Spacer with UV protective layer for insulating glazing

Abstract

The invention relates to a spacer (1) for insulating glazing, comprising at least a polymeric main body (5), at least comprising a first pane contact surface (7.1) and a second pane contact surface (7.2) located opposite the first, a glazing interior surface (8) and an outer surface (9), which are connected to one another via the first pane contact surface (7.1) and the second pane contact surface (7.2), wherein at least the glazing interior surface (8) comprises a UV protective layer (14) which completely covers the glazing interior surface (8), wherein the UV protective layer (14) a) is a coating which comprises organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers, b) is a polymeric film, wherein the material of the polymeric main body (5) differs from the material of the UV protective layer (14), or c) is a polymeric layer, wherein the material of the polymeric main body (5) differs from the material of the UV protective layer (14), wherein the wall thickness of the polymeric main body (5) is between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

Description

[0001] Spacers with UV protection layer for insulating glazing

[0002] The invention relates to a spacer with a UV protection layer for insulating glazing and to an insulating glazing comprising such a spacer.

[0003] Insulated glazing has become an indispensable part of building construction, particularly in light of increasingly stringent environmental regulations. It consists of at least two panes of glass connected by at least one circumferential spacer. Depending on the design, the space between the two panes, known as the glazing interior, is filled with air or gas, but is always free of moisture. Excessive moisture in the space between the panes, particularly in cold outside temperatures, leads to condensation of water droplets in the space between the panes, which must be avoided at all costs. Hollow spacers filled with a desiccant, for example, can be used to absorb any residual moisture remaining in the system after installation.

[0004] In addition to sealing the cavity between the panes against moisture, another crucial function of the spacer is to thermally decouple the building's interior on one side of the insulating glazing from the surroundings on the opposite side. The thermal conductivity of the spacers has a significant influence on the thermal properties of the pane. One common design of spacers is made of a light metal, usually aluminum. These are easy to process, but the insulating effect of the glazing is significantly reduced in the edge area due to the aluminum's good thermal conductivity (also known as the cold edge effect).

[0005] To improve thermal properties, so-called warm-edge solutions for spacers are known. These spacers are primarily made of plastic and therefore exhibit significantly reduced thermal conductivity. Compared to metal spacers, plastic spacers lack sufficient gas tightness, which can be achieved by applying insulating foils to the outer surface of the spacers.

[0006] WO 2013 / 104507 A1 discloses a spacer comprising a polymeric hollow profile base body and an insulating film. The insulating film contains a polymeric film and at least two metallic or ceramic layers arranged alternately with at least one polymeric layer.

[0007] Another disadvantage of polymer spacers is the lower long-term stability of many plastics against ultraviolet light compared to metals. Exposure to ultraviolet light causes photolysis, forming radicals that react with the polymer. This results in embrittlement and / or yellowing of the material. This primarily affects the glazing interior surface of the spacer facing the cavity between the panes, which is visible and exposed to sunlight when the spacer is installed. One way to improve the UV stability of the spacer is to manufacture the base body of the spacer from a material that itself exhibits improved UV stability.However, this severely limits the possible materials for the base body, so that other criteria, such as the necessary mechanical properties of the base body, may no longer be met.

[0008] US 2022 / 186548 A1 discloses a spacer for multi-pane insulating glazing, comprising a polymeric base body and an insulating film having at least one metallic or ceramic layer and applied to the polymeric base body.

[0009] DE 10226268 A1 discloses a spacer for insulating glass panes or the like in the form of a hollow profile, wherein the hollow profile is constructed from a deformation-stable metal sheet and has thermal insulating material overlays arranged on the metal sheet at least in the region of the outer surface of the side walls.

[0010] US 5290611 A discloses an insulating spacer / sealing system.

[0011] EP 0807611 A1 discloses a glass unit with an opaque region and a translucent region.

[0012] The object of the present invention is to provide a spacer that has improved UV stability regardless of the base material of the spacer, and an insulating glazing unit with this spacer. The object of the present invention is achieved by a spacer and an insulating glazing unit with a spacer according to independent claims 1 and 15. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the subclaims.

[0013] The spacer for insulating glazing according to the invention comprises at least one polymeric base body, comprising two pane contact surfaces, a glazing interior surface and an exterior surface. The two pane contact surfaces of the spacer are referred to as the first pane contact surface and the second pane contact surface. The first pane contact surface and the second pane contact surface represent the sides of the spacer on which the outer panes (first pane and second pane) of an insulating glazing are mounted during installation of the spacer. The first pane contact surface and the second pane contact surface lie opposite one another and run parallel to one another. The glazing interior surface and the exterior surface are connected to one another via the first pane contact surface and the second pane contact surface. The glazing interior surface and the exterior surface run parallel to one another at least in sections.At least the glazing interior surface of the spacer comprises a UV protection layer. The UV protection layer completely covers the glazing interior surface, so that the glazing interior surface is not a surface exposed to the environment and is not directly exposed to environmental influences such as sunlight. The UV protection layer is a layer that protects the underlying layers, i.e., the glazing interior surface of the polymeric base body, from ultraviolet radiation. According to the invention, the UV protection layer is a) a coating comprising organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers, b) a polymeric film, wherein the material of the polymeric base body differs from the material of the UV protection layer, or c) a polymeric layer, wherein the material of the polymeric base body differs from the material of the UV protection layer.

