Transparent Composite Sheet with UV-Blocking Polyester Yarns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible roofing materials with transparency, like those containing glass fibers, are limited by low strength after crease folding and restricted to flat structures due to mechanical characteristics, excluding applications with cyclic loads or large dimensions.

Innovation Solution

A composite flexible sheet with a reinforcing layer of high tenacity aromatic polyester yarns and a translucent or transparent polymeric film, where the yarns are coated with a UV-blocking sheath, allowing for mechanical stability and high light transmittance, enabling use in applications with mechanical folding loads and large dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If glass fibers are used in flexible roofing materials to achieve transparency, then light transmittance is improved, but mechanical strength after crease folding deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmittanceVSAvoidmechanical strength after crease folding

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite structure combining aromatic polyester fibers (providing mechanical strength and UV resistance) with a polymeric film matrix (providing transparency and flexibility). This composite approach allows the material to achieve both high light transmittance and improved mechanical strength after folding, resolving the contradiction between transparency and durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If glass fibers are used in flexible roofing materials, then transparency is achieved, but adaptability to cyclic loads deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmittanceVSAvoidresistance to cyclic loads

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The aromatic polyester fibers in the composite material provide exceptional resistance to cyclic loading and fatigue, while the polymeric film matrix maintains transparency. This composite structure enables the material to withstand repeated folding and deployment cycles without losing mechanical integrity or optical properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies using aromatic polyester fibers with a Young's modulus of more than 50 GPa, indicating a change in the mechanical parameters of the reinforcing material. This parameter specification ensures the material has sufficient stiffness and strength to handle cyclic loads while maintaining flexibility for deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If glass fibers are used in flexible roofing materials, then transparency is achieved, but ease of transportation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmittanceVSAvoidease of transportation

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure with aromatic polyester fibers embedded in a polymeric film creates a material that is both transparent and mechanically robust. The improved mechanical strength and flexibility allow the material to be easily transported in rolled or folded configurations without damage, resolving the contradiction between transparency and ease of transportation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Strength

If aromatic polyester yarns with high Young's modulus are used, then mechanical strength is improved, but light transmittance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidlight transmittance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that the aromatic polyester yarns should have a light transmittance of more than 10% (preferably more than 30-45%). This local quality requirement ensures that even the reinforcing elements themselves contribute to light transmission, while the overall composite structure achieves both high mechanical strength and high light transmittance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution provides a flexible, water-impermeable material with high light transmittance and resistance to folding cycles, suitable for large architectural structures and easy transportation, maintaining mechanical and visual properties post-deployment.

Implementation Method 1

said yarns having a sheath of material which blocks ultraviolet radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet radiation blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

a polymeric film which is translucent or transparent to visible light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS11701857B2Flexible transparent material with reinforcement threads

Publication Date: 2023.07.18 SERGE FERRARI

AI summary

A translucent or transparent composite flexible sheet includes at least one reinforcing layer comprising high tenacity yarns; and a fluorinated polymeric film which is translucent or transparent to visible light, which is integral with the reinforcing layer. The reinforcing layer is a textile with a light transmittance of more than 40%, and includes high tenacity yarns based on an aromatic block polyester with a Young's modulus of more than 50 GPa. The yarns have a sheath of material which blocks ultraviolet radiation.