Liquid crystal laminated glass having a polarizing plate, manufacturing method and vehicle including the same
By separating polarizing plates and using a high-pressure, low-temperature lamination process, the method addresses warpage and deformation issues in laminated car windows, ensuring stable transmittance and appearance, and enhancing adhesive strength.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025528213
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-11-14
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing laminated car windows with liquid crystal elements suffer from warpage and deformation due to thermal expansion coefficient differences between polarizing plates and film substrates, leading to permanent appearance defects, increased thickness, and limited transmittance adjustment range.
The method involves separating the upper and lower polarizing plates and film substrates, bonding them to glass layers, and using a liquid optically transparent adhesive to integrate the liquid crystal element, with a high-pressure, low-temperature lamination process to prevent warpage and defects.
This approach prevents compression of the liquid crystal element, avoids permanent defects, and achieves a wider transmittance adjustment range with improved adhesive strength, reducing the need for complex lamination adjustments and enhancing product reliability.
Smart Images

Figure 2025540008000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority from a Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on November 14, 2022, bearing application number 202211421271.5 and entitled "Liquid crystal laminated glass with polarizing plate, manufacturing method and vehicle including the same," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of automotive glass, and in particular to a liquid crystal laminated glass with a polarizer, a manufacturing method and a vehicle including the same. [Background technology]
[0003] Currently, laminated car windows with variable transmittance achieved using liquid crystals often employ guest-host liquid crystal elements. These elements are formed by laminating a polymer interlayer or by disposing and cross-linking a liquid optically transparent adhesive. Guest-host liquid crystal elements achieve transmittance adjustment by polarizing the liquid crystal molecules within the liquid crystal element, promoting the polarization of dichroic dye molecules. The other type is polarized liquid crystal elements, which often use flexible materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polycarbonate (PC) as the substrate. These liquid crystal elements have a linear polarizer on each side of the liquid crystal element, with the polarization directions perpendicular to each other. The liquid crystal element is sealed with a film substrate and a sealing joint, and the liquid crystal mixture, electrode layer, and alignment layer are installed inside. No dye molecules are contained within the liquid crystal element. Natural light becomes linearly polarized after passing through the first polarizer, and the liquid crystal molecules rotate under the influence of an electric field to adjust the polarization direction of the incident light. According to Malus' law, the transmittance is proportional to the square of the cosine of the included angle between the polarization direction of the light incident on the second polarizing plate and the polarization direction of the polarizing plate. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] Currently, there are roughly three common implementations of laminated car windows that include liquid crystal elements with variable transmittance: a. A liquid crystal element is placed between two layers of glass (one of which is laminated glass) by applying a liquid optically transparent adhesive and then crosslinking and curing it (for example, Chinese Patent Publication CN112351883A) b. First, a liquid crystal element, a polymer interlayer, and glass are bonded together to form a laminated assembly, and then a liquid optically transparent adhesive is applied and cross-linked to harden the laminated assembly to form a laminated car window (e.g., Chinese Patent Publication CN114585507A). c. Using adhesive materials to connect the liquid crystal element and the single-layer polarizer to the car window glass body to form a composite structure (e.g., Chinese Patent Publication CN110869837A)
[0005] The two above-mentioned embodiments a and b have in common that one or both sides of the liquid crystal element are in contact with a liquid optically transparent adhesive. The liquid optically transparent adhesive is in a liquid state before curing, has a relatively low viscosity (typically 100-6000 MPa.s, usually 200-2000 MPa.s), and has a relatively low hardness after curing (typically 40-60 Shore 00). Therefore, the force applied to the liquid crystal element before and after curing of the liquid optically transparent adhesive is relatively small, and is unlikely to cause permanent appearance defects during the curing process.
[0006] A polarizing plate is attached to the film substrate of a polarized flexible liquid crystal device. The polarizing plate is made of a different material from the film substrate, resulting in a certain difference in thermal expansion coefficient. Residual stress is also formed during the polarizing plate's manufacturing and packaging processes. For these reasons, polarized flexible liquid crystal device films are prone to expansion and warpage when exposed to heat or radiation. If the polarization directions of the upper and lower polarizers are perpendicular, the warpage directions on both sides of the polarized flexible liquid crystal device may be perpendicular to each other. Liquid optically transparent adhesives are soft after curing and therefore do not effectively restrict the expansion and warpage of the polarized flexible liquid crystal device itself. This expansion and warpage can cause thickness changes in nearby liquid crystal elements, leading to localized transmittance and color variations in the nearby liquid crystal. Since the warpage of the polarized flexible liquid crystal device itself is difficult to completely resolve after exposure to high temperatures or strong radiation, some of the defects in the liquid crystal device's appearance remain, resulting in permanent appearance issues. Severe deformation can lead to localized liquid crystal defects in the liquid crystal device, fracture of the film substrate, and even permanent loss of the transmittance adjustment function.
