Anti-fog glass, vehicle and method for manufacturing anti-fog glass

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to anti-fog glass, a vehicle, and a method of manufacturing anti-fog glass. The anti-fog glass comprises: a glass body, which is single-layered or arranged in a multi-layer stack; an active anti-fog layer arranged on the glass body and configured to heat up in an energized state; and a passive anti-fog layer arranged on the glass body and configured to inhibit fog formation on the passive anti-fog layer, wherein the passive anti-fog layer is a super-hydrophobic coating and / or a hydrophilic coating. In embodiments according to the present disclosure, the active anti-fog layer and the passive anti-fog layer are arranged on the glass body simultaneously to prevent the formation of fog. In this way, in the area of the glass body that is not covered by the active anti-fog layer, the passive anti-fog layer can achieve a certain degree of anti-fog function; in addition, in the area where the passive anti-fog layer itself cannot provide the required anti-fog level, the active anti-fog layer can work together with the passive anti-fog layer to provide better anti-fog effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to the field of glass technology, and more specifically, to anti-fog glass, vehicles including anti-fog glass, and methods of manufacturing anti-fog glass. Background Technology

[0002] Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) utilize various sensors installed on vehicles to continuously sense the surrounding environment while the vehicle is in motion, collect data, identify, detect, and track static and dynamic objects, and combine this data with navigation map data to perform system calculations and analyses. This allows the driver to anticipate potential dangers and effectively increases the comfort and safety of driving.

[0003] The sensors used in ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) mainly include cameras, LiDAR (LiDAR), millimeter-wave radar, and ultrasonic radar. A key location for installing these sensors is the windshield area. Among these sensors, cameras, thermal cameras, and LiDAR require high optical quality in the windshield area to facilitate sensing of the surrounding environment through the windshield. However, in autumn and winter or in areas with high humidity, large temperature differences or high humidity can cause the windshield to fog up, which can affect the sensing of the external environment by sensors such as cameras, thermal cameras, and LiDAR. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide anti-fog glass, a vehicle including anti-fog glass, and a method for manufacturing anti-fog glass, so as to at least partially solve the aforementioned problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, an anti-fog glass is provided, comprising: a glass body, the glass body being a single layer or multiple layers stacked together; an active anti-fog layer disposed on the glass body and configured to heat up when energized; and a passive anti-fog layer disposed on the glass body and configured to suppress fog formation on the passive anti-fog layer, wherein the passive anti-fog layer is a super hydrophobic coating and / or a hydrophilic coating.

[0006] In some embodiments, the active anti-fog layer is disposed on at least one surface of the glass body, and the passive anti-fog layer is disposed on at least one other surface of the glass body other than the at least one surface.

[0007] In some embodiments, the glass body includes a first layer and a second layer stacked together, the first layer including a first surface and a second surface, the second layer including a third surface and a fourth surface, and the second surface facing the third surface; the active anti-fog layer is disposed on at least one of the second surface and the third surface; and the passive anti-fog layer is disposed on at least one of the first surface and the fourth surface.

[0008] In some embodiments, the hydrophilic coating is disposed on the first surface, and the super hydrophobic coating is disposed on the fourth surface.

[0009] In some embodiments, the active anti-fog layer includes at least one of a transparent conductive film, a silver printed line, a heating element, a heating plate, a copper wire, and a tungsten wire.

[0010] In some embodiments, at least one surface of the glass body includes an area where the active anti-fog layer is not formed, to allow infrared and radio signals to pass through.

[0011] In some embodiments, both the active anti-fog layer and the passive anti-fog layer are simultaneously provided on at least one surface of the glass body.

[0012] In some embodiments, on the at least one surface, the active antifog layer is disposed around the passive antifog layer to allow infrared and radio signals to pass through the passive antifog layer.

[0013] In some embodiments, the glass body includes a first layer and a second layer stacked together, the first layer including a first surface and a second surface, the second layer including a third surface and a fourth surface, and the second surface facing the third surface; and the active anti-fog layer and the passive anti-fog layer are simultaneously disposed on the first surface and / or the fourth surface.

[0014] In some embodiments, the active anti-fog layer is a silver printed line.

[0015] In some embodiments, the superhydrophobic coating comprises an inorganic oxide layer with a thickness of 0.1 μm to 20 μm, wherein 30% to 90% of the volume of the inorganic oxide layer consists of openings of 20 nm to 300 nm, the openings being uniformly distributed over the entire thickness of the layer and almost all of these openings being interconnected, the inner and outer surfaces of the inorganic oxide layer being functionalized with a compound containing perfluoroalkyl or alkyl functional groups, and then saturated with a hydrophobic oil that impregnates the functionalized porous layer and forms a film on its surface.

