Insulating Glass with High-Stiffness Edge Bond
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insulating glass units are limited in their ability to withstand loads without a frame system, particularly in facade construction, as they lack the necessary stiffness to transfer loads effectively without external support.
Innovation Solution
The insulating glass features a high-stiffness edge bond comprising a spacer and adhesive, with a first adhesive having a stiffness of at least 50 N/mm², allowing it to function as a load-bearing structure without a frame, and a second adhesive with lower stiffness for reduced stress on unsupported edges, along with a polymer spacer for reduced thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional insulating glass uses standard adhesive with low stiffness, then the glass unit has good flexibility and ease of manufacture, but it lacks the necessary stiffness to withstand wind loads and climate stresses without a frame system
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive system is segmented into three distinct zones: a first adhesive zone with high stiffness (at least 50 N/mm²) positioned at edges requiring load-bearing capacity, and second and third adhesive zones with lower stiffness at other edges. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific functional requirement, enabling the insulating glass to withstand wind loads without a frame while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different adhesive properties are applied to different locations of the insulating glass unit. The first adhesive zone at load-critical edges has high stiffness to provide structural support, while the second and third adhesive zones at less critical edges have lower stiffness to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between overall stiffness requirements and manufacturing simplicity.
2Device complexity
If the insulating glass is designed without a frame system to reduce complexity and cost, then material usage and production costs decrease, but the glass panes must be made correspondingly stiff to transfer loads effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The frame system is extracted (removed) from the insulating glass assembly, leaving only the essential adhesive bonding system. By concentrating the load-bearing function into the first adhesive zone with high stiffness at critical edges, the patent achieves frameless design while maintaining sufficient load-bearing capacity to withstand wind loads and climate stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite adhesive configurations combining different adhesive materials or formulations with distinct stiffness properties in different zones. The first adhesive zone employs high-stiffness adhesive material to provide the necessary structural support in the absence of a frame, while other zones use more flexible materials to accommodate environmental variations.
3Strength
If high-stiffness adhesive is applied across all edges of the insulating glass, then the overall structural strength increases, but stress concentration occurs at unsupported edges leading to potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive stiffness is locally optimized for each edge based on its structural role. The first adhesive zone at load-bearing edges uses high stiffness to provide structural support, while the second and third adhesive zones at unsupported edges use lower stiffness to reduce stress concentration and accommodate thermal movements. This local differentiation prevents stress concentration while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The second and third adhesive zones with lower stiffness act as cushioning elements that absorb and distribute thermal expansion and contraction stresses before they can concentrate at the unsupported edges. This beforehand cushioning prevents stress-related failures while the first adhesive zone maintains the necessary load-bearing capacity.
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
This configuration enables the insulating glass to withstand wind loads and climate stresses across a wide temperature range, reducing material usage and production costs while maintaining high stability and thermal insulation, allowing for frameless or minimally framed facade applications.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive, the edge bond comprising a first adhesive at least in the area of two opposite edges, which in the cured state has a stiffness of at least 50 N / mm2
Implementation Method 2
the first adhesive preferably has constant mechanical properties, in particular the stated rigidity in a temperature range from at least -20.degree. C. to at least + 80.degree.
Implementation Method 3
A spacer made of a polymer is preferably used in the insulating glass according to the invention, as a result of which the thermal conductivity can be reduced, which has a positive effect on the thermal insulation of an insulating glass according to the invention.
Implementation Method 4
A sealant, in particular polyisobutyl, is preferably arranged between each glass pane and the spacer, as is known from the prior art.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present application relates to an insulating glass unit (1) with at least two spaced-apart glass panes (2, 3). The insulating glass unit (1) comprises at least one edge seal arranged between the glass panes (2, 3) in the region (8, 9, 10, 11) of edges (4, 5, 6, 7) of these panes, consisting of a spacer (12) and at least one adhesive. The edge seal comprises, at least in the region (8, 9) of two opposing edges (4, 5), a first adhesive which, in its cured state, has a stiffness of at least 50 N/mm², preferably at least 100 N/mm².