[0007] Method A requires at least three layers of glass, significantly increasing the thickness and weight of the product and contradicting the traditional environmental protection concepts of lightweighting the vehicle and reducing energy consumption. Method B uses lamination to bond the LCD panel to the glass. Conventional automotive glass lamination processes typically require high temperatures of over 130°C and pressures of over 1 MPa. Because the liquid crystal and dye molecules in conventional LCD panels are highly sensitive to the cell thickness and processing temperature of the panel, processing temperatures of over 100°C and pressures of over 0.1 MPa often result in localized, irreversible defects in the LCD panel's appearance during the lamination process. To solve this problem, special materials such as low-temperature EVA and TPU are typically used in the lamination process for curved glass. Even with low-temperature materials, temperatures of over 100°C and pressures of over 0.1 MPa are often required to produce a uniform, transparent, and bubble-free laminated car window. This typically requires the development and testing of new, specialized materials, complex process adjustments, and longer lamination times. Low-temperature, low-pressure lamination processes can lead to problems such as reduced adhesive strength and insufficient gas removal, potentially affecting product reliability. The inventor's experiments demonstrated that lamination at temperatures below 110°C and a pressure of 1 bar can easily result in the formation of large amounts of air bubbles between the common polymer adhesive layer material, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), and the liquid crystal element after high-temperature testing. In the C-type, the liquid crystal element is connected to the inner or outer layer of the car window glass via an adhesive layer, and a single polarizer is placed between the liquid crystal element and the inner or outer layer of the car window glass. To achieve a shading effect, the liquid crystal element in the C-type must have polarization properties so that it can be combined with a polarizer to achieve the shading effect. In practical applications, the polarization degree of a liquid crystal element with polarization properties is limited; that is, natural light is not completely linearly polarized after being filtered by the liquid crystal element. This results in a high dark-state transmittance for a liquid crystal element with a single polarizer, or a narrow overall transmittance adjustment range. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] The present invention aims to provide a laminated liquid crystal glass with a polarizing plate, a manufacturing method, and a vehicle including the same. In this invention, the upper and lower polarizing plate layers and film substrate of a polarized liquid crystal element are separated and bonded to the upper and lower glass layers, respectively, and then integrated with the liquid crystal element sealed with the film substrate to form a laminated car window glass. This avoids localized transmittance or color unevenness (unevenness) in the liquid crystal element due to factors such as the thermal expansion coefficient between the polarizing plate and the film substrate and original stress, as well as permanent defects in the liquid crystal element, such as defects in the appearance, liquid crystal defects, and air bubbles, due to the temperature and pressure required in the lamination process.
[0009] To achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical solutions.
[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, bonding the upper polarizer and the upper glass to form an upper laminate; bonding the lower polarizer and the lower glass to form a lower laminate; an integration step of forming the liquid crystal laminated glass by disposing a liquid optically transparent adhesive and crosslinking and curing it to interpose a liquid crystal element sealed with a film substrate having no polarizing plate between the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member; The present invention provides a method for producing a liquid crystal laminated glass having a polarizing plate, comprising the steps of:
[0011] In the manufacturing method of the present invention, the two polarizing plates and the film substrate of the liquid crystal element are separated and the gap is filled with a liquid optically transparent adhesive, so that even if the polarizing plates expand or warp due to heat or irradiation, the liquid crystal element will not be compressed and its appearance will not be deteriorated. Furthermore, by using a liquid optically transparent adhesive lamination process, permanent appearance defects or other defects in the liquid crystal element due to the temperature and pressure required in the lamination process can be avoided.
[0012] According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the liquid optically transparent adhesive may preferably be one or more types selected from materials such as acrylic, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polyurethane (PU), silicone resin, and epoxy resin.
[0013] According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the process of forming the upper laminate member preferably includes stacking an upper glass, a first polymer interlayer, an upper polarizer, a first barrier layer, and a first back glass in that order to form a laminate structure, fixing the relative positions of the layers and then placing them in a vacuum bag to laminate them using a low-temperature, high-pressure process, and removing the vacuum bag and the first barrier layer and first back glass after lamination, so as to leave an upper laminate member consisting of the upper glass, the first polymer interlayer, and the upper polarizer. During this process, the first polymer interlayer shrinks inward by 1 to 10 mm relative to the glass edge to allow for later placement of an edge sealant.