[0016] In some embodiments, the hydrophilic coating is formed from a coating dispersion coated on the glass body, and based on the total weight of the hydrophilic coating, the hydrophilic coating comprises: 0.1-50 wt% of a photocatalytic metal compound; 0-95 wt% of particulate silica; and 0-50 wt% of a binder, wherein the photocatalytic metal compound comprises a photocatalytic metal sulfide, a photocatalytic metal oxide, or a combination thereof.

[0017] In some embodiments, the photocatalytic metal compound is zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, tin oxide, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide, lead sulfide, or a combination thereof, preferably titanium dioxide.

[0018] In some embodiments, the particle size of the photocatalytic metal compound is 10-100 nm.

[0019] In some embodiments, the hydrophilic coating comprises particulate silicon dioxide with a particle size of 10-30 nm.

[0020] In some embodiments, the adhesive is selected from one or more of the following: sol-gel silica, silane coupling agent; preferably, the sol-gel silica is prepared from one or more of the following: tetraethoxysilane, sodium silicate, lithium silicate, potassium silicate; the silane coupling agent is prepared by means of organosilane precursors of the following general formula or combinations thereof: R 2 n Si(OR 1 ) 4-n In the formula, n is an integer between 0 and 2, and R... 1 It is C X H 2X+1 Alkyl-like functional groups, R 2 It is an organic group containing alkyl, epoxy, acrylate, methacrylate, amine, phenyl or vinyl functional groups.

[0021] In some embodiments, the hydrophilic coating is formed by a coating dispersion applied to the glass body, and the coating dispersion further comprises a dispersion medium, which is an aqueous solution, an aqueous solution, or water; and / or the pH of the coating dispersion is 1-7, preferably 2-5.

[0022] In some embodiments, the passive antifog layer is formed on the glass body by at least one of the following methods: spraying, wet coating, roller coating, slot coating, embossing, scraping, dipping, curtain coating, reverse roller coating, concave coating, dip coating, and wire coating.

[0023] In some embodiments, the anti-fog glass is vehicle glass.

[0024] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a vehicle is provided, including anti-fog glass according to a first aspect of this disclosure.

[0025] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing anti-fog glass is provided, comprising: providing a glass body, the glass body being a single layer or multiple layers stacked together; forming an active anti-fog layer on the glass body, the active anti-fog layer being configured to heat up when energized; and forming a passive anti-fog layer on the glass body, the passive anti-fog layer being configured to suppress fog formation on the passive anti-fog layer, wherein the passive anti-fog layer is a super hydrophobic coating and / or a hydrophilic coating.

[0026] In embodiments according to this disclosure, both an active anti-fog layer and a passive anti-fog layer are simultaneously provided on the glass body to prevent fog formation. In this way, in areas of the glass body not covered by the active anti-fog layer, the passive anti-fog layer can achieve a certain degree of anti-fog function; furthermore, in areas where the passive anti-fog layer alone cannot provide the required level of anti-fog, the active anti-fog layer, together with the passive anti-fog layer, can provide a better anti-fog effect.

[0027] The summary section is provided to present the chosen concepts in a simplified form, which will be further described in the detailed description below. The summary section is not intended to identify key or principal features of this disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Several embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated in the drawings by way of example and not limitation, in which:

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a single-layer anti-fog glass according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0030] Figures 2 to 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of laminated anti-fog glass according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0031] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle windshield according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; and

[0032] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing anti-fog glass according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0034] The term "comprising" and its variations as used herein signify open inclusion, i.e., "including but not limited to". Unless otherwise stated, the term "or" means "and / or". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The terms "one example embodiment" and "one embodiment" mean "at least one example embodiment". The term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment". The terms "first", "second", etc., may refer to different or the same objects.

[0035] As described above, in autumn and winter or in areas with high humidity, large temperature differences or humidity can cause vehicle windshields to fog up, which can affect the sensing of the external environment by sensors such as cameras, thermal cameras, and LiDAR. The anti-fog glass of this disclosure employs a combination of active and passive anti-fog layers to prevent fog formation. The principles of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and exemplary embodiments.

