Composite laminate for transparent diffuse reflecting elements
The composite laminate with a sacrificial organic polymer support simplifies manufacturing of transparent layered elements with diffuse reflectivity by enabling flexible substrate selection and avoiding defects, addressing the challenges of complex processing and chemical incompatibility.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SAINT-GOBAIN SAFETY GLASS CO FRANCE
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for manufacturing transparent layered elements with diffuse reflectivity face challenges such as complex surface texture processing, chemical incompatibility between substrates and dielectric layers, and limited substrate combinations, leading to increased costs and potential defects like wrinkles.
A composite laminate comprising an organic polymer support with a dielectric layer and a transparent organic polymer substrate, where the adhesive energy between the dielectric layer and the support is lower than that between the dielectric layer and the substrate, allowing for the dielectric layer to be transferred and bonded to the substrate without additional surface treatment, enabling flexible substrate selection and simplified manufacturing.
This approach simplifies the manufacturing process, increases substrate compatibility, and maintains optical performance by allowing for a wider range of substrate combinations while avoiding defects, thus enhancing the production of transparent layered elements with diffuse reflectivity.
Smart Images

Figure 0003256177000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] This invention relates to a composite laminate that makes it possible to obtain a transparent layered element having diffuse reflection, which can be used for aesthetic glazing and / or anti-reflective glazing, or even for transparent projection screens. [Background technology]
[0002] Examples of applications for diffuse reflection include building facade glazing, urban development, and vehicles used to provide certain aesthetic or anti-reflective effects. In facade glazing, diffuse reflection can significantly reduce the risk of glare induced by the reflection of light from the headlights of vehicles in front. This improves driver safety and comfort.
[0003] Another application of diffuse reflection is glazing used in transparent projection screens. These transparent projection screens allow the display of information within the operator's field of view to be superimposed onto the environment the operator is observing through the screen. They generally take the form of glazing with diffuse reflection. In vehicles, they are particularly known in the form of head-up collimators (HUDs or head-up displays), which allow the driver to see information such as the vehicle's speed or the direction of the journey to be followed directly on the windshield without having to avert their eyes. It can also be used in public or private spaces to display information with an aesthetically pleasing transparency effect.
[0004] One technique underlying these glazings generally consists of specific elements including a rough or textured interface placed between two transparent substrates with substantially equivalent refractive indices. A reflective layer or a layer with a higher refractive index than the two transparent substrates can be placed at this interface. Diffuse reflection is caused by a combination of the texture and the change in refractive index at the interface between the two transparent substrates.
[0005] A projection screen with this type of glazing works as follows: When a light image is projected onto the screen's surface, some of the light passes through the screen, while other light is reflected by the rough or textured interface. The reflected light forms an image superimposed on the environment observed within the observer's field of view. To achieve this effect, the glazing needs to have a high level of transparency so that the observer can see through it, and a sufficient level of diffuse reflectance so that the projected image can be displayed. Generally, these glazings require a level of transparency or transmittance of at least 95%, and a level of blurring of less than 20%, or even less than 10%.
[0006] International Publication No. 2012 / 104547 describes a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity comprising two transparent substrates (organic or inorganic) with substantially equivalent refractive indices, between which a dielectric layer having a refractive index higher than that of the substrates is placed. The surfaces of each of the two adjacent layers are textured and parallel to each other.
[0007] International Publication No. 03 / 074270 also describes a transparent layered element with diffuse reflectivity. This transparent layered element is very similar to that in International Publication No. 2012 / 104547. However, the dielectric layer is replaced with a metal layer, which is placed between the two substrates.
[0008] Other examples of transparent layered elements with diffuse reflectivity are described in International Publication Nos. 2014 / 135892, 2016 / 009271, and 2012 / 003027. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0009] These layered elements of the latest technology exhibit several drawbacks.
[0010] Firstly, surface texture processing requires specific surface treatment operations that must be performed upstream of the assembly process. For example, in the case of substrates made of mineral glass, these operations generally include chemical attack or roll-press process-based thermal embossing. In the case of organic substrates, these operations generally include high-temperature or low-temperature embossing operations. These additional operations can complicate existing assembly methods and increase manufacturing costs.
[0011] Some substrates are unsuitable for depositing dielectric layers onto their surfaces due to chemical incompatibility between the substrate material and the dielectric layer material, incompatibility with the dielectric layer deposition method, or a combination of both. However, some substrates are suitable for dielectric layer deposition but are not as suitable for applications requiring transparent layered elements with diffuse reflection. It is also possible to combine a first substrate suitable for deposition with a second substrate unsuitable for deposition, thereby giving the second substrate a functional purpose. In this case, the first substrate may suffer from problems with mechanical toughness and / or chemical durability.