[0014] According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the process of forming the lower laminate member preferably includes stacking a lower glass, a second polymer interlayer, a lower polarizer, a second barrier layer, and a second back glass in that order to form a laminate structure, fixing the relative positions of the layers and then placing them in a vacuum bag to laminate them using a low-temperature, high-pressure process, and removing the vacuum bag and the second barrier layer and second back glass after lamination, so as to leave a lower laminate member consisting of the lower glass, the second polymer interlayer, and the lower polarizer. During this process, the second polymer interlayer shrinks inward by 1 to 10 mm relative to the glass edge to allow for later placement of an edge sealant.
[0015] In the process of forming the upper and lower laminates, the polarizer is bonded to the glass using a polymer interlayer and lamination process. The use of high pressure avoids the need for complex lamination process adjustments and the problems associated with low-pressure processes, such as reduced adhesive strength and insufficient gas removal. This process is more compatible with the original production line and operators. Preferably, the low-temperature, high-pressure process used for lamination involves a pressure of 10 bar or more, e.g., 10-13 bar, and a temperature between 110°C and 80°C.
[0016] Furthermore, the strong adhesion formed during the lamination process of the upper and lower lamination members effectively prevents the polarizer from expanding and warping, and the polymer interlayer effectively blocks ultraviolet rays from sunlight, protecting the internal liquid crystal element.
[0017] When manufacturing upper and lower laminated components, the use of a backing glass ensures the smoothness of the surface of the polymer interlayer, and the use of a barrier layer ensures that the backing glass can be easily removed after lamination. The barrier layer, with its smooth and even surface, ensures the smoothness and flatness of the surface of the polymer interlayer during the lamination process. Furthermore, because organic solvents can damage some polymer interlayers, it is important to avoid washing the surface of the polymer interlayer as much as possible, or to avoid washing it too frequently. Therefore, the barrier layer is not temporarily removed in subsequent processes to continue protecting the polymer interlayer from contamination.
[0018] According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the material of the barrier layer is preferably selected from PET, nylon, siloxane, Teflon (registered trademark), etc. The barrier layer may be a single layer or multiple layers, and the size of the barrier layer should be at least equal to or larger than the outer size of the glass.
[0019] According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the materials for the first and second polymer interlayers are preferably selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylic ester, polyvinyl chloride, polyacetate resin, acrylic ester, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyvinyl fluoride, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, and cycloolefin copolymer (COC). By selecting the materials and components of the polymer interlayers, it is possible to provide the glass with mechanical strength and various functions such as sound insulation, infrared and ultraviolet blocking, and coloring.
[0020] According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the specific process of the integration preferably includes sandwiching the liquid crystal element between the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member so as to embed it inside the liquid optically transparent adhesive, and after curing the liquid optically transparent adhesive, bonding the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member via the liquid optically transparent adhesive to form the liquid crystal laminated glass.
[0021] According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, preferably, before the integration, a peripheral seal member is provided on the edge of the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member so as to maintain a predetermined distance when the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member are bonded together with the liquid optically transparent adhesive, and the peripheral seal member is provided in advance with an opening for injecting the liquid optically transparent adhesive during integration.
[0022] Alternatively, a liquid optically transparent adhesive is first placed on the upper or lower laminate member, and the liquid crystal element is embedded in it.The upper and lower laminate members are then bonded together, and after the liquid optically transparent adhesive has hardened, a peripheral seal member is provided on the opposing edges of the upper and lower laminate members.
[0023] In one preferred embodiment, prior to the integration, a peripheral sealant is first provided between the peripheral region of the liquid crystal element and one of the upper and lower laminated members. The peripheral sealant may be a double-sided adhesive tape (e.g., 3M VMB series) having a relatively uniform thickness, or a silicone- or polyurethane-based structural adhesive may be used to form a tape having a predetermined thickness and width. Alternatively, both a double-sided adhesive tape having a uniform thickness and a structural adhesive may be used. The peripheral sealant has a width of 1 to 10 mm and a height of 0.1 to 2 mm. The peripheral sealant is provided with two or more openings for injecting the liquid optically transparent adhesive.
[0024] In another preferred embodiment, a liquid optically transparent adhesive is first placed on the surface of one layer of the upper and lower laminated members facing the liquid crystal element or on the surface of the liquid crystal element facing the laminated member, and then one layer of the upper and lower laminated members and the liquid crystal element are bonded together.After the liquid optically transparent adhesive has hardened, the bonding between one layer of the upper and lower laminated members and the liquid crystal element is completed.
