect the contact or approach of a human with respect to a surface.

An electroconductive surface is then used capable of detecting said touch or approach. This surface is connected to an electronic module detecting the change of capacity of the surface when it is touched or when approaching it.

To materialize such a surface, there are a plurality of solutions:

the use of an object / electroconductive metal surface,

the use of an electroconductive coating applied to a surface / object that is not.

Among these coatings, there are also paints, inks that may serve to cover part or all of a surface.

The Applicant has found that these different solutions required that these coatings be applied as outer layers.

This electroconductive outer layer therefore becomes an option and an additional cost for the initial product. It applies also once the finished support or installed which requires adapted means of application.

In addition, it can not be covered without seeing its electro-conductive properties suppressed or greatly diminished.

Finally, it can not be covered because it has no mechanical strength to support a load or allow and maintain the adhesion of an outer layer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

On the basis of this state of affairs, the applicant has conducted research aimed at proposing a technical solution that obviates the drawbacks of the prior art.

This research led to the design and implementation of a composition of a material, remarkable in that it comprises a base material mixed with a binder and at least one electroconductive powder material whose concentration is studied in order to obtain the necessary electro-conductivity.

The use of a powdery material facilitates its mixing with other materials and in particular materials of the coating type, mortar or even wood fibers. It thus appears that the use of an electrically conductive powder material is capable of bringing electro-conductivity characteristics to a plurality of basic materials of the field of construction or furniture.

Thus, while in the prior art, the electro-conductivity was likely to be an option added in outer layer, the invention proposes to make electroconductive base materials by mixing at the time of their manufacture a material electro-conductive powder. The necessary electro-conductivity and therefore the concentration of the electroconductive powder material are defined according to the intended application.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, this composition comprises a base material mixed with a binder and at least powdered graphite whose concentration is studied in order to obtain the necessary electro-conductivity.

Graphite has the advantage of being an electroconductive component, which can be reduced to powder and inexpensive. The term graphite according to the invention includes both the material formed of pure graphite and materials called graphite but formed of a mixture between graphite and another material.

Thus, for example, according to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the graphite used is amorphous graphite powder material resulting from the combination of two minerals: graphite and shale. This so-called graphite powder is composed of seventy-seventy percent carbon.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention, this composition comprises a base material mixed with a binder and with graphite whose concentration is between ten and seventy percent of the total volume in order to obtain electro-conductivity. necessary.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention, this composition comprises a base material mixed with a binder and graphite whose concentration is between thirty and fifty percent of the total volume in order to obtain the necessary electro-conductivity. .

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the composition is remarkable in that it comprises a base material mixed with a binder and with graphite whose concentration is determined in order to obtain the electro-conductivity necessary for a capacitive application. The operation of electro-conductive applications using such a material is based on Kirchhoff's law.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic, this composition is intended to be covered. Indeed, it is an intermediate material positioned between a support material, masonry and a topcoat.

Such a composition will ensure the implementation of a capacitive application providing an intelligent material allowing tactile interactions with its user by capacitive principle while being covered. The use of a binder and a base material will provide the composition with the characteristics necessary to support loads, stresses and retain an aesthetic outer layer.

The capacitive composition (the electrically conductive material) detects the electric field radiated by the human body which enters into contact with him. The electric field is captured and broadcast in a circuit. It then reaches an electronic system implanted at a fixed place where the composition is applied. The electronic system will intercept the electric field as an order to activate or deactivate a technology (sound, light, etc.).

This composition authorizes a relationship between the user and his habitat. It allows to create tactile surfaces allowing intelligent interactions. The presence of graphite in the proportions described in the composition ensures the latter a conductivity even once covered as well to capture the touch as to capture the presence or approach.

Thus, according to a particularly advantageous characteristic, it is a coated conductive coating that can be used applied to a wall. One embodiment is the implementation of a switch function by capturing the contact or movement of a user with respect to a vertical wall-type wall or wall supporting the coated coating of the invention.