[0036] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a single-layer anti-fog glass according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the anti-fog glass 100 described herein generally includes a glass body 11, an active anti-fog layer 12, and a passive anti-fog layer 13. The glass body 11 is a single layer. The active anti-fog layer 12 is disposed on one surface of the glass body 11 and is capable of heating when energized. The heated active anti-fog layer 12 can raise the temperature of the glass body 11, thereby preventing fog formation on the glass body 11. The passive anti-fog layer 13 is disposed on the other surface of the glass body 11 and can suppress fog formation on the passive anti-fog layer 13. The passive anti-fog layer 13 can be a super hydrophobic coating and / or a hydrophilic coating. The super hydrophobic coating can utilize the repulsion of fog droplets on the coating surface to cause them to aggregate into large water droplets and automatically roll off the coating surface, thereby preventing fog formation on the passive anti-fog layer 13. The hydrophilic coating can increase the surface tension of the coating surface, allowing fog to spread and wet the coating surface, transforming the fog droplets on the coating surface into a uniform water film, thereby preventing fog formation on the passive anti-fog layer 13. The specific locations and exemplary formulations of the active antifog layer 12 and the passive antifog layer 13 will be described in detail below.

[0037] In some embodiments, the active anti-fog layer 12 and the passive anti-fog layer 13 can be simultaneously disposed on either surface of the single-layer glass body 11. For example, the active anti-fog layer 12 can be disposed around the passive anti-fog layer 13 to allow infrared and radio signals, etc., to pass through the passive anti-fog layer 13. When the anti-fog glass 100 is used in a vehicle, infrared and radio signals, etc., can pass through the passive anti-fog layer 13 without being interfered with or isolated by the active anti-fog layer 12, thus not affecting the normal use of functions such as ETC, RFID, rain sensors, radio, and infrared cameras.

[0038] In one embodiment, the anti-fog glass 100 can be vehicle glass, such as a car window or windshield. In other embodiments, the anti-fog glass 100 can also be used for other purposes, such as building glass, and the scope of this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

[0039] In vehicle glass, the active anti-fog layer 12 can be disposed on either the inner surface of the glass body 11 facing the inside of the vehicle or the outer surface facing the outside of the vehicle. Similarly, the passive anti-fog layer 13 can be disposed on either the inner surface of the glass body 11 facing the inside of the vehicle or the outer surface of the glass body 11 facing the outside of the vehicle. In some embodiments, when the active anti-fog layer 12 is a transparent conductive film that is not scratch-resistant, the active anti-fog layer 12 is disposed on the inner surface. Disposing the active anti-fog layer 12 on the inner surface can reduce scratches, thereby improving product durability.

[0040] In one embodiment, the active antifog layer 12 may be a silver printed line. In other embodiments, the active antifog layer 12 may also be other types, such as a heating element, a heating plate, copper wire, and tungsten wire, etc., and the scope of this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

[0041] Figures 2 to 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a laminated anti-fog glass according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the anti-fog glass 100 includes a glass body 11, an active anti-fog layer 12, and a passive anti-fog layer 13. The glass body 11 has a double-layer structure, including a first layer 111 and a second layer 112 stacked together. The first layer 111 includes a first surface 1101 and a second surface 1102. The second layer 112 includes a third surface 1103 and a fourth surface 1104. The second surface 1102 faces the third surface 1103. When the anti-fog glass 100 is vehicle glass (e.g., a windshield), the first surface 1101 can be the surface of the glass body 11 facing outwards from the vehicle, and the fourth surface 1104 can be the surface of the glass body 11 facing inwards from the vehicle.

[0042] In some embodiments, the active anti-fog layer 12 may be disposed on at least one of the second surface 1102 and the third surface 1103, and the passive anti-fog layer 13 may be disposed on at least one of the first surface 1101 and the fourth surface 1104. The active anti-fog layer 12 includes at least one of a transparent conductive film, silver printed lines, a heating element, a heating plate, a copper wire, and a tungsten wire, and is capable of heating when energized. The heated active anti-fog layer 12 can raise the temperature of the first layer 111 and / or the second layer 112 of the glass body 11, thereby preventing fog formation on the glass body 11. In one example, the transparent conductive film may be a silver-based coating, such as a single / two / three silver layers. In another example, the transparent conductive film may be a transparent conductive oxide coating, such as one comprising at least one of the following: indium tin oxide (ITO), zinc aluminum oxide (AZO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), gallium zinc oxide (GZO), etc.