[0012] For example, in the case of lamination glazing, PET and PMMA-based substrates are suitable for deposition of dielectric layers by cathode sputtering. However, their mechanical and chemical properties often make them unsuitable for roll pressing in lamination glazing. They may react with other organic layers used, or even have thermomechanical behavior unsuitable for roll pressing methods. For example, defects in the form of wrinkles may appear when forming the glazing. As for PVB-based materials commonly used in lamination glazing, only some of them are compatible with dielectric layer deposition compositions and methods.
[0013] Therefore, the number of combinations between the composition of the substrate and the composition of the dielectric layer is limited to obtain a transparent layered element with diffuse reflectivity according to the desired application.
[0014] There is also a method of moving a dielectric layer between substrates. An example is described in U.S. Patent No. 6365284. This is a method that enables the movement of a dielectric layer from a PET substrate to the smooth and untextured surface of a PVB substrate in order to form an overall transparent layer-like element without wrinkles or orange peel type geometric defects at the interface. This method does not enable the formation of a transparent layer-like element having an interface with diffusive reflection characteristics.
[0015] Therefore, whatever the application required for a transparent layer-like element with a likely diffusive reflection obtained, a flexible solution is needed to benefit from the technical advantages of any substrate suitable for the deposition of the dielectric layer. Such a solution also makes it possible to avoid specifically designing a manufacturing method for a specific transparent layer-like element having diffusive reflection, or even to avoid significant changes to existing methods when changes to the transparent substrate or the dielectric layer are required in the layer-like element.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0016] The present invention makes it possible to meet this need. The subject of the present invention is a composite laminate that can be used to obtain a transparent element with diffusive reflection. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a composite laminate and a method of manufacturing a laminated intermediate layer for glazing implementing such a composite laminate.
[0017] In the present invention, the following definitions are used.
[0018] The dielectric layer is considered to be a layer with low electrical conductivity, typically a layer with less than 100 S / m.
[0019] It is understood that two layers have different refractive indices when the absolute value of the difference in their refractive indices at 550 nm is greater than 0.15.
[0020] The term "transparent", when applied to a layer, substrate or glazing, is used to define a layer, substrate or glazing through which at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation passes or is transmitted in a useful wavelength range so that an object can be clearly identified through said element in the useful wavelength range required for the intended application.
[0021] For a given range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, the level of transmittance or transparency of a layer, substrate or glazing can be defined in the form of a ratio of intensities calculated according to the following steps: (a) Calculate the difference in intensities as follows - The intensity of radiation passing through the layer in a given direction within a first solid angle, where the first solid angle is defined by a first right circular cone with a rotation axis in the given direction and a half-angle at the apex of less than 0.7°, and the apex of the first cone is located on the surface of the layer through which the electromagnetic radiation passes, - The intensity of radiation passing through a second solid angle, where the second solid angle is defined by a second right circular cone with a rotation axis in the angular direction and a half-angle at the apex of between 0.7° and 2°, and the apex of the second cone coincides with the apex of the first cone (b) Calculate the ratio of the difference obtained in step (a) to the total intensity of electromagnetic radiation transmitted over all solid angles defined by a right circular cone with a rotation axis in the said direction and a half-angle at the apex of between 0° and 2°.
[0022] If this ratio is equal to at least 0.8, and more preferably 0.9, the layer is generally considered to be transparent.
[0023] A textured surface is understood to mean a surface or surface in which the geometric dimensions of its relief are greater than the wavelengths within the effective range of incident radiation on the surface. Generally, but not limited to, a typical example of a textured surface is a so-called rough surface, in which the arithmetic mean of the absolute values of the height and depth of the relief profile relative to the central plane of the relief is 1 μm to 1 mm. Alternatively, surface texture can also be defined as surface roughness characterized by a parameter Rz measured according to the standard ISO 4287:1997, with a value of 1 μm to 1 mm.
[0024] The adhesive energy between two surfaces is considered to be the energy required to separate them when they are bonded together by contact due to physicochemical adhesion phenomena. Adhesion or adhesive force corresponds to the force required to cause this separation.
[0025] The level of "blurring" or "haze" is understood to mean the proportion of electromagnetic radiation that penetrates the material and whose dispersion angle is greater than 2.5° with respect to the direction of incidence of the electromagnetic radiation. This definition corresponds to that of the standards ISO 14782 and ASTM D1003.
[0026] The expression "based on" used to limit a substance or layer with respect to what it contains means that the mass fraction of the components it contains is at least 50%, particularly at least 70%, and preferably at least 90%.