In comparison with a conventional switch, the advantages are numerous:

- The function "switch" implemented by the coating is more comfortable because it is adaptable to the needs and desires and it avoids having to cross a room to go to press a remote switch,

- the "switch" function avoids the installation of a back and forth,

- the use of a coating gives free space to artistic creativity with regard to the aesthetic layer covering it,

- applications related to health and learning are possible,

- Faraday cage applications are possible,

- Electricity and / or heat-conducting applications are possible,

the surfaces forming switches can be highlighted by any means (texture, relief, color),

- easy to connect to existing electrical systems,

- ease of applying the coating to existing walls. According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention, it constitutes a coated conductive mortar capable of being used as a mortar applied to a floor.

It is understood that the invention may have different uses as in the field of home automation. It can as described above to act as a switch but also an alarm system. For an application on the ground, the invention can be applied to the assistance to disabled people by creating path for the visually impaired or sensory awakening in children through interactive games.

Thus, according to one embodiment, once the mortar composition is applied to the ground, it is envisaged to have sonorous and non-sonic slabs on said floor to create a path in the room. The electroconductive mortar composition is then applied according to a laying template separating the different electroconductive zones.

The composition is then an undercoat product that can be used as a coating applied to a wall or as a mortar if applied to a floor. The advantage of a sub-layer product is that it allows the customer to have the appearance he desires for its surface unlike the products of the prior art. Being composed of graphite, this sub-layer has the particularity of driving electricity which allows to operate technologies such as lights or sounds by a simple touch. The user can therefore turn on the lights or activate a sound by simply touching the wall on which the composition is placed as a coated coating. The invention therefore makes it possible to give additional functionality to masonry products including sub-layers intended to be covered.

It is the same for the composition which comprises, mixed with the electrically conductive material which may be graphite, wood particles constituting the base material associated with the adhesive constituting the binder. Such a composition may be covered by melamine sheets, thus allowing a weight panel composed of chipboard and melamine, a basic element necessary for the manufacture of a plurality of movable articles, to be able to implement a capacitive application. . By mixing conductive materials in powder form with basic products, the invention proposes the implementation of capacitive applications at lower cost. In addition, graphite remains an inexpensive material and easy to integrate in a non-aesthetic product composition serving as an underlayer.

The Applicant has established that the particle size is particularly important to provide a homogeneous mixture with electroconductive characteristics. Thus, to do this, according to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention, the particle size of the electroconductive powder material is less than that of at least one of the other constituent elements of the composition.

More precisely, according to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the particle size of the electroconductive powder material is smaller than that of all the other constituent elements of the composition.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic, the composition of the invention serves as a base composition for a prefabricated masonry element.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic, said binder is an adhesive.

Several coating compositions have been designed.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, said coating comprises

- thirty percent of graphite,

- thirty-five percent of plaster as a binder,

- thirty-five percent of marble powder.

- fifty percent graphite,

- twenty-five per cent of plaster as a binder,

- twenty-five percent of marble powder.

- thirty percent of graphite,

- seventy percent of earth as the binder and base material. According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, said coating comprises

- fifty percent graphite,

- fifty percent of the earth as binder and base material.

Likewise, several mortar compositions have been designed.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, said mortar comprises

- thirty percent of graphite,

- seventy percent of adhesive mortar constituting the binder and the base material.

- fifty percent graphite,

- Fifty percent of adhesive mortar constituting the binder and the base material.

As explained above, the invention also applies to furniture elements by integrating the graphite particles in the composition of wood panels. Thus, according to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention, the composition comprises mixed with graphite, wood particles constituting the base material associated with the adhesive constituting the binder.

Another object of the invention relates to a capacitive composite application, which is remarkable in that it consists in positioning a material composition between a support material or a masonry material and a topcoat, said material composition consisting of a mixing a base material with a binder and at least one powdered electroconductive material whose concentration is studied in order to obtain the electro conductivity necessary for electrical conduction, capacitive and Faraday applications.