[0025] After the liquid crystal element and one layer of the upper and lower laminate members are integrated, a peripheral sealant is applied to the internally contracted regions of the edge polymer interlayers of the upper and lower laminate members. The peripheral sealant may be a double-sided adhesive tape (e.g., 3M VMB series) with a relatively uniform thickness, or a silicone or polyurethane structural adhesive may be used to form an adhesive tape with a predetermined thickness and width. Alternatively, both a double-sided adhesive tape with a uniform thickness and a structural adhesive may be used. The peripheral sealant has a width of 1 to 10 mm and a height of 0.2 to 2 mm greater than the combined thickness of the liquid crystal element, upper and lower polarizers, and first and second polymer interlayers.
[0026] The peripheral seal mainly connects the upper and lower laminated members and, together with the upper and lower laminated members, forms a sealed structure with an internal space of a predetermined height to prevent external particles, water vapor, liquid, etc. from entering the sealed structure. The peripheral seal may be installed to be opaque black, or a transparent material that can block UV rays may be selected to prevent deterioration of the liquid crystal element due to UV rays entering the product through the glass edge. The peripheral seal has an opening formed in advance in order to inject the liquid optically transparent adhesive during the integration process. After the injection of the liquid optically transparent adhesive is completed, the injection opening can be sealed using a secondary adhesive injection method.
[0027] In another preferred embodiment, after first integrating the liquid crystal element and one layer of the upper and lower laminate members, a barrier material such as polytetrafluoroethylene or siloxane may be disposed in the internal contraction region of the polymer interlayer of the upper and lower laminate members. The height of the barrier material is 0.2 to 2 mm greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the liquid crystal element, upper and lower polarizing plates, first polymer interlayer, and second polymer interlayer. Then, a liquid optically transparent adhesive is applied to the surface of the other layer or liquid crystal element in the upper and lower laminate members, the upper and lower laminate members are bonded, and the liquid optically transparent adhesive is cured, after which the barrier material is removed. A silicone-based or polyurethane-based structural adhesive is injected into the peripheral gap between the opposing upper and lower laminate members to install a peripheral seal member.
[0028] Another aspect of the present invention provides a liquid crystal laminated car window glass having a polarizing plate, which is obtained by the above-mentioned manufacturing method.
[0029] Specifically, the liquid crystal laminated car window glass includes an upper glass layer, a first polymer interlayer, an upper polarizing plate, a liquid optically transparent adhesive, a lower polarizing plate, a second polymer interlayer, and a lower glass layer, which are laminated in this order.
[0030] A liquid crystal element is embedded in the liquid optically transparent adhesive, and the upper polarizing plate, the liquid crystal element, and the lower polarizing plate are stacked in the stacking direction.
[0031] The liquid crystal element may be positioned in the middle between the upper and lower polarizers, or closer to one side, i.e., the thickness of the adhesive between the liquid crystal element and the upper and lower layers may be different. The adhesive on both sides is usually applied in two steps, and liquid optically transparent adhesives with different components may also be used.
[0032] The liquid crystal laminated glass further includes a peripheral seal member disposed on the peripheral edges of the upper and lower vehicle window glass, and both ends of the peripheral seal member are connected to the upper and lower vehicle window glass, respectively. [Effects of the Invention]
[0033] The beneficial effects of the present invention include the following:
[0034] 1) Conventional LCD laminated glass technology (e.g., the three implementations in the background art) often uses guest-host LCD elements, which generally have difficulty lowering transmittance below 1% (unless the bright-state transmittance is lowered to 15% or less) and suffer from high dark-state transmittance. Additionally, currently available guest-host LCD elements have issues such as a significantly increased response time (>10 seconds) at low temperatures, limiting their application in the passenger vehicle field. Polarized LCD elements, with upper and lower polarizers arranged perpendicular to each other, can easily achieve a transmittance below 1% while maintaining a bright-state transmittance of 30% or more, providing a more suitable transmittance adjustment range.
[0035] 2) The two layers of polarizing plates and the film substrate of the liquid crystal element are spaced apart, and the space between them is filled with a liquid optically transparent adhesive. Even if the polarizing plates expand or warp due to exposure to heat or radiation, the liquid crystal element will not be pressed, causing poor appearance or other defects.
[0036] 3) The polarizer is bonded to the glass using a polymer interlayer and lamination process. High pressure (over 10 bar) is used, eliminating the need for complex lamination process adjustments and the problems of poor adhesive strength and insufficient gas removal caused by low-pressure processes. This is a good fit for the original production line and production staff. Furthermore, the strong bond formed during the lamination process effectively prevents the polarizer from expanding and warping.
[0037] 4) The liquid crystal element can be attached using a liquid optically transparent adhesive lamination process, thereby avoiding permanent disfigurement or other defects to the liquid crystal element due to the temperature and pressure required in the lamination process.