[0027] Whether used as a noun or a modifier, "light" is understood to refer to electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging from 380 nm to 800 nm, corresponding to the visible light spectrum.
[0028] Light transmittance and light reflectance are defined, measured, and calculated according to the standards EN 410 and ISO 9050. Color is defined according to IEC 1976 L * a * b* In the color space, measurements are taken in accordance with the standard ISO 11664, using an illuminant D65 and a standard observation field of view of 2°.
[0029] The proportion of "diffuse light" is thought to represent the proportion of light that is reflected by the surface of the material and whose dispersion angle is greater than 2.5° with respect to the direction of the incident light.
[0030] To make this invention easier to understand, the invention will be explained and illustrated with various diagrams, referring to the elements in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0031] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a composite laminate according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the method for manufacturing a composite laminate according to the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the method for manufacturing a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity from a composite laminate according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0032] The subject of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, is a composite laminate 1000, which includes the following: - An organic polymer support 1001 including an edge 1001c, a first main surface 1001a, and a second main surface 1001b; - Dielectric layer 1002 including a first main surface 1002a and a second main surface 1002b; - A first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 including an edge 1003c, a first main surface 1003a, and a second main surface 1003b; Here: - The first main surface 1002a of the dielectric layer 1002 is in contact with the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent polymer organic substrate 1003; - The second main surface 1002b of the dielectric layer 1002 is in contact with the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001; -The dielectric layer 1002 has a refractive index greater than that of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003; - The adhesive energy between the second main surface 1002b of the dielectric layer 1002 and the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 is smaller than the adhesive energy between the first main surface 1002a of the dielectric layer 1002 and the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003.
[0033] The composite laminate according to this invention has the advantage of simplifying the manufacture of reflective transparent layered elements. In particular, the organic polymer support 1001 is a sacrificial element whose function is to act as a support for the deposition of the dielectric layer before being transferred to the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 according to the method for manufacturing a diffusely reflective layered element described below. In other words, the organic polymer support 1001 is not generally intended to be retained within the layered element. Accordingly, the support 1001 can be carefully selected to suit the composition of the dielectric layer and / or the method of its deposition. The organic polymer support 1001 is not necessarily transparent.
[0034] The following non-limiting method can be used to confirm that the adhesive energy between the second main surface 1002b of the dielectric layer 1002 and the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 is smaller than the adhesive energy between the first main surface 1002a of the dielectric layer 1002 and the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003. This method involves separating the composite laminate, for example by peeling it off by hand, and then measuring the ohmic resistance of the surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 and the surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003. Since the dielectric layer 1002 generally has higher conductivity than the support 1001 and the first substrate 1003, when the ohmic resistance of the surface 1003b of the first substrate 1003 is lower than that of the surface 1001a of the support, the adhesive energy between the second main surface 1002b of the dielectric layer 1002 and the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 is smaller than the adhesive energy between the first main surface 1002a of the dielectric layer 1002 and the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003.
[0035] Alternatively, optical inspection can be performed by optical spectral measurements of the reflection, transmission, or absorption of the surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 and the surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003. If the spectral behavior characteristic of the dielectric layer 1002, for example, the majority of the greater reflection in infrared light, is observed on the surface 1003b of the first substrate 1003, then the adhesion energy between the second main surface 1002b of the dielectric layer 1002 and the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 is smaller than the adhesion energy between the first main surface 1002a of the dielectric layer 1002 and the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003.
[0036] The adhesive energy between the second main surface 1002b of the dielectric layer 1002 and the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 is smaller than the adhesive energy between the first main surface 1002a of the dielectric layer 1002 and the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003. This makes it possible to separate and move the dielectric layer 1002 from the organic polymer support 1001 to the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 when manufacturing a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity as described below using the composite laminate 1000 according to the present invention.
[0037] In particular, the above difference in adhesive energy can be obtained by selecting an organic polymer support 1001 whose physicochemical properties of its first main surface 1001a, depending on its composition and / or surface morphology, essentially impart to the first main surface 1001a a lower adhesive energy than the adhesive energy between the first main surface 1002a of the dielectric layer 1002 and the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003.
[0038] In one embodiment of the composite laminate of the present invention, in order to obtain lower adhesive energy, the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 and / or the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 can be textured and / or chemically functionalized.
[0039] An example of functionalization could be a layer of silicone with a thickness of several nanometers to tens of micrometers.
[0040] The second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 can be a textured surface. The function of this rough surface can contribute to the diffuse reflectivity of a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity, which can be obtained by the manufacturing method described below. This textured surface may be inherent to the substrate or may be obtained by a textured method such as embossing, etching, or chemical attack. Preferably, the first organic polymer substrate 1003 can be selected to have an inherent surface roughness.
