Thermoplastic elastomer composition, insulating glass using the composition, process for producing the insulating glass and nozzle for producing the insulating glass

Abstract

A thermoplastic elastomer composition produced from a thermoplastic resin and rubber and having a dispersion phase formed of a rubber composition at least part of which is dynamically crosslinked in the continuous phase of the thermoplastic resin, insulating glass using the thermoplastic elastomer composition as a sealing material and spacer, a process for producing the insulating glass using a sealing material made from the thermoplastic elastomer composition, comprising the steps of inserting the leading end of a charging nozzle into a space between the peripheral portions of a plurality of glass sheets, discharging the sealing material from the leading end of the nozzle body at a predetermined rate, and moving the glass sheets or the nozzle body relative to each other to charge the sealing material made from the thermoplastic elastomer composition into the space between the peripheral portions of the glass sheets, and a nozzle used in this process.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer composition having excellent steam permeation resistance and heat distortion resistance, insulating glass using the composition as a sealing material and spacer, a process for producing the insulating glass and a nozzle for producing the insulating glass.[0003] 2. Prior Art[0004] Heretofore, there has been known insulating glass constituted such that a sealing material having a predetermined width is charged into a space between the peripheral portions of at least two glass sheets which are opposed to each other in parallel and the hollow layer between the glass sheets is isolated from the outside air for the purpose of an improvement of heat insulating properties, dew condensation prevention properties and the like.[0005] This insulating glass has been produced as follows, for example. As shown in FIG. 7, an aluminum spacer 73 filled with a desiccating agent 72 is placed in a space bet...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] It is a second object of the present invention to provide insulating glass which uses the thermoplastic elastomer composition as a sealing material and spacer, is produced easily, has excellent steam permeation resistance and is not deformed in the entire shape by the dislocation of the glass sheets when it is allowed to cool after the sealing material and spacer is paved, or after processing or at high temperatures in summer or the like.

[0014] It is a third object of the present invention to provide a process for producing insulating glass which enables a sealing material to be efficiently paved in a space between the peripheral portions of glass sheets and leveled to obtain good appearance and reduces the number of working steps to carry out efficient work.

[0015] It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a nozzle for producing insulating glass which can be advantageously used in the above process for producing insulating glass.

Problems solved by technology

However, since the former production process is carried out by using a jig, spacer and the like, the work becomes complicated and takes much time and labor.

On the other hand, the latter process has such a problem that it is difficult to obtain insulating glass having good appearance because the resin material cannot be paved nicely when it is extruded.

In the insulating glass using the normal temperature curable sealing material in the prior art processes, it takes time to cure the sealing material and a final product cannot be promptly shipped.

Even when the both components are simply kneaded together while they are molten, a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a dispersion structure of interest is not always obtained.

Images