[0038] 5) When manufacturing upper and lower laminated components, the use of a backing glass ensures the smoothness of the surface of the polymer interlayer, and the use of a barrier layer ensures that the backing glass can be easily removed after lamination. The barrier layer, which has a smooth and even surface, ensures the smoothness and flatness of the surface of the polymer interlayer during the lamination process. Furthermore, the barrier layer is not temporarily removed in subsequent processes to protect the polymer interlayer from contamination.
[0039] 6) The polymer intermediate layer in the upper laminate member can effectively block ultraviolet rays in sunlight and protect the internal liquid crystal element.
[0040] 7) The peripheral seal member is directly connected to the upper and lower glass panes, which increases the adhesive strength between the upper and lower glass panes and can prevent, to some extent, product damage due to misalignment caused by external shear force. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0041] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of the process of forming upper and lower laminated members in the present invention [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of the structure of a liquid crystal laminated glass having a polarizing plate of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a liquid crystal laminated glass having a polarizing plate according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0042] In order to more clearly explain the present invention, the present invention will be further described below in combination with preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art should understand that the specific details described below are for illustrative purposes only, not for limiting purposes, and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0043] The main technical solution provided by the present invention is realized by the following process: the upper and lower polarizing plates and film substrate of a polarized liquid crystal element are separated, the upper polarizing plate and upper glass are laminated together via a first polymer interlayer to form an upper laminated member, the lower polarizing plate and lower glass are laminated together via a second polymer interlayer to form a lower laminated member, and a liquid optically transparent adhesive is applied and cured to integrate the liquid crystal element without upper and lower polarizing plates with the upper and lower laminated members to form a multi-layer liquid crystal laminated glass.
[0044] In the present invention, the two-layer polarizing plate and the film substrate of the liquid crystal element are separated, and the gap is filled with a liquid optically transparent adhesive. Even if the polarizing plate warps due to heat or radiation, the liquid crystal element will not be compressed and its appearance will not be deteriorated. Furthermore, by using a liquid optically transparent adhesive lamination process, the liquid crystal element can avoid permanent unevenness or other defects in the liquid crystal element due to the temperature and pressure required in the lamination process. Furthermore, the strong adhesion formed during the lamination process of the upper and lower lamination members can effectively suppress the tendency of the polarizing plate to warp.
[0045] The manufacturing method of the present invention mainly includes: bonding the upper polarizer and the upper glass to form an upper laminate; bonding the lower polarizer and the lower glass to form a lower laminate; an integration step of forming the liquid crystal laminated glass by interposing a liquid crystal element sealed with a film substrate having no polarizing plate between the upper laminated member and the lower laminated member by disposing and curing a liquid optically transparent adhesive; Includes.
[0046] Here, the liquid optically transparent adhesive (liquid optically transparent adhesive) may be one or more types selected from materials such as acrylic, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polyurethane (PU), silicone resin, and epoxy resin.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, the upper and lower laminated members may be formed by the following process.
[0048] A laminated structure is formed by stacking glass 1, polymer interlayer 2, polarizer 3, barrier layer 4, and back glass 5 in this order. After their relative positions are fixed, they are placed in a vacuum bag and laminated using a low-temperature, high-pressure (10 bar or higher) process. After lamination, the vacuum bag is removed and the barrier layer 4 and back glass 5 are removed, leaving behind a laminated structure consisting of glass 1, polymer interlayer 2, and polarizer 3, which becomes the upper or lower laminate member. During this process, the polymer interlayer shrinks inward by 1 to 10 mm relative to the glass edge to allow for later placement of an edge sealant.
[0049] In the process of forming the upper and lower laminated members, the polarizer 3 is bonded to the glass 1 using the polymer interlayer 2 and lamination process. By using high pressure (10 bar or higher), it is possible to avoid the need for complex lamination process adjustments, as well as problems such as reduced adhesive strength and insufficient gas removal that can occur with low-pressure processes. This method is more compatible with the original production line and operators. Preferably, the low-temperature, high-pressure process used for lamination uses a pressure of 10 bar or higher, e.g., 10-13 bar, and a temperature between 110°C and 80°C.
[0050] The material of the barrier layer 4 is preferably selected from PET, nylon, Teflon, etc. The barrier layer 4 may be a single layer or multiple layers, and the size of the barrier layer 4 should be at least equal to or larger than the outer size of the glass 1. For example, the barrier layer in FIG. 1 includes a first barrier layer 41 and a second barrier layer 42. Here, the first barrier layer 41 may form a semi-enveloping structure to enclose and fix the laminated structure of the glass 1, the polymer interlayer 2, and the polarizer 3.