[0041] As an example, the texture of surfaces 1003b and / or 1001a can be morphologically characterized by a surface roughness characterized by a parameter Rz, which is measured according to the standard ISO 4287:1997 and whose value is 1 μm to 1 mm, particularly 5 μm to 100 μm, preferably 25 μm to 100 μm, even more preferably 25 μm to 50 μm, or even more preferably 30 μm to 45 μm.
[0042] As an example, the organic polymer support substrate may be based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
[0043] Advantageously, the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the dielectric layer 1002 at 550 nm and the refractive index of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 at 550 nm is at least 0.3, even at least 0.5, and preferably at least 0.8.
[0044] When a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity is manufactured by the manufacturing method described below, this characteristic works to the advantage of the reflection of electromagnetic radiation by the rough surface 1003b.
[0045] The dielectric layer 1002 may be based on a single metal oxide or metal nitride or a mixture thereof. These oxides or nitrides may be stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric. In particular, the dielectric layer 1002 may be based on the following compounds: Si3N4, SnO2, ZnO, AIN, NbO, NbN, TiO2, TiO x It may be based on the element alone or a mixture thereof.
[0046] The dielectric layer may be a thin layer, that is, a layer with a thickness of less than 1 micrometer, several hundred micrometers, or even tens of micrometers.
[0047] The organic polymer support 1001 is preferably a film having a thickness of 5 to 200 μm.
[0048] The first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 can be a film having dimensions and composition suitable for use as a component of a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity, and may be a film that can be obtained, for example, by the manufacturing method described below.
[0049] In particular, the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 can advantageously be poly(vinyl butyral) based. The first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 is often involved as a component of the laminated intermediate layer in a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity for transparent laminated glass, and generally has an inherent roughness that allows it to contribute to the diffuse reflectivity function of the layered component.
[0050] In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the composite laminate includes the following: - A PET-based organic polymer support 1001 including an edge 1001c, a first main surface 1001a, and a second main surface 1001b; A titanium oxide-based dielectric layer 1002 having a thickness of -10 nm to 100 nm, preferably 30 to 70 nm, and including a first main surface 1002a and a second main surface 1002b; - A first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003, based on PVB, which is either textured or untextured, and includes an edge 1003c, a first main surface 1003a, and a second main surface 1003b.
[0051] This invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a composite laminate according to this invention. This method is illustrated in Figure 2.
[0052] The method for manufacturing the composite laminate 1000 includes the following steps: (a) Depositing a dielectric layer 1002 on the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001; (b) The dielectric layer 1002 is brought into contact with the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003; (c) Roll pressing an assembly made of an organic polymer support 1001, a dielectric layer 1002, and a first organic polymer substrate 1003. Here: - The dielectric layer 1002 has a refractive index greater than that of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003; - The adhesive energy between the second main surface 1002b of the dielectric layer 1002 and the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 is smaller than the adhesive energy between the first main surface 1002a of the dielectric layer 1002 and the second main surface 1003b of the transparent organic polymer substrate 1003.
[0053] The step (a) of depositing the dielectric layer can be carried out using several physical or chemical deposition methods. Examples include magnetic field-assisted cathode sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, dip coating, and spin coating.
[0054] According to one embodiment of this method, the step of depositing a dielectric layer (a) is carried out using a cathode sputtering method. These methods may be assisted by a magnetic field. The advantage of these methods is that they allow for the deposition of thin dielectric layers and can be used with a number of types of organic polymer supports such as PET, PEN, PMMA, or ETFE.
[0055] The thickness of the deposited thin dielectric layer can range from less than 1 micrometer to tens of micrometers, or even hundreds of micrometers.
[0056] This method may also include a step of texturing and / or chemically functionalizing the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 prior to step (a), and / or a step of texturing and / or chemically functionalizing the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 prior to step (b). These additional steps may be advantageous in adjusting the adhesion energy between the second main surface 1002b of the dielectric layer 1002 and the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 to be much lower than the adhesion energy between the first main surface 1002a of the dielectric layer 1002 and the second main surface 1003b of the transparent organic polymer substrate 1003. This may be useful in cases where there is a risk that the two adhesion energies will be equivalent, particularly due to the selection of the compositions of the support 1001 and the first transparent substrate 1003.
[0057] An example of a functionalization process for a PET-based support 1001 may be the deposition of a silicone layer of several tens of micrometers. An example of a textured process for a PMMA-based support 1001 may be embossing of microscale reliefs having dimensions and geometric arrangements.
[0058] The present invention also relates to a composite laminate which can be obtained using any embodiment of the above-described method for manufacturing a composite laminate.