[0014] The wall thickness of the polymer base body is between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

[0015] Ultraviolet radiation, UV light or UV radiation refers to the range of the light spectrum with wavelengths from 380 nm to 100 nm.

[0016] The spectrum of ultraviolet radiation is usually divided into so-called UV-A radiation (wavelength range from 380 nm to 315 nm), UV-B radiation (wavelength range from 315 nm to 280 nm) and UV-C radiation (wavelength range from 280 nm to 100 nm). Depending on the UV protective layer used, the transmission within different wavelength ranges can be reduced to varying degrees. For example, the UV protective layer can produce a UV protective effect without reducing the transmission simply by binding free radicals. The combination of both protective mechanisms is preferred. The spacer is intended to be mounted in the space between an insulating glazing unit, i.e., when installed, it is located between the glass panes attached to the pane contact surfaces.If the glass panes are made of soda-lime glass, the commonly used window glass, UV radiation with a wavelength of less than 320 nm is already filtered out by the glass pane itself. The UV protection layer preferably reduces the transmission of UV radiation in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 320 nm. The UV protection layer particularly preferably reduces the radiation in this wavelength range by a total of at least 20%, in particular by at least 30%, for example by at least 50%. In this way, good protection of the glazing interior surface of the polymer base body against UV-A radiation can be ensured, which passes through the glass panes of an insulating glazing unit onto the spacer.

[0017] The glazing interior surface is defined as the surface of the spacer base body that, after installation of the spacer in an insulating glazing unit, faces the interior of the glazing. The glazing interior surface lies between the first and second panes of the insulating glazing unit.

[0018] The outer surface of the spacer base body is the side opposite the glazing interior surface, facing away from the interior of the insulating glazing unit toward an outer seal. The glazing interior surface and the outer surface preferably run essentially parallel to each other, with the exception of optional angled sections.

[0019] The first pane contact surface and the second pane contact surface represent the surfaces of the spacer used to mount the panes of an insulating glazing unit. The first pane contact surface and the second pane contact surface are essentially parallel to each other.

[0020] The UV protection layer can be opaque or transparent. An opaque UV protection layer is impermeable to light within the visible range of the light spectrum between 380 nm and 780 nm, so that the interior glazing surface of the spacer is not visible to an observer through the UV protection layer. This has the advantage that materials that are not visually appealing, such as recycled material, can also be selected for the base body. Furthermore, the UV protection layer can be colored, whereby different colored interior glazing surfaces can be provided according to customer requirements using the same base body. This eliminates the need to change the extrusion process. If the UV protection layer is transparent, it allows the transmission of light within the visible range of the light spectrum, and the interior glazing surface is visible to an observer.In this way, for example, colored spacers can also be provided with a UV protective layer without losing the color impression of the spacer.

[0021] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the UV protection layer is a coating comprising organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers. The coating is applied to the glazing interior surface of the polymeric base body. Such a coating is preferably applied to the glazing interior surface of the polymeric base body after extrusion of the polymeric base body. Thus, the polymeric base bodies can be pre-produced and subsequently provided with a coating configured according to customer requirements with regard to color and UV protection. According to the invention, the coating comprises organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers. The coating is also referred to below as the "UV protection coating."

[0022] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the UV protection layer is a polymeric film, wherein the material of the polymeric base body differs from the material of the UV protection layer. Preferably, the polymeric film has a coating comprising organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers. Such a coating is preferably applied to the polymeric film after the polymeric film has been prepared. The coating is also referred to below as the "UV protection coating."

[0023] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the UV protection layer is a polymeric layer, wherein the material of the polymeric base body differs from the material of the UV protection layer. Preferably, the polymeric layer has a coating comprising organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers. Such a coating is preferably applied to the polymeric layer after the polymeric layer has been provided. The coating is also referred to below as the “UV protection coating.” In a preferred embodiment, the organic UV absorber comprises 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazoles, (2-hydroxyphenyl)-s-triazines, hydroxybenzophenones, and / or oxalanilides. These compounds absorb UV radiation and thereby prevent the effect of the radiation on the plastic of the polymeric base body.Furthermore, the compounds mentioned can be easily deposited onto the polymeric base material, the polymeric film, or the polymeric layer using an atmospheric plasma polymerization process. Examples of suitable embodiments of the 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazoles include the compounds 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(2-phenyl-2-propanyl)phenol and 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol.

[0024] In one embodiment, the radical scavenger comprises hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), preferably derivatives of tetramethylpiperidine, especially 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine derivatives such as bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate. HALS have the property of binding radicals formed by UV exposure, thereby reducing free radicals and counteracting the associated discoloration of the plastic.

[0025] In a particularly preferred embodiment, a combination of several organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers is used. This is particularly advantageous for covering different wavelength ranges of the UV spectrum using different organic UV absorbers. In addition, one or more radical scavengers can be added to the coating comprising one or more organic UV absorbers to neutralize the radicals that are still formed to a small extent.