[0051] The polymer interlayer material can be selected from the following polymers: polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylic ester, polyvinyl chloride, polyacetate resin, acrylic ester, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyvinyl fluoride, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, and cycloolefin copolymer (COC). By selecting the appropriate materials and components for the polymer interlayer, the glass can be given mechanical strength and various functions, such as sound insulation, infrared and ultraviolet blocking, and coloring.
[0052] When manufacturing a laminated member, the use of the back glass 5 ensures the flatness of the surface of the polymer interlayer 2, and the use of the barrier layer 4 ensures that the back glass 5 can be smoothly removed after lamination. The barrier layer 4, which has a flat and smooth surface, ensures the smoothness and flatness of the surface of the polymer interlayer 2 during the lamination process. Furthermore, because organic solvents may damage some of the polymer interlayer 2, it is necessary to wash the surface of the polymer interlayer 2 as little as possible or not wash it frequently. Therefore, the barrier layer 4 is not temporarily removed in subsequent processes to continue to protect the polymer interlayer 2 from contamination.
[0053] A specific upper laminate member may be formed by the following process.
[0054] The top glass, first polymer interlayer, top polarizer, first barrier layer, and first back glass are stacked in this order to form a laminate structure. After the relative positions are fixed, the components are placed in a vacuum bag and laminated using a low-temperature, high-pressure (10 bar or higher) process. After lamination, the vacuum bag is removed, and the first barrier layer and first back glass are removed, leaving behind the bottom laminate consisting of the top glass, first polymer interlayer, and top polarizer. During this process, the first polymer interlayer shrinks inward by 1 to 10 mm relative to the glass edges to allow for later placement of an edge sealant.
[0055] A specific lower laminate member may be formed by the following process.
[0056] The laminated structure is formed by stacking the bottom glass, second polymer interlayer, bottom polarizer, second barrier layer, and second back glass in this order. After the relative positions are fixed, the laminate is placed in a vacuum bag and laminated using a low-temperature, high-pressure (10 bar or higher) process. After lamination, the vacuum bag is removed, and the second barrier layer and second back glass are removed, leaving the bottom laminate consisting of the bottom glass, second polymer interlayer, and bottom polarizer. During this process, the second polymer interlayer shrinks inward by 1 to 10 mm relative to the glass edge to allow for later placement of the edge sealant.
[0057] The specific process for integrating the upper and lower laminated members includes sandwiching a liquid crystal element between the upper and lower laminated members so as to embed it inside the liquid optically transparent adhesive, curing the liquid optically transparent adhesive, and then bonding the upper and lower laminated members via the liquid optically transparent adhesive to form a multi-layer liquid crystal laminated glass.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal laminated glass with polarizer obtained after integration includes an upper glass layer 11, a first polymer interlayer 21, an upper polarizer 31, a liquid optically transparent adhesive 6, a lower polarizer 32, a second polymer interlayer 22, and a lower glass layer 12, which are laminated in this order.
[0059] The liquid crystal element 7 is embedded in the liquid optically transparent adhesive 6, and the upper polarizing plate 31, the liquid crystal element 7 and the lower polarizing plate 32 are stacked in the stacking direction.
[0060] As shown in Figure 3, the LCD laminated glass with a polarizer further includes a peripheral sealant 8, which is disposed around the periphery of the liquid optically transparent adhesive 6, and both ends of the peripheral sealant 8 are connected to the upper glass 11 and the lower glass 12, respectively. The inner edge is connected to the first polymer interlayer 21, the second polymer interlayer 22, and the optically transparent adhesive 6. The peripheral sealant 8 is directly connected to the upper and lower glass panes, increasing the adhesive strength between the upper and lower glass panes and, to some extent, preventing product damage due to misalignment caused by external shear forces.
[0061] In one preferred embodiment, before the integration, a peripheral seal member 8 is provided on the edges of the upper and lower laminate members so as to maintain a predetermined distance when the upper and lower laminate members are bonded together with the liquid optically transparent adhesive. The peripheral seal member 8 is provided in advance with an opening through which the liquid optically transparent adhesive is injected and cured to form the liquid optically transparent adhesive 6 when the members are integrated.
[0062] In another preferred embodiment, a liquid optically transparent adhesive is first placed on the upper or lower laminate member, and the liquid crystal element 7 is then embedded therein.The upper and lower laminate members are then bonded together, and the liquid optically transparent adhesive hardens to form a liquid optically transparent adhesive 6. After that, a peripheral seal member 8 is provided on the opposing peripheries of the upper and lower laminate members.
