Non-foamed coated textile and method of making
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window treatments fail to effectively reduce glare from sunlight while maintaining privacy and original visual appearance, especially for fabrics composed of multifilament fiberglass yarns, without altering the openness factor or weave coloration.
Innovation Solution
A non-foamed aqueous composition is applied to one side of a fabric substrate, comprising porous particles, a chlorinated polymer binder, a high refractive index inorganic filler, and white low-density alumina, to form a light-attenuating coating that reduces glare without degrading the fabric's openness factor or color.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light coloration is used in window treatments, then more light is transmitted and glare increases, but privacy is improved through reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a light-colored coating composition (white or near-white) containing titanium dioxide and other light-scattering pigments on the interior surface of the window treatment. This coating modifies the optical properties by scattering and diffusing transmitted light, reducing glare while maintaining high light transmission and enhancing privacy through increased reflection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If darker window treatments are used, then glare is reduced by absorbing more light, but light transmission decreases and visual appearance is altered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a localized coating only on the interior surface of the window treatment fabric, leaving the exterior surface and the bulk fabric structure unchanged. This localized application allows the coating to provide glare reduction through light scattering, while the original fabric maintains its light transmission properties and aesthetic appearance from the exterior.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the weave is tightened to block more incident light, then glare and view from outside are reduced, but openness factor decreases and view from inside is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a functional copy of the light-blocking effect by applying a coating layer that scatters and diffuses light, achieving glare reduction and privacy without physically altering the fabric weave. This coating 'copies' the effect of a tighter weave while preserving the original openness factor and visual appearance.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If coating is applied to reduce glare, then light attenuation is improved, but the fabric's original appearance and openness factor may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the composition parameters of the coating, including using specific pigments (titanium dioxide with refractive index >2), binders, and fillers in optimized ratios. The coating is formulated to provide glare reduction while matching the original fabric's color and texture, and is applied at controlled thicknesses to maintain the fabric's aesthetic properties.
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 coating effectively attenuates sunlight glare while providing privacy and maintaining the fabric's original appearance and openness, suitable for window treatments and glass-covered fenestration.
Implementation Method 1
a white inorganic particulate filler material having a refractive index greater than 2
Implementation Method 2
a white inorganic particulate filler material having a refractive index greater than 2
Implementation Method 3
porous particles present in an amount of at least 0.5 weight % and up to and including 40 weight %, each porous particle comprising a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores dispersed within the continuous polymeric phase
Implementation Method 4
a film-forming binder material including at least a chlorinated polymer
Data Source
AI summary
A non-foamed aqueous composition can be applied to fabric substrates to provide non-foamed light-attenuating coatings in resulting coated fabric substrates that produce reduced glare from incident outside light. The non-foamed aqueous composition used to make these coated fabric substrates has a 5-50% solids and a zero shear viscosity of 100-1000 mPa-sec at 25° C. This composition has components i) through iv): i) porous particles at 0.1-20 weight %, and optionally an opacifying colorant; ii) a film-forming binder material comprising at least a chlorinated polymer at 4-20 weight %; iii) a white inorganic particulate filler material having a refraction index (RI) greater than 2 and a median particle size of less than 1 μm, at 5-16 weight %; and iv) a white low-density particulate hydrated alumina having a median particle size of less than or equal to 3 μm, at 2-16 weight %.