[0026] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the coating is applied by means of a printing process, in particular by means of an inkjet printing process (also referred to as an inkjet process). A varnish comprising at least one solvent, a binder (also referred to as a matrix), and additives, optionally comprising at least one pigment, is printed on. In the printing process, the coating can be easily applied directly to the polymeric base body, the polymeric film, or the polymeric layer, resulting in a UV-protective coating on the surface of the spacer. The pigments optionally added to the varnish can be distributed evenly or unevenly over the glazing interior surface of the spacer.By applying a lacquer comprising one or more pigments in a first surface region, a lacquer each comprising one or more further pigments in further surface regions, and optionally a lacquer without pigments in a further surface region, a coating with colored patterns, labels or designs configurable according to customer requirements can be printed, which, in addition to its UV protection effect, enables a visually appealing design of the spacer.

[0027] Suitable printing devices for applying varnishes are known to those skilled in the art. Inkjet printing processes have proven particularly advantageous for multi-colored coatings. Through the targeted and location-dependent combination of different colored varnishes, these processes enable the printing of even complex patterns and designs at a resolution that is appealing to the viewer. Furthermore, this process is time-saving and flexible. Spacers can be pre-produced as a standard product and subsequently printed with a transparent, single-color, or multi-color UV-protective coating according to customer requirements.

[0028] Inorganic and / or organic pigments can be used as pigments. The additives stabilize the pigments in solution, ensure good dispersion of the pigments in solution, promote good pigment-matrix bonding, ensure good adhesion to the surface to be coated, and facilitate the coating's processability.

[0029] The coating applied as a print preferably reduces the transmission in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 320 nm. The above-mentioned organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers are preferably added to the lacquer applied by means of a printing process and are applied together with the lacquer as a coating onto the polymeric base body, onto the polymeric film or onto the polymeric layer.

[0030] The pigments are generally enclosed on all sides by the binder, which forms the matrix for the pigments. Plastics are preferred as binders. Suitable binders are known to those skilled in the art.

[0031] Solvents suitable for printing processes, especially inkjet printing processes, are known to those skilled in the art. Water or n-propyl acetate are preferred.

[0032] The varnish applied during the printing process preferably has a viscosity of 1 cp to 40 cp, more preferably less than or equal to 20 cp, measured according to EN ISO 3219. These viscosities are particularly advantageous when using inkjet printing processes. The viscosity is largely determined by the ratio of pigment to solvent, with suitable ratios known from the literature or determinable by a person skilled in the art through simple experiments. Furthermore, the viscosity can also be influenced by additives.

[0033] The additives typically contained in printable varnishes include rheology additives, wetting and dispersing agents, surface additives, adhesion promoters and defoamers, and one or more of these additives may be added to the varnish intended for the production of the UV protective coating.

[0034] The coating preferably contains rheology additives for producing the coating, including ionic and non-ionic oligomers, acrylate- and methacrylate-based polymers, polyurethanes, surfactants, and / or mixtures and / or copolymers thereof. Rheology additives improve the flowability of the coating, thereby simplifying processing in printing processes, particularly inkjet printing processes.

[0035] As further additives, the coating preferably also contains wetting and dispersing agents, particularly preferably wetting and dispersing agents comprising acrylate-based polymers, acrylate-based copolymers, in particular block copolymers with a block soluble in the solvent used and with a pigment-binding block, and / or gradient copolymers with a block soluble in the solvent used and with a pigment-binding block. Wetting and dispersing agents prevent clumping of the pigments and wetting of the pigment surface with solvent, thereby achieving a uniform distribution of the pigments in the coating.

[0036] Furthermore, surface additives are preferably added to the varnish. Surface additives serve to adapt the surface tension of the varnish to that of the surface to be coated in order to avoid defects that occur with strongly differing surface tensions. Furthermore, surface additives reduce the roughness of the coating surface. Preference is given to surface additives comprising silicones, low-molecular-weight silanes, acrylate-based polymers and / or acrylate-based copolymers, particularly preferably block copolymers with one block that is soluble in the solvent used and one block that is insoluble in the solvent used and / or gradient copolymers with one block that is soluble in the solvent used and one block that is insoluble in the solvent used. In addition, adhesion promoters and / or defoamers can be added to the varnish used. Adhesion promoters improve the adhesion of the varnish to the surface to be printed.Defoamers prevent the formation of foam and the associated printing defects. Defoamers known to those skilled in the art include, for example, silicones, waxes, and / or paraffins.

[0037] Pigments suitable for printing processes and inkjet printing processes are known to those skilled in the art. The pigments used can be inorganic and / or organic pigments. In inkjet printing, varnishes in the colors cyan, magenta, and yellow are usually printed overlapping or partially overlapping in order to mix the desired color from these primary colors, with the color black often being provided as an additional varnish. Examples of pigments frequently used in inkjet printing include process yellow (also called pigment yellow), copper phthalocyanine, and quinacridone. To produce a black print, materials used include carbon black (also known as industrial carbon black), nanostructured industrial carbon black, nanoparticulate carbon black (also known as dyed carbon black), and / or carbon nanotubes.Furthermore, aluminum oxide effect pigments (also known as alumina effect pigments), which contain metal oxide-coated Al2O3 flakes with a particularly smooth surface, can be added to the printable coating to create a matte metallic appearance. The Al2O3 flakes are typically coated with TiO2 and / or iron(III) oxides. TiO2 itself can also be used as a white pigment in coatings. Especially when nanoscale TiO2 is used, this has a UV-absorbing effect and thus also acts as a UV absorber.