[0059] One advantage of the composite laminate according to this invention is that it can be manufactured and stored upstream before being used later in a method for producing transparent layered elements having diffuse reflectivity.
[0060] According to this, manufacturers of reflective transparent layered elements can construct a series of composite laminates having different combinations of dielectric layers and transparent polymer organic substrates. Then, they can select the composite laminate best suited to the desired application.
[0061] Advantageously, the organic polymer support 1001 and the first organic polymer substrate 1003 may be flexible films. This allows the composite laminate according to the present invention to be stored in a ready-to-use roll form before being used, for example, in a method for manufacturing a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity, as described below.
[0062] The following method for manufacturing transparent layered elements with diffuse reflectivity illustrates the advantages of using composite laminates.
[0063] The above method includes the following steps: (a) To supply a composite laminate 1000 according to any one of the embodiments described above; (b) Delamination of the composite laminate 1000 to cause the removal of the organic polymer support 1001; (c) To supply a second transparent organic polymer substrate 3001 including an edge 3001c, a first main surface 3001a, and a second main surface 3001b; (d) The first surface 3001a of the second transparent organic polymer substrate 3001 is brought into contact with the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent polymer substrate 1003, so that the dielectric layer 1002 is sandwiched between these surfaces 3001a and 1003b.
[0064] One notable advantage of the composite laminate according to the present invention is that, when used particularly in a method for producing a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity, the composite laminate allows for overcoming the technical limitations of existing methods without affecting the optical performance of the element obtained properly. This is due in particular to the sacrificial nature of the organic polymer support 1001 and the possible migration of the dielectric layer 1002 from the support 1001 to the first substrate 1003.
[0065] According to this, it is no longer necessary to use an organic polymer support 1001 suitable for both the deposition of a dielectric layer 1002 and the specific use of the transparent layered element with diffuse reflection in order to manufacture a transparent layered element with diffuse reflection. This generally applies, for example, to laminated glazings that include a laminated intermediate layer formed by a transparent layered element with diffuse reflection.
[0066] Therefore, this invention makes it possible to increase the selection of combinations of transparent substrate / dielectric layer. It also makes it possible to avoid designing a manufacturing method that is specific to a certain transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity, or even to significantly modify existing methods when a change in the transparent substrate or dielectric layer is required in the layered element.
[0067] Furthermore, this invention is particularly suitable for manufacturing transparent layered elements having diffuse reflectance that operates in the visible spectral range of electromagnetic radiation, i.e., 380 to 800 nm.
[0068] It should be noted that the adhesion energy may vary with temperature when manufacturing a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity using a composite laminate. These variations depend particularly on the properties and surface characteristics of the materials used in the support 1001 and the first substrate 1003. Furthermore, it is preferable that the separation step (b) is performed within a temperature range and / or separation rate range in which the adhesion energy between the second main surface 1002b of the dielectric layer 1002 and the first main surface 1001a of the organic polymer support 1001 is smaller than the adhesion energy between the first main surface 1002a of the dielectric layer 1002 and the second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003.
[0069] According to one embodiment of the method described above, the first main surface 3001a of the second transparent organic polymer substrate 3001 is a textured surface, for example, in the form of a rough surface. This feature can contribute to increasing the level of diffuse reflectance of the transparent layered element.
[0070] This invention also relates to a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectance that can be obtained by the method described above.
[0071] One advantage of the layered elements obtained in this way is that they can be used directly as laminated intermediate layers. In this sense, the present invention also relates to laminated glazing including laminated intermediate layers made of transparent layered elements having diffuse reflectivity that can be obtained by the method described above.
[0072] Another advantage is that it can be directly or indirectly incorporated into a transparent projection screen as a laminated intermediate layer of laminated glazing used as a component of the transparent projection screen.
[0073] In one embodiment of the present invention, which is particularly suitable for manufacturing a transparent laminated interlayer having diffuse reflectivity for laminated glazing, the composite laminate 1001 includes the following: - A PET-based organic polymer support 1001 including an edge 1001c, a first main surface 1001a, and a second main surface 1001b; A titanium oxide-based dielectric layer 1002 having a thickness of -10 nm to 100 nm, preferably 30 to 70 nm, and including a first main surface 1002a and a second main surface 1002b; - A first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 based on PVB, including an edge 1003c, a first main surface 1003a, and a second main surface 1003b, wherein the second main surface is textured to have a surface roughness with a parameter Rz of 25 μm to 50 μm according to the standard ISO 4287:1997.