[0043] Figures 2 to 5 Some exemplary arrangements of the active anti-fog layer 12 and the passive anti-fog layer 13 are shown. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the active anti-fog layer 12 is disposed on the third surface 1103, and the passive anti-fog layer 13 is disposed on the fourth surface 1104. Figure 3 As shown, the active anti-fog layer 12 is disposed on the second surface 1102, and the passive anti-fog layer 13 is disposed on the fourth surface 1104. Figure 4 As shown, the active anti-fog layer 12 is disposed on the third surface 1103, and the passive anti-fog layer 13 is disposed on the first surface 1101. Figure 5 As shown, the active anti-fog layer 12 is disposed on the third surface 1103, and the passive anti-fog layer 13 is disposed on the first surface 1101 and the fourth surface 1104.

[0044] In some embodiments, at least one surface of the glass body 11 may simultaneously have both an active anti-fog layer 12 and a passive anti-fog layer 13. For example, as Figures 2 to 5 An active anti-fog layer 12 and a passive anti-fog layer 13 may be simultaneously provided on the first surface 1101 and / or the fourth surface 1104 of the glass body 11 shown. In one example, the active anti-fog layer 12 may be disposed around the passive anti-fog layer 13 to allow infrared and radio signals to pass through the passive anti-fog layer 13. When the anti-fog glass 100 is used in a vehicle, infrared and radio signals, etc., can pass through the passive anti-fog layer 13 without being interfered with or isolated by the active anti-fog layer 12, and therefore will not affect the normal use of the following functions: ETC, RFID, rain sensor, radio, infrared camera, etc.

[0045] In other examples, the active anti-fog layer 12 and the passive anti-fog layer 13 may be formed on the first surface 1101 and / or the fourth surface 1104 of the glass body 11 in other arrangements. Furthermore, when the active anti-fog layer 12 and the passive anti-fog layer 13 are simultaneously formed on the first surface 1101 and / or the fourth surface 1104 of the glass body 11, the active anti-fog layer 12 may be a silver printed line to prevent oxidation during heating.

[0046] The superhydrophobic coating exhibits a high contact angle, for example, in the range of 120° to 180°. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic coating displays low hysteresis, meaning the difference between the advance and retreat angles of water droplets on an inclined substrate is minimal. Therefore, the superhydrophobic coating can utilize the repulsion of droplets by the coating surface to cause them to aggregate into larger droplets that then automatically roll off the coating surface. In some embodiments, the superhydrophobic coating comprises an inorganic oxide layer, such as a silica layer, with a thickness of 0.1 μm to 20 μm. 30% to 90% of the volume of the inorganic oxide layer consists of openings of 20 nm to 300 nm. The openings are uniformly distributed across the entire thickness of the layer, and almost all of these openings are interconnected. The inner and outer surfaces of the inorganic oxide layer are functionalized with a compound containing perfluoroalkyl or alkyl functional groups, and then saturated with a hydrophobic oil that impregnates the functionalized porous layer and forms a film on its surface. The hydrophobic oil may contain fluorinated oil or non-fluorinated silicone. It achieves this by impregnating a porous silica layer with a compound containing perfluoroalkyl or alkyl functional groups (i.e., a compound grafted onto the pore surface) using non-covalent bonding, thus forming a film on its surface (this grafting modifies the surface tension of the (internal and external) inorganic oxide layer). This results in a planar hydrophobic layer with liquid and / or semi-liquid / semi-solid properties. The porous layer can thus achieve durable retention of the hydrophobic oil by impregnating it with a hydrophobic oil.

[0047] Superhydrophobic coatings are generally not scratch-resistant. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the superhydrophobic coating can be applied as follows: Figure 1 The inner surface of the single-layer anti-fog glass 100 shown or as Figure 2-5 The fourth surface 1104 of the laminated anti-fog glass 100 shown is on this surface. Furthermore, in cases where the hydrophilic coating requires ultraviolet excitation to exert its hydrophilic effect (e.g., the hydrophilic coating contains titanium dioxide), it is preferable to apply the hydrophilic coating to the outer surface of the single-layer anti-fog glass 100 or, as... Figure 2-5 On the first surface 1101 of the laminated anti-fog glass 100 shown, the amount of ultraviolet light reaching the inner surface of the single-layer anti-fog glass 100 or the fourth surface 1104 of the laminated anti-fog glass 100 is reduced. Furthermore, if the hydrophilic coating can exert its hydrophilic effect without ultraviolet excitation, the hydrophilic coating can also be applied to the inner surface of the single-layer anti-fog glass 100 or the fourth surface 1104 of the laminated anti-fog glass 100.