[0038] Lignin and / or lignin derivatives, such as lignin sulfonates, can be used as dispersants in printable varnishes. This has proven particularly advantageous when using carbon black in inkjet printing processes.

[0039] The aforementioned individual components of printable coatings, in particular inkjet-printable coatings, are known to those skilled in the art and are commercially available. Suitable inkjet-printable coating compositions are described, for example, in US 20100068409 A1. EP2473569B1 discloses suitable adhesion promoters. US 9085654 B2 describes advantageous wetting and dispersing agents, and WO 2008067974 A2 describes defoamers.

[0040] The polymeric film preferably comprises polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyetherimide (PEI), and / or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). These materials exhibit good stability against UV radiation. The material of the polymeric base body is selected to be different from the material of the polymeric film of the UV protection layer. Thus, when selecting the base body material, UV stability does not need to be taken into account; instead, the selection can be based solely on other criteria such as mechanical stability, cost, and recyclability. The polymeric film as the UV protection layer can be opaque or transparent. An opaque polymeric film optically conceals the polymeric base body from the viewer's eye, so that even materials with a visually unappealing or inconsistent appearance, such as recycled materials, can be used as the base body material.The polymer film is preferably applied to the polymer base body by gluing, welding, or shrinking. A polymer film applied by shrinking as a UV protection layer is preferably applied in the form of a tube around the polymer base body, with the shrink tube, after shrinking, adhering to the interior surface of the glazing, the pane contact surfaces, and the exterior surface.

[0041] The polymer layer preferably comprises polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyetherimide (PEI), and / or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). These materials exhibit advantageous UV stability. The material of the polymer base body differs from the material of the polymer layer of the UV protection layer, whereby the material of the polymer base body is selected independently of the material of the polymer layer with regard to aspects such as mechanical stability, cost, and recyclability. The polymer layer as the UV protection layer is preferably applied to the polymer base body by coextrusion.

[0042] The polymeric base body preferably contains polyethylene (PE), polycarbonates (PC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, polybutadiene, polynitriles, polyesters, polyurethanes, polymethyl methacrylates, polyacrylates, polyamides, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), preferably acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), acrylate-styrene-acrylonitrile (ASA), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene / polycarbonate (ABS / PC), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), PET / PC, PBT / PC, and / or copolymers or mixtures thereof. These materials achieve good results with regard to the mechanical stability of the base body.

[0043] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the spacer, the polymeric base body comprises a thermoplastic polymer. Examples of suitable thermoplastic polymers for the polymeric base body include polyethylene (PE), polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), or copolymers or mixtures thereof. The use of styrene-based thermoplastic polymers as the base material has proven particularly advantageous with regard to the mechanical properties of the polymeric base body. A particularly suitable thermoplastic polymer is styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN). Polybutylene terephthalate has also proven particularly advantageous with regard to the mechanical properties of the polymeric base body.

[0044] Optionally, the polymeric base body can be designed as a foamed polymeric base body having a pore structure with regular air-filled cavities.

[0045] In addition to the materials listed, the polymer base body may contain other components such as reinforcing agents and color pigments.

[0046] A wide variety of fibrous, powdered, or platelet-shaped reinforcing agents are known to those skilled in the art as reinforcing agents in polymeric base bodies. Powdered and / or platelet-shaped reinforcing agents include, for example, mica and talc. Particularly preferred with regard to mechanical properties are reinforcing fibers, which include glass fibers, aramid fibers, carbon fibers, ceramic fibers, or natural fibers. Alternatives to these are also ground glass fibers or hollow glass spheres. These hollow glass spheres have, for example, a diameter of 10 μm to 20 μm and improve the stability of a polymeric hollow profile. Suitable hollow glass spheres are commercially available under the name "3M™ Glass Bubbles." In one possible embodiment, the polymeric base body contains both glass fibers and hollow glass spheres. The addition of hollow glass spheres leads to a further improvement in the thermal properties of the hollow profile.

[0047] Glass fibers are particularly preferably used as reinforcing agents, with these being added in a proportion of 25 wt.% to 40 wt.%, in particular in a proportion of 30 wt.% to 35 wt.%. Within these ranges, good mechanical stability and strength of the polymeric base body can be observed. Furthermore, a glass fiber content of 30 wt.% to 35 wt.% is well compatible with the multilayer barrier film made of alternating polymeric layers and metallic layers applied to the outer surface of the spacer in a preferred embodiment. By adapting the thermal expansion coefficient of the polymeric base body and the barrier film or coating, temperature-induced stresses between the different materials and flaking of the barrier film or coating can be avoided.

