Automotive Laminated Glazing Obscuration Printing on Interlayer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Black enamel frit obscurations on laminated automotive glazing introduce surface defects, thermal gradients, and optical distortions, leading to reduced strength and increased breakage probability, while traditional printed interlayers lack the necessary opacity and UV protection required for automotive applications.
Innovation Solution
Printing obscurations directly onto a plastic film or the interlayer, which is then laminated between thermoplastic interlayers, allowing for a wider range of inks and improved adhesion, reducing thermal gradients and surface defects, and enhancing optical quality and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If black enamel frit obscurations are printed on glass, then opacity and UV protection are achieved, but surface defects and thermal gradients increase leading to reduced strength
Solution Approach 1:
A clear interlayer is introduced as an intermediary between the glass and the obscuration. The obscuration is printed on the interlayer rather than directly on the glass, so the harmful thermal gradients and surface defects are isolated from the glass. The interlayer acts as a mediator that protects the glass from these harmful effects while still providing the required UV protection and opacity through the obscuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The laminate is segmented into distinct functional layers: glass layers for structural strength, a clear interlayer for adhesion and as a protective medium, and an obscuration layer for UV protection and aesthetics. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the others, particularly protecting the glass from the harmful effects of the obscuration.
2Reliability
If black enamel frit is used for obscurations, then durability and opacity are achieved, but optical quality and distortion are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clear interlayer serves as an intermediary that separates the glass from the obscuration. This allows the obscuration to be printed on the interlayer, maintaining durability and opacity while preventing the optical distortions that would occur if the same obscuration were printed directly on the glass surface.
3Ease of manufacture
If printed interlayers are used for obscurations, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but opacity and UV protection are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The solution combines a printed interlayer with an obscuration layer in a composite laminate structure. The printed interlayer provides manufacturing flexibility and adhesion, while the obscuration layer (which can be applied as a coating or printed material) provides the necessary UV protection and opacity. This composite approach allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If black enamel frit obscurations are applied, then adhesive protection is achieved, but adhesion strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clear interlayer acts as an intermediary between the glass and the obscuration. By printing the obscuration on the interlayer rather than directly on the glass, the adhesion between the glass and interlayer is not compromised by surface defects or thermal gradients from the obscuration. The interlayer maintains strong adhesion to the glass while still providing UV protection for the adhesive.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in laminates with superior optical quality, reduced distortion, and increased strength, minimizing the probability of breakage and improving the aesthetic and functional performance of automotive glazing.
Implementation Method 1
The unaltered original surface of the interlayer is able to bond to the glass and retains its original adhesion to the glass
Implementation Method 2
Printing obscurations directly onto a plastic film or the interlayer
Data Source
AI summary
The object of this invention is to provide a laminated automotive glazing having an obscuration area produced by printing the obscuration on a film laminated between at least two layers of plastic interlayers or directly on the interlayer rather than printing and firing an enamel frit onto the glass. This results in a laminate having superior optical quality, higher strength and a lower probability of breakage as compared to a laminate with a black enamel frit obscuration.