The material of the invention also applies to the back of objects and creations made of fiberglass and resin so that these objects or creations are by detection of movement in the vicinity or touching, transmitting an information signal .

Another possible implementation of such a material concerns hygiene or medical spaces. Indeed, the advantage of the material interactive is that it is positioned below a standardized technical material for places of food hygiene or health (operating room or other). While conventional switches or sensors placed in the form of surface housings become bacterial nests, which form in the interstices of these housings, the interactive material of the invention disposed between a support material and a finishing material makes it possible to create the same switches or sensors in completely sanitized areas on surfaces that can be cleaned. Such a material also makes it possible to create specific sensors.

Another implementation lies in the manufacture of interactive removable wood panels that do not integrate the interactive material wood particles forming the panel but by applying a layer of interactive material on one side of said panel. Thus, another object of the invention is a remarkable capacitive composite application in that it consists in positioning a composition of material in the preformed hollow volume on one of the faces of a wooden panel, said material composition consisting of by a mixture of a base material with a binder and at least one powdered electroconductive material whose concentration is studied in order to obtain the electro conductivity necessary for electrical conduction, capacitive and Faraday applications.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the panel is preformed on one of its faces with a hollow volume accommodating one of the compositions described above.

To avoid excess thickness, the wood panel is preformed by removal of material on one of its faces of a hollow volume in the bottom of which is applied the layer of interactive material.

Several types of wood panels may be associated with the interactive plasters and mortars described above, among them:

- Melamine panel (traditional and water repellent),

- Plywood panel,

- Raw / solid wood (all wood species),

- Glulam wood panel,

- oriented strand board (OSB),

- Particle board or chipboard,

- Fibreboard,

- Composite panel, - Laminated wood panel.

These panels themselves become interactive surfaces, sensor surfaces through the application of coatings or interactive mortars of the invention.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the bottom of the hollow volume accommodates an intermediate layer of adhesion of the composition which is covered by a finishing material.

These interactive wood panels can be used to create interactive furniture and interactive objects or to create spaces, in different areas: cabinet making, carpentry, architecture, decoration, furnishing ...

These capacitive composite applications implement any of the above-described material compositions.

The processing of the captured signals requires a dedicated electronics which has also been the subject of a study by the plaintiff.

Thus, to implement the invention, the electroconductive material is connected at one point to a system, an electronic card for transforming the signal received by the approach of the body into a control signal. Added to this electronic signal processing board, another system specific to a switch application that allows control of lighting.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the device making it possible to implement an application of the invention comprises a first electronic signal management card for the electroconductive material, this first card being able to detect a touch or the approach of a touch (hereinafter described by the term only touch) on different inputs connected to surfaces coated or in connection with the electroconductive material. It produces signals that can be received and interpreted by external modules to perform different functions related to events.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the device further comprises a second electronic card linked to a "switch" application, this card communicating with the first signal management electronic card in order to receive the signals corresponding to the events of to touch. Depending on the events, it can turn on or off a bulb, or a led. It also allows to manage a back and forth, and control a light intensity.

According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, said first electronic signal management card for the electrically conductive material is based on a standard micro-controller (STM32) equipped with a TSC (Touch Sensing Controller) part to perform measurements. capacitive on the various inputs of the card. It is directly powered by the sector (230V). It generates touch events for the modules that will be connected to it. It is compatible with home automation systems on the market to allow applications other than the switch application such as the control of an alarm system, the opening or closing of shutters ... and any other application that a housing External control can control.

According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, said second electronic card linked to a "switch" application receives the signals related to the touch events transmitted by the first signal management management card and controls lighting either in all-or- nothing via a relay (with possibility of use back and forth), or manages the brightness of the bulb via a TRIAC.

The division into measuring modules communicating with other modules makes it possible to increase the possible applications. The measurement module can send information to any device capable of understanding the communication protocol and interpreting the events.

Among the possible scenarios:

a relay card for controlling a light bulb,

an alarm system that reacts in case of receiving a touch event,

- a system that would count events touch,

a map that would produce a sound based on the area that would trigger an event

- etc ...