[0048] The polymeric base body preferably comprises a gas- and vapor-tight barrier film, which serves to improve the gas-tightness of the polymeric base body. This is preferably applied at least to the outer surface of the polymeric base body, preferably to the outer surface and to a portion of the pane contact surfaces. The gas- and vapor-tight barrier improves the impermeability of the spacer against gas loss and moisture penetration. The barrier is preferably applied to approximately half to two-thirds of the pane contact surfaces, but can also be applied along larger areas or the entire height of the pane contact surfaces. A suitable barrier film is disclosed, for example, in WO 2013 / 104507 A1.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the gas- and vapor-tight barrier on the outer surface of the polymeric base body is designed as a film. This barrier film contains at least one polymeric layer and a metallic or ceramic layer. The thickness of the polymeric layer is between 5 μm and 80 μm, while metallic and / or ceramic layers with a thickness of 10 nm to 200 nm are used. Within these thicknesses, the barrier film achieves particularly good impermeability. The barrier film can be applied to the polymeric base body, for example, by gluing. Alternatively, the film can be co-extruded with the base body.

[0050] The barrier film particularly preferably contains at least two metallic layers and / or ceramic layers arranged alternately with at least one polymeric layer. The layer thicknesses of the individual layers are preferably as described in the previous paragraph. The outer layers are preferably formed by a metallic layer. The alternating layers of the barrier film can be bonded or applied to one another using a wide variety of methods known in the art. Methods for depositing metallic or ceramic layers are well known to those skilled in the art. The use of a barrier film with an alternating layer sequence is particularly advantageous with regard to the tightness of the system. A defect in one of the layers does not lead to a loss of functionality of the barrier film.In comparison, even a small defect in a single layer can lead to complete failure. Furthermore, applying multiple thin layers is advantageous compared to a single thick layer, as the risk of internal adhesion problems increases with increasing layer thickness. Furthermore, thicker layers have higher conductivity, making such a film thermodynamically less suitable.

[0051] The polymeric layer of the film preferably comprises polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamides, polyethylene, polypropylene, silicones, acrylonitriles, polyacrylates, polymethylacrylates, and / or copolymers or mixtures thereof. The metallic layer preferably contains iron, aluminum, silver, copper, gold, chromium, and / or alloys or oxides thereof. The ceramic layer of the film preferably contains silicon oxides and / or silicon nitrides.

[0052] In an alternative preferred embodiment, the gas- and vapor-tight barrier is preferably implemented as a coating. The coating contains aluminum, aluminum oxides, and / or silicon oxides and is preferably applied using a PVD (physical vapor deposition) process. Coating with these materials delivers particularly good results in terms of sealing and also exhibits excellent adhesion properties to the outer sealing materials used in insulating glazing.

[0053] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the gas- and vapor-tight barrier comprises at least one metallic layer or ceramic layer which is designed as a coating and contains aluminum, aluminum oxides and / or silicon oxides and is preferably applied via a PVD process (physical vapor deposition).

[0054] The polymeric base body of the spacer preferably has a hollow chamber that extends along the polymeric base body, i.e., it is designed as a hollow profile spacer. The hollow chamber of the polymeric base body borders the interior surface of the glazing, with the interior surface of the glazing being located above the hollow chamber and the outer surface of the spacer being located below the hollow chamber. In this context, "above" is defined as facing the interior space between the panes of the insulating glazing when the spacer is installed in an insulating glazing unit, and "below" is defined as facing away from the interior space of the pane. The hollow chamber of the spacer leads to a weight reduction compared to a solid spacer and is available for accommodating additional components, such as a desiccant.

[0055] The outer surface of the spacer is preferably angled adjacent to the pane contact surfaces, thereby achieving increased stability of the polymeric base body. Adjacent to the first pane contact surface, the outer surface has a first angled section and adjacent to the second pane contact surface, a second angled section. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first angled section and the second angled section each have an angle α of 130° to 140° to the adjacent pane contact surface. This is advantageous for further improving the mechanical stability of the spacer. Preferably, the angle α between the first angled section and the pane contact surface has the same value as the angle α between the second angled section and the pane contact surface. Such a symmetrical design leads to further stability advantages.

[0056] The height of the spacer is determined as the maximum height of the spacer between the interior surface of the glazing and the exterior surface. The height of the spacer is preferably 5.0 mm to 10.0 mm, particularly preferably 6.0 mm to 8.0 mm, and especially 6.5 mm to 7.0 mm. Within these ranges, good stability of the spacer and secure bonding of the panes at the pane contact surfaces are achieved.

[0057] The width of the spacer is defined as the maximum extension of the spacer between the opposing pane contact surfaces. The width of the spacer depends largely on the desired interpane spacing of the insulating glazing to be manufactured. The width of the spacer is typically 4 mm to 30 mm, preferably 8 mm to 16 mm.

[0058] The wall thickness of the polymer base body is between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm. Good stability is achieved in these ranges. At the same time, material consumption is kept as low as possible.