[0048] In some embodiments, the hydrophilic coating is formed by mixing dopamine, a hydrophilic polymer, inorganic oxide particles, and a solvent. In some embodiments, the mass fraction of dopamine in the hydrophilic coating is 1% to 20%, the mass fraction of the hydrophilic polymer is 10% to 45%, the mass fraction of the inorganic oxide particles is 40% to 80%, and the mass fraction of the solvent is 5% to 47%. In some embodiments, the solvent is water, an aqueous alcohol solution, or an oxidizing aqueous solution.

[0049] In some embodiments, the hydrophilic coating is formed from a coating dispersion applied to a glass body 11. The coating dispersion comprises a dispersed phase and a dispersion medium. The dispersed phase comprises a photocatalytic metal compound, particulate silica, and a binder. Based on the total weight of the hydrophilic coating (i.e., the total weight of the dispersed phase in the coating dispersion), the hydrophilic coating comprises about 0.1-50 wt% of the photocatalytic metal compound, about 0-95 wt% of particulate silica, and about 0-50 wt% of the binder. Preferably, based on the total weight of the hydrophilic coating, the hydrophilic coating may comprise about 0.5-30 wt% of the photocatalytic metal compound, or about 60-80 wt% of silica particles, or about 5-30 wt% of a binder.

[0050] Photocatalytic metal compounds are metal compounds with photocatalytic capabilities. Under suitable irradiation, typically ultraviolet irradiation, they can catalyze the degradation reactions of organic compounds. For example, such photocatalytic activity is initiated within the layer by generating electron-hole pairs, thereby facilitating the decomposition of organic pollutants adhering to the coating surface. Furthermore, photocatalytic metal compounds possess good hydrophilicity, allowing pollutants or decomposed pollutants to be easily removed by water, such as rainwater.

[0051] The photocatalytic metal compounds used in this article include photocatalytic metal sulfides, oxides, or combinations thereof, including but not limited to zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, tin oxide, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide, lead sulfide, or combinations thereof, preferably titanium dioxide.

[0052] Titanium dioxide typically exists in rutile and anatase forms. These two crystal forms have different refractive indices. In this document, anatase titanium dioxide is preferred. In one embodiment, the content of anatase titanium dioxide in the titanium dioxide is about 80% by weight or more, preferably about 90% by weight or more, and more preferably about 95% by weight or more.

[0053] The shape of the photocatalytic metal compound includes, but is not limited to, spherical, dodecahedral, icosahedral, or irregular polyhedral shapes. However, it is necessary to ensure that there are gaps between the photocatalytic metal compound particles when they are stacked in the coating to facilitate the incident sunlight and the resulting increase in the visible light transmittance of the coating. Spherical shapes are preferred. In this document, the particle size of the photocatalytic metal compound is about 10-100 nm. Preferred particle size helps to obtain a photocatalytic metal compound with an appropriate total specific surface area, thereby facilitating the obtaining of a stable coating dispersion, contributing to the photocatalytic performance of the coating, obtaining a coating of suitable thickness and a suitable refractive index, and thus obtaining a coating with high visible light transmittance. Excessively large particle size of the photocatalytic metal compound will reduce the specific surface area, thereby reducing photocatalytic performance, while increasing the refractive index and reducing visible light transmittance. Insufficiently small particle size of the photocatalytic metal compound will make the particles prone to agglomeration. The lower limit of the preferred particle size of the photocatalytic metal compound is about 12 nm or more, such as 15 nm or more. The upper limit of the preferred particle size of the photocatalytic metal compound is about 60 nm or less, more preferably 40 nm or less. For example, approximately 20 nm. The photocatalytic metal compounds described herein have a relatively concentrated particle size distribution. In a preferred embodiment, the photocatalytic metal compound is monodisperse.

[0054] Silica has high light transmittance, which helps to reduce the final refractive index of the coating dispersion or the coating obtained through the coating dispersion, thus mitigating the adverse effects on glass transmittance caused by the relatively high refractive index of photocatalytic metal compounds. Furthermore, the hydrophilic coating provided by this invention has a ΔTE of approximately 0.9 or higher. This increase in ΔTE is particularly advantageous for obtaining a substrate with both anti-fogging capabilities and good transmission energy coverage. Here, ΔTE represents the difference in total transmission energy, i.e., the total transmission energy of the coated glass minus the total transmission energy of the uncoated glass.

[0055] In one embodiment, the refractive index of the particulate silica is about 1.3-1.5, preferably about 1.4-1.5.