[0074] A method for manufacturing a transparent laminated interlayer with diffuse reflectivity for laminated glazing may include the following steps: (a) To supply the composite laminate 1000 as described above; (b) Delamination of the composite laminate 1000 to cause the removal of the organic polymer support 1001, where the dielectric layer 1002 is adhered substantially continuously or discontinuously to the textured second main surface 1003b of the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003; (c) To supply a second transparent organic polymer substrate 3001 based on PVB, including an edge 3001c, a first main surface 3001a, and a second main surface 3001b; (d) The first surface 3001a of the second transparent organic polymer substrate 3001 is brought into contact with the textured second main surface 1003b of the first transparent polymer substrate 1003, so that the dielectric layer 1002 is sandwiched between these surfaces 3001a and 1003b.
[0075] The features and advantages of this invention are illustrated by the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below.
[0076] Four composite laminates 1000 according to the present invention were manufactured according to the manufacturing method described above. They are shown in Table 1.
[0077] In CL.1, the organic polymer support 1001 is a 25 μm thick functionalized PET film. It is coated with a silicone layer. This support is commercially available from Mitsubishi Polyester Film under the designation Hostaphan® 7SLK. In CL.2 and CL.3, the support 1001 is a 75 μm thick smooth ETFE film. In CL.4, the support 1001 is a textured PMMA film.
[0078] The dielectric layer 1002 is identical for all four composite laminates CL.1 to CL.4. This is a 60 nm thick stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric titanium oxide (TiO2) layer. x This layer is based on ).
[0079] A dielectric layer was deposited on the organic polymer support 1001 by cathode sputtering assisted by a magnetic field (magnetron). If the organic polymer support 1001 includes a textured and / or functionalized surface, the dielectric layer 1002 was deposited on this surface.
[0080] In CL.1, CL.2, and CL.4, the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 is a PVB-1 film with a thickness of 0.38 mm and textured to have a surface roughness of 5 to 25 μm with respect to Rz as measured according to the standard ISO 4287:1997. In CL.3, the first transparent organic polymer substrate 1003 is a PVB-2 film with a thickness of 0.38 mm and a surface roughness of 24 to 48 μm.
[0081] The process of roll-pressing an assembly made of an organic polymer support 1001, a dielectric layer 1002, and a first organic polymer substrate 1003 is constructed using rollers at 60°C with a linear pressure of less than 10 N / cm.
[0082] [Table 1]
[0083] Four transparent layered elements are manufactured from the four composite laminates shown in Table 1. These are described in Table 2. After the delamination step of the laminated composite material according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, a second transparent organic polymer substrate 3001 based on PVB-1 is brought into contact with the dielectric layer 1002.
[0084] [Table 2]
[0085] Each of the four transparent layered elements with diffuse reflection was incorporated into the laminated glazing in the form of a laminated intermediate layer between two sheets of transparent soda-lime silica mineral glass.
[0086] For comparison, three reference examples corresponding to transparent layered elements with diffuse reflectance using conventional technology were also manufactured. These are shown in Table 3.
[0087] These reference examples include organic polymer supports. For R.1, the organic polymer support is a 25 μm thick functionalized PET film. This organic polymer support is coated with a silicone layer. This support is commercially available from Mitsubishi Polyester Film under the name Hostaphan® 7SLK. For R.2, support 1001 is a 75 μm thick smooth ETFE film. For R.3, support 1001 is a textured PMMA film.
[0088] For all three elements R.1 to R.3, the same dielectric layer is a 60 nm thick stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric titanium oxide (TiO2). x This is a layer based on ). This dielectric layer was deposited onto an organic polymer support by cathode sputtering assisted by a magnetic field (magnetron).
[0089] For each element R.1 to R.3, the assembly, made of a dielectric layer and support, was embedded between two 0.38 mm thick PVB-1 films that were textured to have a surface roughness of 5 to 25 μm in Rz equivalent, as measured according to the standard ISO 4287:1997.
[0090] Each of the three transparent layered elements R.1 to R.3, which possess diffuse reflectivity, was incorporated into the laminated glazing in the form of a laminated intermediate layer between two sheets of transparent soda-lime silica mineral glass.
[0091] [Table 3]
[0092] The optical properties of the glazing, including elements EC.1 to EC.4 and R.1 to R.3, were measured. These are summarized in Table 4.
