Laminated Glass Interlayer Birefringence Control to Prevent Edge Protrusion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional interlayer films for laminated glass often protrude from the ends during the production process, especially when passing through heated rolls, leading to inefficiencies and potential safety issues.

Innovation Solution

An interlayer film comprising a thermoplastic resin and a plasticizer, with specific birefringence index values in both machine direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD), is used to minimize protrusion by controlling tensile force and strain, ensuring the film remains securely positioned between glass plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the laminate is made to pass through a gap between heated rolls during production, then the laminated glass can be heated and pressurized to achieve bonding, but the interlayer film portion protrudes from the end part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding qualityVSAvoidinterlayer film position
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the birefringence index (Δn) of the interlayer film to be 0.005 or less in both MD and TD directions. This optical parameter control reflects and ensures uniform molecular orientation and dimensional stability of the film during heating and pressing, preventing protrusion while maintaining bonding quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-controlling the birefringence characteristics of the interlayer film before the lamination process. By ensuring the film has appropriate optical properties beforehand, the film is prepared to resist deformation during subsequent heating and pressing operations, preventing end protrusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If conventional interlayer films are used, then the production process can proceed, but the interlayer film protrudes from end parts reducing efficiency and safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the optical parameter (birefringence index Δn ≤ 0.005) of the interlayer film to achieve dimensional stability during processing. This parameter control prevents protrusion that would cause production delays and safety issues, thereby improving both productivity and reliability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 interlayer film effectively suppresses protrusion from the ends, enhancing production efficiency and safety by maintaining the film's position during the laminating process, with a total ΔnMAX value of less than 0.070 × 10^-3 in both MD and TD directions.

Implementation Method 1

a birefringence index in a machine flow direction of the first surface part A, a birefringence index in a machine flow direction of the second surface part B, and a birefringence index in a machine flow direction of the center part C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBirefringence: Birefringence

Data Source

PatentEP3279166B1Interlayer for laminated glass and laminated glass
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP3279166B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3279166B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5(c)
  • EP3279166B1 patent drawingFigure 6(a)~6(c)

AI summary

There is provided an interlayer film for laminated glass with which an interlayer film portion is less liable to protrude at the time of producing laminated glass. In the interlayer film for laminated glass according to the present invention, when, in the MD direction of the interlayer film, a birefringence index of the first surface part, a birefringence index of the second surface part, and a birefringence index of the center part are defined as ΔnMDA, ΔnMDB, and ΔnMDC, respectively, in the TD direction of the interlayer film, a birefringence index of the first surface part, a birefringence index of the second surface part, and a birefringence index of the center part are defined as ΔnTDA, ΔnTDB, and ΔnTDC, respectively, a higher absolute value among the absolute value of the difference between ΔnMDA and ΔnMDC and the absolute value of the difference between ΔnMDB and ΔnMDC is defined as ΔnMDMAX, and a higher absolute value among the absolute value of the difference between ΔnTDA and ΔnTDC and the absolute value of the difference between ΔnTDB and ΔnTDC is defined as ΔnTDMAX, the total of ΔnMDMAX and ΔnTDMAX is 0.070 × 10-3 or less.