[0056] In this document, granular silica refers to solid silica in granular form. The shape of the granular silica includes, but is not limited to, spherical, dodecahedral, icosahedral, or irregular polyhedral shapes, but it is necessary to ensure that there are gaps between the particles when the granular silica is stacked in the coating to facilitate the incidence of sunlight; spherical shapes are preferred. The particle size of the granular silica is about 10-30 nm. Preferred particle size helps to obtain silica with an appropriate total specific surface area, thereby facilitating the obtaining of a stable coating dispersion, resulting in a coating with good hydrophilicity, suitable thickness, refractive index, and air or void volume, and thus achieving high visible light transmittance. Excessively large granular silica particle size will increase the refractive index of the obtained coating, reduce the air or void volume in the coating, and hinder the incidence of sunlight, thereby reducing visible light transmittance. Insufficiently small granular silica particle size will cause the particles to easily agglomerate. Preferably, the lower limit of the granular silica particle size is about 12 nm or more, more preferably about 15 nm or more. The particle size of the preferred particulate silica is preferably below about 25 nm, more preferably below about 20 nm. For example, about 18 nm. The particulate silica described herein has a relatively concentrated particle size distribution. In a preferred embodiment, the silica is monodisperse.

[0057] The combination of particulate silica and photocatalytic metal compounds helps to obtain coatings with good hydrophilicity obtained from paint dispersions, thereby helping to maintain the anti-fogging ability of the coating for a longer period of time. In one embodiment, the weight ratio of particulate silica to photocatalytic metal compound is about 3-500. Preferred weight ratios of particulate silica to photocatalytic metal compound are advantageous for obtaining coatings with good photocatalytic performance, anti-fogging performance, and optical properties such as high visible light transmittance. Too low a weight ratio will reduce the visible light transmittance of the obtained coating, while too high a weight ratio will reduce the photocatalytic performance of the coating. The lower limit of the preferred weight ratio of particulate silica to photocatalytic metal compound is about 4 or more, preferably about 5 or more, and more preferably about 6 or more; the upper limit of the preferred weight ratio of particulate silica to photocatalytic metal compound is about 300 or less, preferably about 200 or less, and more preferably about 100 or less. For example, about 7, 15, 30, 45, and 90.

[0058] In this document, the adhesive is preferably a material having a relatively low refractive index or a relatively high light transmittance. In one embodiment, the adhesive is selected from sol-gel silica, silane coupling agents, and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the sol-gel silica is prepared from one or more of the following: tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), sodium silicate, lithium silicate, and potassium silicate. In another preferred embodiment, the silane coupling agent is prepared from organosilane precursors of the following general formula or combinations thereof: R 2 n Si(OR1 ) 4-n ;

[0059] In the formula, n is an integer from 0 to 2, for example, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4. R 1 It is C X H 2X+1 Alkyl-like functional groups, R 2 It is an organic group containing, for example, alkyl, epoxy, acrylate, methacrylate, amine, phenyl, or vinyl functional groups. Where x is an integer from 1 to 20, for example, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19. Alkyl groups are typically alkyl groups with 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

[0060] In a more preferred embodiment, the adhesive is a silica sol prepared from tetraethoxysilane.

[0061] In another embodiment, the weight ratio of the total weight of the particulate silica and the photocatalytic metal compound to the binder is about 1-19. A preferred ratio of particulate silica, the photocatalytic metal compound, and the binder is advantageous for forming a coating with good adhesion. The lower limit of the preferred weight ratio of the total weight of the particulate silica and the photocatalytic metal compound to the binder is about 2 or more, preferably about 3 or more, and more preferably about 5 or more. The upper limit of the preferred weight ratio of the total weight of the particulate silica and the photocatalytic metal compound to the binder is about 17 or less, preferably about 15 or less, and more preferably about 12 or less. For example, about 4 or 9. For example, about 4 or 10.

[0062] The coating dispersion described herein is preferably an aqueous coating dispersion. The dispersion medium in the coating dispersion is preferably an aqueous solution, an aqueous solution, or water. An aqueous solution refers to a solution with water as the primary dispersion medium. In one embodiment, the dispersion medium of this invention is an acidic aqueous solution, preferably an inorganic acid aqueous solution. Inorganic acids include, but are not limited to, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid.

[0063] In one embodiment, the pH of the coating dispersion is about 1-7. A preferred pH of the coating dispersion contributes to the formation of a well-stable coating dispersion solution. The preferred lower limit of the pH is about 1.5 or higher. The preferred upper limit of the pH is about 5 or lower, for example, 2.