[0059] Preferably, a plurality of openings are provided in the interior surface of the glazing, wherein in the region of the openings there is a direct passage between the hollow chamber and the area above the interior surface of the glazing. When the spacer is installed in an insulating glazing, the openings connect the interior of the hollow chamber with the interior of the glazing, thereby enabling gas exchange between them. This allows air humidity to be absorbed by a desiccant located in the hollow chamber, thus preventing the panes from fogging up. The openings are preferably designed as slots, particularly preferably as slots with a width of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, for example 0.2 mm, and a length of 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm, for example 2 mm. The slots ensure optimal air exchange without desiccant from the hollow chamber being able to penetrate into the inner space between the panes.The total number of openings depends on the size of the insulating glazing.

[0060] Particularly preferably, a perforation groove is provided in the glazing interior surface, which runs substantially parallel to the pane contact surfaces and within which the openings are provided in the glazing interior surface. The perforation groove represents a recess in the glazing interior surface, i.e., the perforation groove is offset from the glazing interior surface toward the hollow chamber by the depth of the perforation groove. The perforation groove preferably has a depth of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, particularly preferably 0.07 mm to 0.25 mm, for example 0.10 mm.

[0061] The described spacer, comprising a first pane contact surface and a second pane contact surface, is suitable for double, triple, and multiple glazing units. To accommodate multiple panes, additional spacers can be used, as well as a spacer base body shaped to accommodate multiple panes. In the former case, a first and a second pane are first attached to the pane contact surfaces of the spacer, and then additional spacers are attached to one of the pane surfaces facing away from the spacer, the exposed pane contact surfaces of which accommodate additional panes. In an alternative embodiment, triple or multiple glazing units can also be designed with a spacer in the form of a double spacer. Such a double spacer can accommodate at least one additional pane in a groove.For example, a spacer for triple glazing has a groove in the glazing interior surface between the first pane contact surface and the second pane contact surface, into which a third pane is inserted between the first pane and the second pane. The first and second panes are attached to the first and second pane contact surfaces of the spacer. Since the groove runs between the first glazing interior surface and the second glazing interior surface, it delimits them laterally and separates a first hollow chamber and a second hollow chamber from one another. The side flanks of the groove are formed by the walls of the first hollow chamber and the second hollow chamber. Such basic spacer shapes are known, among other things, from WO 2014 / 198431 A1.

[0062] The invention further comprises an insulating glazing unit with a spacer according to the invention. The insulating glazing unit contains at least a first pane, a second pane, and a circumferential spacer according to the invention surrounding the panes.

[0063] The glazing interior of the insulating glazing unit is adjacent to the glazing interior surface of the spacer. The outer surface of the spacer, on the other hand, borders the outer cavity between the panes. The first pane is attached to the first pane contact surface of the spacer, and the second pane is attached to the second pane contact surface of the spacer.

[0064] The first and second discs are preferably attached to the disc contact surfaces via a sealing means disposed between the first disc contact surface and the first disc and / or the second disc contact surface and the second disc.

[0065] The sealant preferably contains butyl rubber, polyisobutylene, polyethylene vinyl alcohol, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyolefin rubber, polypropylene, polyethylene, copolymers and / or mixtures thereof.

[0066] The sealant is preferably introduced into the gap between the spacer and the panes with a thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, particularly preferably 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm.

[0067] The outer space between the panes of the insulating glazing is preferably sealed with an external seal. This external seal primarily serves to bond the two panes together and thus ensure the mechanical stability of the insulating glazing.

[0068] The outer seal preferably contains polysulfides, silicones, silicone rubber, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, copolymers, and / or mixtures thereof. Such materials have very good adhesion to glass, so the outer seal ensures secure bonding of the panes. The thickness of the outer seal is preferably 2 mm to 30 mm, particularly preferably 5 mm to 10 mm.

[0069] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the insulating glazing comprises at least three panes, wherein a further spacer frame is attached to the first pane and / or the second pane, to which at least a third pane is fastened. In an alternative embodiment, the insulating glazing comprises a double spacer with a groove, in the groove of which the third pane is inserted. The first and second panes rest on the pane contact surfaces. The first pane, the second pane and / or the third pane of the insulating glazing preferably contain glass, particularly preferably quartz glass, borosilicate glass, soda-lime glass and / or mixtures thereof. The first and / or second panes of the insulating glazing can also comprise thermoplastic polymeric panes. Thermoplastic polymeric panes preferably comprise polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate and / or copolymers and / or mixtures thereof.Additional panes of insulating glazing can have the same composition as mentioned for the first, second and third panes.

[0070] The first disc and the second disc preferably have a thickness of 2 mm to 50 mm, more preferably 2 mm to 10 mm, particularly preferably 4 mm to 6 mm, whereby both discs can also have different thicknesses.

[0071] The first pane, the second pane, and additional panes can be made of single-pane safety glass, thermally or chemically toughened glass, float glass, extra-clear low-iron float glass, tinted glass, or laminated safety glass containing one or more of these components. The panes can have any desired additional components or coatings, such as low-E coatings or other solar control coatings.

[0072] The outer space between the panes, defined by the first pane, the second pane, and the outer surface of the spacer, is at least partially, preferably completely, filled with an external sealant. This provides excellent mechanical stabilization of the edge seal.