[0063] The peripheral seal member 8 mainly connects the upper and lower laminated members and, together with the upper and lower laminated members, forms a sealed structure with an internal space of a predetermined height, preventing external particles, water vapor, liquid, etc. from entering the sealed structure. The peripheral seal member 8 may be installed to be black and opaque, or a transparent material that can block UV rays may be selected to prevent deterioration of the liquid crystal element due to UV rays entering the product through the glass edge. The peripheral seal member 8 is pre-formed with an opening for injecting the liquid optically transparent adhesive during integration. After the liquid optically transparent adhesive has been injected, the injection opening can be sealed using a secondary adhesive injection method.
[0064] Specific installation processes of the peripheral seal member 8 include, for example, the following several methods.
[0065] 1) Prior to the integration, a peripheral seal member 8 is first provided between the peripheral region of the liquid crystal element 7 and one of the upper and lower laminated members. The peripheral seal member 8 may be a double-sided adhesive tape (e.g., 3M VMB series) having a relatively uniform thickness, or a silicone- or polyurethane-based structural adhesive may be used to form a tape having a predetermined thickness and width. Alternatively, both a double-sided adhesive tape having a uniform thickness and a structural adhesive may be used. The peripheral seal member has a width of 1 to 10 mm and a height of 0.1 to 2 mm. Two or more openings are pre-formed in the peripheral seal member for injecting the liquid optically transparent adhesive.
[0066] 2) A liquid optically transparent adhesive 6 may be first placed on the surface of one layer of the upper and lower laminated members facing the liquid crystal element 7 or on the surface of the liquid crystal element 7 facing the laminated member, and then one layer of the upper and lower laminated members and the liquid crystal element 7 may be bonded together. After the liquid optically transparent adhesive 6 has hardened, the bonding between one layer of the upper and lower laminated members and the liquid crystal element 7 may be completed.
[0067] After the liquid crystal element 7 and one layer of the upper and lower laminate members are integrated, a peripheral seal member 8 is provided in the internally contracted regions of the edge polymer interlayer 2 of the upper and lower laminate members. The peripheral seal member 8 may be a double-sided adhesive tape (e.g., 3M VMB series) with a relatively uniform thickness, or a silicone- or polyurethane-based structural adhesive may be used to form a tape with a predetermined thickness and width. Alternatively, both a double-sided adhesive tape with a uniform thickness and a structural adhesive may be used. The width of the peripheral seal member 8 is 1 to 10 mm, and its height is 0.2 to 2 mm greater than the combined thickness of the liquid crystal element 7, upper and lower polarizers 31 and 32, and first and second polymer interlayers 21 and 22.
[0068] 3) After first integrating the liquid crystal element 7 and one layer of the upper and lower laminate members, a barrier material such as polytetrafluoroethylene or siloxane is disposed in the internal contraction region of the polymer intermediate layer 2 of the upper and lower laminate members, as needed. The height of the barrier material is 0.2 to 2 mm greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the liquid crystal element, upper and lower polarizers, first polymer intermediate layer, and second polymer intermediate layer. Then, a liquid optically transparent adhesive 6 is applied to other layers of the upper and lower laminate members or to the surface of the liquid crystal element 7, and the upper and lower laminate members are bonded together. After the liquid optically transparent adhesive 6 has hardened, the barrier material is removed. A silicone-based or polyurethane-based structural adhesive is injected into the peripheral gap between the opposing upper and lower laminate members to install a peripheral seal member 8.
[0069] In the LCD laminated glass shown in Figures 2 and 3 obtained by this invention, 1) the two layers of polarizer and the film substrate of the LCD device are separated, and the gap is filled with a liquid optically transparent adhesive. Even if the polarizer warps due to heat or radiation, the LCD device will not be compressed and cause unevenness. 2) The polarizer is bonded to the glass using a polymer interlayer and a lamination process. The use of high pressure (10 bar or more) avoids the need for complicated lamination process adjustments and problems such as reduced adhesive strength and insufficient gas removal caused by low-pressure processes, and is more compatible with the original production line and workers. In addition, the strong bond formed during the lamination process of the upper and lower laminated members effectively suppresses the tendency of the polarizer to warp. 3) The LCD device uses a liquid optically transparent adhesive lamination process, which avoids permanent unevenness or other defects in the LCD device due to the temperature and pressure required in the lamination process. 4) When manufacturing the upper and lower laminated members, the use of a backing glass ensures the smoothness of the surface of the polymer interlayer, and the use of a barrier layer ensures that the backing glass can be easily removed after lamination. The barrier layer, which has a smooth and even surface, ensures the smoothness and flatness of the surface of the polymer interlayer during the lamination process. Furthermore, the barrier layer does not need to be temporarily removed in subsequent processes, as it continues to protect the polymer interlayer from contamination. 5) The polymer interlayer in the upper laminated member effectively blocks ultraviolet rays from sunlight, protecting the internal liquid crystal element.
