Thermosensitive Glazing Laminate for Temperature-Driven Cloudiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window and roof materials require complex structures and significant manufacturing time to incorporate temperature-sensitive dimming liquids that autonomously change cloudiness in response to temperature.
Innovation Solution
A window and light-transparent roof material comprising at least one light-transparent base material layer and an adhesive layer with a temperature-sensitive adhesive composition containing polymer fine particles. The adhesive composition has a refractive index that increases with decreasing temperature and an adhesive force that decreases with temperature, allowing for autonomous cloudiness changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional glass or plastic glazing materials are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the material deteriorates due to ultraviolet radiation, thermal cycling, and chemical attack from acid rain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining multiple functional coatings (adhesion promoter, barrier coating, reflective coating) with the substrate material to create a multi-layer protective structure. This composite approach enhances durability against UV radiation, thermal cycling, and chemical attack while distributing the functional requirements across different layers, each optimized for specific protection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by controlling the physical and chemical properties of each coating layer during the atomic layer deposition process. By adjusting deposition parameters, coating thickness, and material composition, the system optimizes protection performance against various degradation mechanisms while maintaining manufacturability through standardized processing conditions.
2Reliability
If multiple separate coatings are applied to achieve protective functions, then the protective performance is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple coating functions into a single integrated multi-layer structure deposited in sequence within one manufacturing process. The adhesion promoter, barrier coating, and reflective coating are applied consecutively in the same equipment system, combining what would traditionally be separate manufacturing steps into a unified process flow, thereby maintaining protective performance while simplifying overall manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an adhesion promoter layer as an intermediary between the substrate and subsequent protective coatings. This intermediary layer facilitates strong bonding between the substrate and the barrier/reflective coatings, ensuring durable protective performance while allowing each layer to be optimized independently for its specific function.
3Reliability
If the coating structure is optimized for maximum protection, then the material durability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and process time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by depositing coating layers with thicknesses optimized for specific protective functions rather than uniform thick coverage across all layers. Each layer is deposited to the minimum necessary thickness to achieve its protective purpose, balancing durability enhancement with manufacturing efficiency and reducing overall process time and material consumption.
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 materials can easily change their cloudiness in response to temperature, reducing manufacturing complexity and time, while effectively managing sunlight transmission for thermal comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The protective coating may be applied to the glazing material using atomic layer deposition (ALD)
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are: a window material and a light-transparent roof material which can autonomously change the cloudiness thereof in accordance with temperature, have an uncomplicated structure, and can be easily manufactured; a building comprising the window material and/or the light-transparent roof material; and a corresponding vehicle, ship, or aircraft. The window material or the light-transparent roof material according to the present invention comprises at least one light-transparent base material layer and at least one adhesive layer, wherein: the adhesive layer is formed from an adhesive composition containing 1 to 100 parts by mass of polymer fine particles with respect to 100 parts by mass of a thermosensitive adhesive; the refractive index of the thermosensitive adhesive increases as the temperature decreases, with the rate of increase in the refractive index being greater in the vicinity of the melting point of the thermosensitive adhesive than in a temperature range other than the vicinity of the melting point; and the adhesive power of the adhesive composition decreases as the temperature decreases, with the rate of decrease in the adhesive power being greater in the vicinity of the melting point of the thermosensitive adhesive than in the temperature range other than the vicinity of the melting point.