[0073] The outer seal preferably contains polymers or silane-modified polymers, particularly preferably organic polysulfides, silicones, room temperature crosslinking (RTV) silicone rubber, peroxide-crosslinked silicone rubber and / or addition-crosslinked silicone rubber, polyurethanes and / or butyl rubber.

[0074] The sealant between the first pane contact surface and the first pane, or between the second pane contact surface and the second pane, preferably contains a polyisobutylene. The polyisobutylene can be a crosslinking or non-crosslinking polyisobutylene.

[0075] The insulating glazing is optionally filled with a protective gas, preferably a noble gas, such as argon or krypton, which reduces the heat transfer coefficient in the insulating glazing cavity. In principle, a wide variety of insulating glazing geometries are possible, for example, rectangular, trapezoidal, and rounded shapes. To create rounded geometries, the spacer can be bent while heated, for example.

[0076] At the corners of the insulating glazing, the spacers are connected to each other via corner connectors. Such corner connectors can be designed, for example, as a molded plastic part with a seal in which two spacers meet.

[0077] Alternatively, the spacers can also be directly connected to each other at the corners, for example by welding the adjacent spacers in the corner area. For example, the spacers are cut to a 45° angle and joined together using ultrasonic welding.

[0078] In a further preferred embodiment, the spacer is not cut at the corners of the glazing and connected at the required angle via corner connectors, but is bent into the corresponding corner geometry while heating.

[0079] A preferred method for producing an insulating glazing according to the invention comprises at least the following steps: a) providing spacers according to the invention, b) assembling a spacer frame from spacers according to the invention, c) attaching a first pane to the first pane contact surface of the spacer frame via a sealant, attaching a second pane to the second pane contact surface of the spacer frame via a sealant, d) optionally: attaching at least one further spacer frame to the first pane and / or the second pane and attaching a third and optionally further panes to the further spacer frame, e) pressing the pane arrangement, f) introducing an outer seal into the outer space between the panes.

[0080] The bonding of the panes at the pane contact surfaces according to step c) can be performed in any order. Optionally, the bonding of both panes at the pane contact surfaces can also be performed simultaneously. In step f), the outer space between the panes is at least partially, preferably completely, filled with an outer seal. The outer seal is preferably extruded directly into the outer space between the panes, for example, in the form of a plastic sealing compound.

[0081] Preferably, the glazing interior space between the panes is filled with a protective gas before the assembly is pressed together (step e)).

[0082] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. The drawings are purely schematic representations and not to scale. They do not limit the invention in any way. They show:

[0083] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the spacer according to the invention in cross section,

[0084] Figure 2a is a schematic representation of an insulating glazing with a spacer according to the invention in cross section,

[0085] Figure 2b shows the insulating glazing according to Figure 2a in plan view.

[0086] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the spacer 1 according to the invention, comprising a polymeric base body 5 with two pane contact surfaces 7.1 and 7.2, a glazing interior surface 8, an outer surface 9 and a hollow chamber 10. The outer surface 9 has an angled shape, wherein the angled sections 9a, 9b of the outer surface adjacent to the pane contact surfaces 7.1 and 7.2 are inclined at an angle of a=135° to the pane contact surfaces 7.1 and 7.2. A water- and vapor-tight barrier film (not shown) is applied to the outer surface 9, the angled sections of the outer surface 9a, 9b and optionally partial regions of the pane contact surfaces 7.1, 7.2 of the spacer 1, which reduces the heat transfer through the polymeric base body 5 into the glazing interior of an insulating glazing unit.The barrier film has three polymeric layers of polyethylene terephthalate with a thickness of 12 μm and three metallic layers of aluminum with a thickness of 50 nm. The metallic layers and the polymeric layers are applied alternately, with the layer of the barrier film facing the outer space between the panes of the insulating glazing when the spacer is installed being a metallic layer. The barrier film is adhesively bonded to the polymeric base body 5. The hollow chamber 10 is suitable for being filled with a desiccant. A transparent UV-protective layer 14 is applied to the glazing interior surface 8, which extends beyond the glazing interior surface 8 up to the pane contact surfaces 7.1, 7.2 and covers the pane contact surfaces 7.1, 7.2 up to half their height.The UV protection layer 14 is a coating comprising 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole as an organic UV absorber and a tetramethylpiperidine derivative as a radical scavenger. The UV protection layer 14 is applied using a plasma polymerization process. In a further embodiment, a UV protection layer 14 comprising an organic UV absorber is printed using an inkjet process. The printed UV protection layer 14 comprises pigments, at least in partial areas of the glazing interior surface 8, which produce a decorative imprint on the glazing interior surface 8. The glazing interior surface 8 of the spacer 1 has openings 12 arranged at regular intervals along the glazing interior surface 8 to enable gas exchange between the interior of the insulating glazing and the hollow chamber 10. Thus, any air humidity present in the interior is absorbed by the desiccant 11.The openings 12 are preferably designed as slots with a width of 0.2 mm and a length of 2 mm. The material thickness of the walls of the base body 5 is approximately uniform all the way around and is, for example, 1 mm.