[0093] Table 4 shows: - The light transmittance TL in the visible spectrum and the reflectance RL in the visible spectrum are defined, measured, and calculated in accordance with the standard specifications EN 410 and ISO 9050. Color is measured in the IEC 1976 L * a * b * color space, in accordance with the standard specification ISO 11664, with an illuminant D65 and a 2° field of view for the standard observer. -a * T and b * T is the parameter a * a * b * measured by transmission in the IEC 1976 L * and b * color space, and is due to an illuminant D65 and a 2° field of view for the standard observer; -a * R and b * R are respectively the parameter a * a * b * measured by reflection in the IEC 1976 L * and b * color space, and is due to an illuminant D65 and a 2° field of view for the standard observer; - H is the level of "blur" or "haze" corresponding to the proportion of electromagnetic radiation that passes through the material and whose divergence angle is greater than 2.5° with respect to the direction of incidence of the electromagnetic radiation. This definition corresponds to that of the standard specifications ISO 14782 and ASTM D1003. H was measured using a BYK - Gardner haze - Gard haze - meter; -C is the level of transmittance or transparency of the layer. This is defined as the ratio between the intensity of radiation transmitted through the layer in a given direction at a first solid angle, the intensity of radiation transmitted at a second solid angle, and the total intensity of electromagnetic radiation transmitted at all solid angles defined by a revolving cone with the axis of rotation in the aforementioned direction and a half-angle at the vertex of 0° to 2°, where the first solid angle is defined by a first revolving cone with the axis of rotation in the aforementioned direction and a half-angle at the vertex of less than 0.7°, the vertex of the first cone is located on the surface of the layer through which the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted, and the second solid angle is defined by a second revolving cone with the axis of rotation in the angular direction and a half-angle at the vertex of 0.7° to 2°, the vertex of the second cone coincides with the vertex of the first cone. The level of transmittance was measured using a BYK-Gardner haze-Gard haze-meter. -DL represents "diffuse light," that is, the ratio of light reflected by the surface of a material whose dispersion angle with respect to the direction of incident light is greater than 2.5°.
[0094] [Table 4]
[0095] The results for laminated glazing VR.1 indicate that even when PET is used directly for glazing, it is not possible to obtain transparent laminated glazing with diffuse reflectivity. The DL value is too low.
[0096] The results for stacked glazing VR.2 indicate that using ETFE directly in glazing can result in an excessively high level of blurring that may interfere with visibility through the glazing.
[0097] The VR.3 layered glazing exhibits appropriate optical properties in terms of transparency and diffuse reflectance levels. In particular, the DL value is greater than 10%, the transparency level C is greater than 98%, and the blur level H is less than 1.
[0098] Laminated glazing VR.2 and VR.3 are laminated glazings commonly used for transparent projection screens. Their diffuse light percentage (DL) is greater than 10%, their transparency level (C) is greater than 98%, and their cloudiness level is less than 1.
[0099] The results in Table 4 show that the optical properties of the stacked glazings VEC.1, VEC.2, VEC.3, and VEC.4 are equivalent to those of the stacked glazing of the reference stacked glazing VR.3.
[0100] These results clearly demonstrate that the present invention makes it possible to obtain a transparent layered element with reflectivity for a given application while retaining the technical advantages of a substrate that is suitable for deposition of dielectric layers but not particularly suitable for the aforementioned application.
[0101] The present invention advantageously allows for the benefit of the technical advantages of any substrate suitable for deposition of dielectric layers, whatever the required application may be for the transparent layered elements having diffuse reflectivity that can be obtained. The present invention also makes it possible to overcome the technical limitations of existing methods for manufacturing transparent layered elements having diffuse reflectivity without affecting the optical properties required for the layered elements thus obtained. Some embodiments of this invention are described in the following sections 1 to 14. <Item 1> Composite laminate (1000) including the following: - An organic polymer support (1001) comprising an edge (1001c), a first main surface (1001a), and a second main surface (1001b); - Dielectric layer (1002) including a first main surface (1002a) and a second main surface (1002b); - A first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003) including an edge (1003c), a first main surface (1003a), and a second main surface (1003b); Here: - The first main surface (1002a) of the dielectric layer (1002) is in contact with the second main surface (1003b) of the first transparent polymer organic substrate (1003); - The second main surface (1002b) of the dielectric layer (1002) is in contact with the first main surface (1001a) of the organic polymer support 1001; - The dielectric layer (1002) has a refractive index greater than that of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003); - The adhesive energy between the second main surface (1002b) of the dielectric layer (1002) and the first main surface (1001a) of the organic polymer support (1001) is smaller than the adhesive energy between the first main surface (1002a) of the dielectric layer (1002) and the second main surface (1003b) of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003). <Item 2> The composite laminate according to item 1, wherein the second main surface (1003b) of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003) and / or the first main surface (1001a) of the organic polymer support (1001) are textured and / or chemically functionalized. <Item 3> The composite laminate according to item 1 or 2, wherein the organic polymer support is based on polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, or poly(methyl methacrylate). <Item 4> The composite laminate according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003) is poly(vinyl butyral) based. <Item 