[0064] In some embodiments, because the photocatalytic / hydrophilic properties of the photocatalytic metal compound (e.g., titanium dioxide) in the hydrophilic coating require excitation under ultraviolet light conditions and superhydrophobic coatings are generally not resistant to abrasion, therefore... Figure 5The passive anti-fog layer 13 provided on the first surface 1101 shown can be a hydrophilic coating, while the passive anti-fog layer 13 provided on the fourth surface 1104 can be a super hydrophobic coating. In addition, the hydrophilic coating has good abrasion resistance, which can be applied to the first surface 1101 under more severe conditions.

[0065] In other embodiments, a hydrophilic coating that does not require photocatalysis can be applied to the fourth surface 1104 of the glass body 11, since fog is more likely to occur on the inner surface of the windshield, i.e., the fourth surface 1104 of the glass body 11.

[0066] In some embodiments, the passive antifog layer 13 is formed on the glass body 11 by at least one of the following methods: spraying, wet coating, roller coating, slot coating, embossing, scraping, dipping, curtain coating, reverse roller coating, concave coating, dip coating, and wire coating. In other embodiments, the passive antifog layer 13 may also be formed on the glass body 11 by other available methods, and the scope of this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

[0067] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle windshield according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 6 The vehicle windshield shown can be used as a reference. Figures 1 to 5 The described anti-fog glass 100. Because the active anti-fog layer 12 is made of metal or conductive oxide, it can interfere with or isolate infrared and radio signals, thus affecting the normal operation of functions such as ETC, RFID, rain sensors, radio, and infrared cameras. To address this issue, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the surface of the glass body 11 of the windshield 100 where the active anti-fog layer 12 is provided includes an area 200 where the active anti-fog layer 12 is not formed, allowing infrared and radio signals to pass through. Furthermore, the passive anti-fog layer 13 should be large enough to cover the area corresponding to the sensors used in ADAS. In embodiments according to this disclosure, the passive anti-fog layer 13 may cover all or part of the corresponding surface of the glass body 11.

[0068] In embodiments according to this disclosure, both an active anti-fog layer 12 and a passive anti-fog layer 13 are simultaneously provided on the glass body 11 to prevent fog formation. In this way, in areas of the glass body 11 not covered by the active anti-fog layer 12, the passive anti-fog layer 13 can provide a certain degree of anti-fog function; furthermore, in areas where the passive anti-fog layer 13 on the glass body 11 cannot provide the required level of anti-fog, the active anti-fog layer 12, together with the passive anti-fog layer 13, can provide a better anti-fog effect.

[0069] Figure 7A flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing anti-fog glass according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 7 As shown, method 700 includes: at 702, providing a glass body, the glass body being a single layer or multiple layers stacked together; at 704, forming an active antifog layer on the glass body, the active antifog layer being configured to heat up when energized; and at 706, forming a passive antifog layer on the glass body, the passive antifog layer being configured to suppress fog formation on the passive antifog layer, wherein the passive antifog layer is a super hydrophobic coating and / or a hydrophilic coating.

[0070] The various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, and are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or technical improvements to the embodiments in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An anti-fog glass, comprising: The glass body is a single layer or multiple layers stacked together. An active anti-fog layer is disposed on the glass body and configured to heat up when energized; as well as A passive anti-fog layer is disposed on the glass body and configured to suppress fog formation on the passive anti-fog layer, wherein the passive anti-fog layer is a super hydrophobic coating and a hydrophilic coating.

2. The anti-fog glass according to claim 1, wherein the active anti-fog layer is disposed on at least one surface of the glass body, and the passive anti-fog layer is disposed on at least one other surface of the glass body other than the at least one surface.

3. The anti-fog glass according to claim 2, wherein the glass body comprises a first layer and a second layer stacked together, the first layer comprising a first surface and a second surface, the second layer comprising a third surface and a fourth surface, and the second surface facing the third surface; The active anti-fog layer is disposed on at least one of the second surface and the third surface; and The passive anti-fog layer is disposed on at least one of the first surface and the fourth surface.

4. The anti-fog glass according to claim 3, wherein the hydrophilic coating is provided on the first surface and the super hydrophobic coating is provided on the fourth surface.

5. The anti-fog glass according to claim 2, wherein the active anti-fog layer comprises at least one of a transparent conductive film, a silver printing line, a heating element, a heating plate, a copper wire, and a tungsten wire.