[0087] Figures 2a and 2b show an insulating glazing 2 with the spacer 1 according to the invention as shown in Figure 1, wherein the UV protection layer and the gas and vapor-tight barrier film are not shown in detail. Figure 2a shows a cross-section of the insulating glazing 2, while Figure 2b shows a plan view. Figure 2b shows an overall view of the insulating glazing 2 as shown in Figure 2a. The spacers 1 are connected to one another at the corners of the insulating glazing 2 via corner connectors 17. The spacer 1 according to the invention is attached all the way around between a first pane 15 and a second pane 16 via a sealing means 4. The sealing means 4 connects the pane contact surfaces 7.1 and 7.2 of the spacer 1 to the panes 15 and 16. The hollow chamber 10 is filled with a desiccant 11. Molecular sieve is used as the desiccant 11.The glazing interior 3 adjacent to the glazing interior surface 8 of the spacer 1 is defined as the space delimited by the panes 15, 16 and the spacer 1. The outer interpane space 13 adjacent to the outer surface 9 of the spacer 1 is a strip-shaped, circumferential section of the glazing, which is delimited on one side by the two panes 15, 16 and on another side by the spacer 1, and whose fourth edge is open. The glazing interior 3 is filled with argon. A sealant 4 is inserted between each pane contact surface 7.1 or 7.2 and the adjacent pane 15 or 16, which seals the gap between the pane 15, 16 and the spacer 1. The sealant 4 is polyisobutylene. On the outer surface 9, an outer seal 6 is applied in the outer space 13 between the panes, which serves to bond the first pane 15 and the second pane 16. The outer seal 6 consists of.

[0088] Polysulfide. The outer seal 6 is flush with the edges of the first pane 15 and the second pane 16.

[0089] List of reference symbols

[0090] 1 spacer

[0091] 2 Insulated glazing

[0092] 3 Glazing interior

[0093] 4 Sealant

[0094] 5 polymer base body

[0095] 6 outer sealing

[0096] 7.1 first disc contact surface

[0097] 7.2 second disc contact surface

[0098] 8 Glazing interior area

[0099] 9 Exterior surface

[0100] 10 hollow chamber

[0101] 11 Desiccant

[0102] 12 openings

[0103] 13 outer space between panes

[0104] 14 UV protection layer

[0105] 15 first disc

[0106] 16 second disc

[0107] 17 corner connectors

Claims

Patent claims 1. Spacer (1) for insulating glazing, at least comprising a polymeric base body (5), at least comprising a first pane contact surface (7.1) and a second pane contact surface (7.2) opposite thereto, a glazing interior surface (8) and an outer surface (9) which extends beyond the first pane contact surface (7.1) and the second pane contact surface (7.2) are connected to one another, wherein at least the glazing interior surface (8) comprises a UV protection layer (14) which completely covers the glazing interior surface (8), wherein the UV protection layer (14) a) is a coating which comprises organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers, b) is a polymeric film, wherein the material of the polymeric base body (5) differs from the material of the UV protection layer (14), or c) is a polymeric layer, wherein the material of the polymeric base body (5) differs from the material of the UV protection layer (14), wherein the wall thickness of the polymeric base body (5) is between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

2. Spacer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the UV protection layer (14) reduces the transmission of UV radiation in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 320 nm, preferably by a total of at least 20%, particularly preferably by at least 30%, in particular by at least 50%.

3. Spacer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the UV protective layer (14) is transparent or opaque for radiation in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 780 nm.

4. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the UV protection layer (14) is a polymeric film and the polymeric film has a coating comprising organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers.

5. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the UV protection layer (14) is a polymeric layer and the polymeric layer has a coating comprising organic UV absorbers and / or radical scavengers.

6. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the organic UV absorber comprises 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazoles, (2-hydroxyphenyl)-s-triazines, hydroxybenzophenones and / or oxalanilides.

7. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the radical scavenger comprises hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), preferably derivatives of tetramethylpiperidine.

8. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the coating is a coating applied by means of a printing process, preferably by means of an inkjet printing process.

9. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 8, wherein the polymeric film comprises polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyetherimide (PEI) and / or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), wherein the polymeric film is applied to the polymeric base body (5) by gluing, welding or shrinking.

10. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 8, wherein the polymeric layer comprises polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyetherimide (PEI) and / or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and the polymeric layer is applied to the polymeric base body (5) by means of coextrusion.

11. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the polymeric base body (5) comprises a thermoplastic polymer, preferably polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or copolymers or mixtures thereof.

12. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a gas- and vapor-tight barrier film is applied at least to the outer surface (9) of the polymeric base body (5).

13. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the polymeric Base body (5) has a hollow chamber (10) which is Glazing interior surface (8), the exterior surface (9), the first disc contact surface (7.1) and the second disc contact surface (7.2).

14. Spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a plurality of openings (12) are provided in the glazing interior surface (8).

15. Insulating glazing (2), at least comprising a spacer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, a first pane (15) and a second pane (16), wherein the first pane (15) is attached to the first pane contact surface (7.1) of the spacer (1) via a sealing means (4) and the second pane (16) is attached to the first pane contact surface (7.1) of the spacer (1) via a sealing means (4) is attached to the second disc contact surface (7.2) of the spacer (1).

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