Polymer Interlayer Stabilized Fluorescent Pigments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polymer interlayers for laminated safety glass and head-up displays suffer from optical defects such as haze and yellowness, which compromise clarity and aesthetic appeal, especially in applications requiring high visual quality like windshields, and the use of fluorescent pigments to improve handling and lamination often results in uneven distribution and increased manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A polymer interlayer comprising poly(vinyl butyral), a plasticizer, and a luminescent pigment with a carboxylic acid additive having a pKa of less than 10, which reduces the yellowness index to less than 12 and maintains excellent optical properties without sacrificing mechanical or optical performance, by controlling the distribution and absorption of the luminescent pigment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If fluorescent pigments are used in polymer interlayers to improve handling and lamination, then ease of manufacture is improved, but optical quality deteriorates due to uneven distribution and increased manufacturing costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling and laminationVSAvoidoptical quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the fluorescent pigment by introducing a carboxylic acid group with a specific pKa value (less than 10). This parameter modification enables the pigment to interact chemically with the polymer matrix, ensuring uniform distribution while maintaining optical quality and reducing manufacturing issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system where the fluorescent pigment is chemically integrated with the polymer matrix through carboxylic acid-functionalized pigment particles. This composite approach ensures homogeneous distribution of the pigment throughout the polymer interlayer, resolving the uneven distribution problem while maintaining optical quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional polymer interlayers are used for laminated safety glass, then mechanical strength is maintained, but optical quality deteriorates due to haze and yellowness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidoptical clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the fluorescent pigment by introducing a carboxylic acid group with a specific pKa value (less than 10). This parameter modification enables the pigment to interact chemically with the polymer matrix, ensuring uniform distribution while maintaining optical quality and reducing manufacturing issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If wedge shaped interlayers are used for head-up displays, then display functionality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to handling difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay functionalityVSAvoidhandling during processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

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 achieves improved optical clarity and reduced haze, maintaining high optical and mechanical performance while simplifying production and handling, and reducing manufacturing costs associated with fluorescent pigments.

Implementation Method 1

the polymer interlayer fluoresces at a wavelength of about 400 to 700 nm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

a carboxylic acid additive having a pKa of less than 10, which reduces the yellowness index to less than 12 and maintains excellent optical properties

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical stabilization:

Data Source

PatentUS10414973B2Polymer interlayers comprising stabilized fluorescent particles

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 SOLUTIA INC

AI summary

An interlayer comprised of a thermoplastic resin, at least one luminescent pigment and a carboxylic acid additive. The use of a thermoplastic resin, at least one luminescent pigment and a carboxylic acid additive reduces or minimizes the optical defects (such as high color or yellowness and increased haze) caused by discoloration of the pigment without sacrificing other characteristics of the interlayer.