6. The anti-fog glass of claim 2, wherein at least one surface of the glass body includes an area where the active anti-fog layer is not formed, to allow infrared and radio signals to pass through.

7. The anti-fog glass according to claim 1, wherein both the active anti-fog layer and the passive anti-fog layer are simultaneously provided on at least one surface of the glass body.

8. The anti-fog glass of claim 7, wherein on at least one surface, the active anti-fog layer is disposed around the passive anti-fog layer to allow infrared and radio signals to pass through the passive anti-fog layer.

9. The anti-fog glass according to claim 8, wherein the glass body comprises a first layer and a second layer stacked thereon, the first layer comprising a first surface and a second surface, the second layer comprising a third surface and a fourth surface, and the second surface facing the third surface; and The first surface and / or the fourth surface are simultaneously provided with the active anti-fog layer and the passive anti-fog layer.

10. The anti-fog glass according to claim 9, wherein the active anti-fog layer is a silver printed line.

11. The anti-fog glass according to claim 1, wherein the super hydrophobic coating comprises an inorganic oxide layer with a thickness of 0.1 μm to 20 μm, wherein 30% to 90% of the volume of the inorganic oxide layer consists of openings of 20 nm to 300 nm, the openings being uniformly distributed over the entire thickness of the layer and almost all of these openings being interconnected, wherein the inner and outer surfaces of the inorganic oxide layer are functionalized with a compound containing perfluoroalkyl or alkyl functional groups and then saturated with a hydrophobic oil that impregnates the functionalized porous layer and forms a film on its surface.

12. The anti-fog glass of claim 1, wherein, based on the total weight of the hydrophilic coating, the hydrophilic coating comprises: 0.1-50% by weight of photocatalytic metal compounds; 0-95% by weight of particulate silica; and 0-50% by weight of adhesive, The photocatalytic metal compound mentioned above includes photocatalytic metal sulfides, photocatalytic metal oxides, or combinations thereof.

13. The anti-fog glass according to claim 12, wherein, The photocatalytic metal compound is zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, tin oxide, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide, lead sulfide, or a combination thereof.

14. The anti-fog glass according to claim 13, wherein, The photocatalytic metal compound is titanium dioxide.

15. The anti-fog glass according to claim 12, wherein, The particle size of the photocatalytic metal compound is 10-100 nm.

16. The anti-fog glass according to claim 12, wherein, The hydrophilic coating contains particulate silica with a particle size of 10-30 nm.

17. The anti-fog glass according to claim 12, wherein, The adhesive is selected from one or more of the following: sol-gel silica, silane coupling agent.

18. The anti-fog glass according to claim 17, wherein, The sol-gel type silica comprises one or more of the following: tetraethoxysilane, sodium silicate, lithium silicate, and potassium silicate; The silane coupling agent is prepared from organosilane precursors or combinations thereof with the following general formula: R 2 n Si(OR 1 ) 4-n ; In the formula, n is an integer between 0 and 2, and R 1 It is C X H 2X+1 Alkyl-like functional groups, R 2 It is an organic group containing alkyl, epoxy, acrylate, methacrylate, amine, phenyl or vinyl functional groups.

19. The anti-fog glass according to claim 12, wherein the hydrophilic coating is formed by a coating dispersion applied to the glass body, and wherein the coating dispersion further comprises a dispersion medium, said dispersion medium being an aqueous solution, an aqueous solution, or water; and / or The pH of the coating dispersion is 1-7.

20. The anti-fog glass according to claim 19, wherein the pH of the coating dispersion is 2-5.

21. The anti-fog glass according to claim 1, wherein the passive anti-fog layer is formed on the glass body by at least one of spraying, wet coating, roller coating, slot coating, embossing, scraping, impregnation, curtain coating, reverse roller coating, concave coating, dip coating, and wire coating.

22. The anti-fog glass according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the anti-fog glass is vehicle glass.

23. A vehicle comprising anti-fog glass according to any one of claims 1-22.

24. A method for manufacturing anti-fog glass, comprising: A glass body is provided, wherein the glass body is a single layer or multiple layers stacked together; An active anti-fog layer is formed on the glass body, and the active anti-fog layer is configured to heat up when energized. as well as A passive anti-fog layer is formed on the glass body, the passive anti-fog layer being configured to suppress fog formation on the passive anti-fog layer, wherein the passive anti-fog layer is a super hydrophobic coating and a hydrophilic coating.

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