5> The composite laminate according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the dielectric layer (1002) at 550 nm and the refractive index of the first transparent substrate (1003) at 550 nm is at least 0.3, at least 0.5, preferably at least 0.8. <Item 6> The composite laminate according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the dielectric layer (1002) is based on a metal oxide or metal nitride. <Item 7> A method for manufacturing a composite laminate (1000), including the following steps: (a) Depositing a dielectric layer (1002) on the first main surface (1001a) of an organic polymer support (1001); (b) Bringing the dielectric layer (1002) into contact with the second main surface (1003b) of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003); (c) Laminating an assembly made of the organic polymer support (1001), the dielectric layer (1002), and the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003); Here: - The first main surface (1002a) of the dielectric layer (1002) is in contact with the second main surface (1003b) of the first transparent polymer organic substrate (1003); - The second main surface (1002b) of the dielectric layer (1002) is in contact with the first main surface (1001a) of the organic polymer support 1001; - The dielectric layer (1002) has a refractive index greater than that of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003); - The adhesive energy between the second main surface (1002b) of the dielectric layer (1002) and the first main surface (1001a) of the organic polymer support (1001) is smaller than the adhesive energy between the first main surface (1002a) of the dielectric layer (1002) and the second main surface (1003b) of the transparent organic polymer substrate (1003). <Item 8> The method according to item 7, further comprising the steps of: texture and / or chemically functionalize the first main surface (1001a) of the organic polymer support (1001) prior to step (a); and / or texture and / or chemically functionalize the second main surface (1003b) of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003) prior to step (b). <Item 9> The method according to item 7 or 8, wherein the step (a) of depositing the dielectric layer is carried out using a cathode sputtering method. <Item 10> A method for producing a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity, comprising the following steps: (a) To supply a composite laminate (1000) as described in any one of items 1 to 6; (b) Delamination of the composite laminate (1000) to cause the removal of the organic polymer support (1001); (c) To supply a second transparent organic polymer substrate (3001) including an edge (3001c), a first main surface (3001a), and a second main surface (3001b); (d) The first surface (3001a) of the second transparent organic polymer substrate (3001) is brought into contact with the second main surface (1003b) of the first transparent polymer substrate (1003), so that the dielectric layer (1002) is sandwiched between these surfaces (3001a, 1003b). <Item 11> The method according to item 10, wherein the first main surface (3001a) of the second transparent organic polymer substrate (3001) is a textured surface. <Item 12> A transparent layered element having diffuse reflectance, which can be obtained by the method described in item 10 or 11. <Item 13> Laminated glazing, including laminated intermediate layers made of the layered elements described in item 12. <Item 14> A transparent projection screen including the layered elements described in item 12.
Claims
1. A composite laminate (1000) for manufacturing a transparent layered element having diffuse reflectivity, including the following: - An organic polymer support (1001) including an edge (1001c), a first main surface (1001a), and a second main surface (1001b); - Dielectric layer (1002) including a first main surface (1002a) and a second main surface (1002b); - A first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003) including an edge (1003c), a first main surface (1003a), and a second main surface (1003b), wherein the second main surface (1003b) of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003) is textured and can contribute to the diffuse reflection of the transparent layered element; Here: - The first main surface (1002a) of the dielectric layer (1002) is in contact with the second main surface (1003b) of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003); - The second main surface (1002b) of the dielectric layer (1002) is in contact with the first main surface (1001a) of the organic polymer support 1001; - The dielectric layer (1002) has a refractive index greater than that of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003), wherein the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the dielectric layer (1002) at 550 nm and the refractive index of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003) at 550 nm is greater than 0.15; - The adhesion energy between the second main surface (1002b) of the dielectric layer (1002) and the first main surface (1001a) of the organic polymer support (1001) is smaller than the adhesion energy between the first main surface (1002a) of the dielectric layer (1002) and the second main surface (1003b) of the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003), and - The second main surface of the first transparent organic polymer substrate is textured with a surface roughness of 1 μm to 1 mm, characterized by a parameter Rz measured according to the standard ISO 4287:1997, and / or chemically functionalized with a layer of silicone.
2. The composite laminate according to claim 1, wherein the first main surface (1001a) of the organic polymer support (1001) is textured and / or chemically functionalized.
3. The composite laminate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the organic polymer support is based on polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, or poly(methyl methacrylate).
4. The composite laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first transparent organic polymer substrate (1003) is poly(vinyl butyral) based.
5. The composite laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the dielectric layer (1002) at 550 nm and the refractive index of the first transparent substrate (1003) at 550 nm is at least 0.3, at least 0.5, preferably at least 0.
8.
6. The composite laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the dielectric layer (1002) is based on a metal oxide or metal nitride.