[0070] Obviously, the above examples of the present invention are merely given as examples to clearly explain the present invention, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art may make other different forms of changes or modifications based on the above description, and it is not possible to cover all embodiments here. Any obvious changes or modifications brought about by the technical solutions of the present invention are within the protection scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]
[0071] 1. Glass 11 Upper Glass 12 Lower Glass 2. Polymer interlayer 21 First polymer interlayer 22 Second Polymer Interlayer 3 Polarizing Plate 31 Upper polarizing plate 32 Lower polarizer 4 Barrier Layer 41 First Barrier Layer 42 Second Barrier Layer 5 Rear window 6. Liquid optically transparent adhesive 7 Liquid crystal elements 8 Peripheral seal member
Claims
1. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal laminated glass having a polarizing plate, comprising: bonding the upper polarizer and the upper glass to form an upper laminate; bonding the lower polarizer and the lower glass to form a lower laminate; an integration step of forming the liquid crystal laminated glass by disposing and curing a liquid optically transparent adhesive to interpose a liquid crystal element sealed with a film substrate having no polarizing plate between the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member; Including, A manufacturing method characterized by:
2. The process of forming the upper laminated member includes: forming a laminate structure by stacking an upper glass, a first polymer interlayer, an upper polarizer, a first barrier layer, and a first back glass in that order; After fixing the relative positions, the laminate is placed in a vacuum bag and laminated by a low-temperature, high-pressure process; removing the vacuum bag after lamination to remove the first barrier layer and the first back glass, so as to leave an upper laminate member consisting of the upper glass, the first polymer interlayer, and the upper polarizer; Including, The manufacturing method according to claim 1 .
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the low-temperature, high-pressure process used for lamination has a pressure of 10 bar or more and a temperature between 110°C and 80°C.
4. The process of forming the lower laminated member includes: forming a laminate structure by stacking a bottom glass, a second polymer interlayer, a bottom polarizer, a second barrier layer, and a second back glass in that order; After fixing the relative positions, the laminate is placed in a vacuum bag and laminated by a low-temperature, high-pressure process; removing the vacuum bag after lamination to remove the second barrier layer and the second back glass, so as to leave a lower laminate member consisting of the lower glass, the second polymer interlayer, and the lower polarizer; Including, The manufacturing method according to claim 1 .
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the low-temperature, high-pressure process used for lamination has a pressure of 10 bar or more and a temperature between 110°C and 80°C.
6. The specific process of the integration is as follows: sandwiching the liquid crystal element between the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member so as to be embedded in a liquid optically transparent adhesive; After curing the liquid optically transparent adhesive, the upper laminated member and the lower laminated member are bonded together via the liquid optically transparent adhesive to form the liquid crystal laminated glass; Including, The manufacturing method according to claim 1 .
7. Before the integration, a peripheral seal member is provided on the edge of the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member so as to maintain a predetermined distance when the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member are bonded by the liquid optically transparent adhesive, and an opening is provided in advance in the peripheral seal member for injecting the liquid optically transparent adhesive at the time of integration. The manufacturing method according to claim 6 .
8. A liquid optically transparent adhesive is first placed on the upper laminate member or the lower laminate member, and the liquid crystal element is then fitted in. Thereafter, the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member are bonded together, and after the liquid optically transparent adhesive has hardened, a peripheral seal member is provided on the opposing peripheral edges of the upper laminate member and the lower laminate member. The manufacturing method according to claim 6 .
9. A liquid crystal laminated glass having a polarizing plate, characterized in that the liquid crystal laminated glass is obtained by the manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. The liquid crystal laminated glass includes an upper glass layer, a first polymer interlayer, an upper polarizing plate, a liquid optically transparent adhesive, a lower polarizing plate, a second polymer interlayer, and a lower glass layer, which are laminated in this order; a liquid crystal element is embedded in the liquid optically transparent adhesive, and the upper polarizing plate, the liquid crystal element, and the lower polarizing plate are stacked in the stacking direction; A liquid crystal laminated glass comprising the polarizing plate according to claim 9.
11. The liquid crystal laminated glass further includes a peripheral seal member, the peripheral seal member being provided on the peripheral edge of the liquid optically transparent adhesive, and both ends of the peripheral seal member being connected to the upper glass and the lower glass, respectively. A liquid crystal laminated glass comprising the polarizing plate according to claim 10.
12. A vehicle comprising a liquid crystal laminated glass having the polarizing plate according to any one of claims 9 to 11.
Citation Information
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