According to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, for the communication part, the card comprises a wireless communication using RF transmitters / receivers (433 MHz, 866 MHz, 2.4GHz) or bluetooth, or wifi, as well as wired communication (TOR, UART, RS485).

The basic concepts of the invention having been described above in their most elementary form, other details and characteristics will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows and with reference to the appended drawings, giving nonlimiting example, two embodiments of a capacitive application using a composition according to one invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an example of a capacitive application detecting the contact of a user's hand for control of light;

Fig. 2 is an example of a capacitive application detecting the contact of a user's foot for guiding purposes;

Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of a sectional view of a wall portion receiving a composition according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a sectional view of an embodiment of a removable wooden panel conforming to FIG.

The invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in the drawing of FIG. 1, the piece P comprises a plurality of walls 100 and 200, one of which is equipped with a coating according to one of the coating compositions of the invention and the other of which comprises a lamp 210 supplied with electricity. The supply of electricity to this lamp 210 is controlled by an electronic box (not shown) connected to the composition covering the wall 100. More specifically, according to the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the drawing of Figure 3, the wall 100 is formed of a base wall 110 covered with the composition 120 according to the invention itself covered with a wallpaper 130. The electronic box is connected to the layer 120. The user U comes to touch the wall 100 which detects a change in capacity that the control unit interprets as a command:

- to turn on the lamp 210 if it is off,

- to turn off the lamp 210 if it is lit. The electronic boxes equipped with programmable microcontrollers are able to detect the change of capacitance and to transform the detection into an opening / closing command of an electric circuit.

Independently or in addition to the installation described for FIG. 1, the application of FIG. 2 illustrates the exploitation of the detection of the contact of the foot of the user U with an undercoat covering the ground S, under layer which, taking up one of the mortar compositions of the invention, is covered with sound slabs or not. The liner detects contact or movement and transmits the information to sound tiles that emit an audible signal if contact is detected in their area. A guide path is then created and allows the user U to go to the door 300.

As illustrated in the drawing of Figure 4, another object of the invention is a removable wooden panel 400 prefabricated and preformed to accommodate the composition.

The main constraint of such an implementation is the minimum thickness of such a panel so that it can be milled and worked. This panel must be at least three millimeters thick. Its maximum thickness is not a constraint, there is no maximum thickness.

The hollow volume is made by milling with the digital milling machine or router on the desired surface ranging from ten square centimeters to one square meter and a half. This hollow volume is part of the thickness of the panel 400 from one of its faces and is broken down into two successive hollow spaces 410 and 420 of different depth and surface so that two levels are created.

The electrically conductive material 430 is integrated in the deepest milling 410 by application to the traditional coating blade or by industrial machine injection. The depth of the milling 410 may vary between 3 mm and 1.5 cm with respect to the upper surface of the wood panel 400 whatever it is. The thickness of the electroconductive material 430 and thus the depth of the milling 410 accommodating it may vary from 2 millimeters to 1 centimeters (reference C in Diagrams 1). The second contour milling 420 is performed in particular to ensure the regularity of the thickness of the electroconductive material 430, guiding the tool when the application is to the blade to be coated.

Before applying the electroconductive material, a printing or hooking layer 440 is previously placed on the bottom of the milling 410. It is done on a mixture of wood glue and fine silicate.

This bonding layer makes it possible to bind the wood material with any interactive material (plaster or mortar). This application is done manually by brush or by industrial projection.

The installation of a cable is necessary to connect the interactive zone to the desired electronic system. For this purpose the use of a multi-strand cable (or composed of several wires) is necessary. This cable is stripped to be "cast in mass" or integrated before the application or injection of interactive materials. For a better configuration according to a preferred embodiment but not limiting, the cable is stripped and integrated in the area proportionally to the surface, especially if it is large.

In order to optimize the finish, generally for the back of the panel, the interactive zone defined by the surface of the electrically conductive material 430 is either:

- Protected by a topcoat (printing, painting, glue ...)

- Covered with a wood panel plate 450 taking the dimensions of the milling 420 as illustrated,

- Covered with other finishing materials such as textile, upholstery, tiling ...

It is understood that the composition, which has just been described above and shown, has been for the purpose of disclosure rather than limitation. Of course, various arrangements, modifications and improvements may be made to the example above, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

claims

1. Material composition, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it comprises a base material mixed with a binder and at least one powdered electroconductive material whose concentration is studied in order to obtain the electro-conductivity necessary for the applications following:

- electrical conduction,

- capacitive,

- Faraday cage.

2. A composition of material according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it comprises a base material mixed with a binder and at least powder graphite whose concentration is studied in order to obtain the electro-conductivity necessary for following applications:

- electrical conduction,

- capacitive,

- Faraday cage.

3. Material composition according to claim 2,

CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it comprises a base material mixed with a binder and graphite, the concentration of which is between ten and seventy percent of the total volume in order to obtain the necessary electro-conductivity.

4. Material composition according to claim 3,

CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it comprises a base material mixed with a binder and graphite, the concentration of which is between thirty and fifty percent of the total volume in order to obtain the necessary electro - conductivity.

5. Material composition according to claim 3,

CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it comprises a base material mixed with a binder and with graphite whose concentration is determined in order to obtain the electro-conductivity necessary for a capacitive application.

6. Composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it is a coated conductive coating that can be used applied to a wall.

7. Composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it constitutes a conductive mortar covered which can be used as a mortar applied to a floor.

8. Composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT that it serves as a base composition for a prefabricated masonry element.

9. Composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the particle size of the electroconductive powder material is less than that of at least one of the other constituent elements of the composition.

10. Composition according to claim 8, characterized in that the particle size of the electroconductive powder material is less than that of all other components of the composition.

11. Composition according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT said coating comprises

- thirty percent of graphite,

- thirty-five percent of plaster as a binder,

- thirty-five percent of marble powder.

12. Composition according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT said coating comprises

- fifty percent graphite,

- twenty-five per cent of plaster as a binder,

- twenty-five percent of marble powder.

13. Composition according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT said coating comprises

- thirty percent of graphite,

- seventy percent of earth as the binder and base material.

14. Composition according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT said coating comprises

- fifty percent graphite,

- fifty percent of the earth as binder and base material.

15. Composition according to claim 7, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT said mortar comprises

- thirty percent of graphite,

16. Composition according to claim 7, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT said mortar comprises

- fifty percent graphite,

17. Composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it comprises mixed with the electrically conductive material, wood particles constituting the base material associated with the adhesive constituting the binder.

18. Composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT said binder is an adhesive.

19. Application of capacitive composite, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it consists in positioning a composition of material between a support material or a masonry material and a topcoat, said material composition consisting of a mixture of a base material a binder and at least one electroconductive material in powder whose concentration is studied in order to obtain the electro conductivity necessary for electrical conduction, capacitive and Faraday applications.

20. Application of capacitive composite, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it consists in positioning a composition of material in the preformed hollow volume on one of the faces of a wood panel, said material composition consisting of a mixture of a material of binder and at least one powdered electroconductive material whose concentration is studied in order to obtain the necessary electro conductivity for electrical, capacitive and Faraday conduction applications.

21. Application of capacitive composite according to any one of claims 19 or 20 implementing the composition of material from any one of claims 1 to 18.

22. Application according to claim 20, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT that the bottom of the preformed hollow volume in the wood panel accommodates an intermediate layer of adhesion of the composition which is covered by a finishing material.

23. Device for implementing the application according to any one of claims 19 to 22, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it comprises a first electronic signal management card for the electroconductive material, this first card being able to detect a touch on different inputs connected to coated surfaces or in connection with the electroconductive material, and to produce signals that can be received and interpreted by external modules in order to perform different functions related to the events.

24. Device according to claim 23, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it comprises a second electronic card, this card communicating with the first electronic card signal management to receive the signals corresponding to the events of touch and according to events, d turn on or off a light bulb or led.