THERMO-RESPONSIVE ASSEMBLY AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING THE SAME
In an embodiment, an assembly, comprising: a glazing layer; a light absorbing layer; and a thermo-responsive layer between the glazing layer and the light absorbing layer. The thermo-responsive layer comprises a matrix polymer having a glass transition temperature and an inorganic filler, wherein the matrix polymer comprises 0.5 to 10 weight percent of repeat units derived from acrylonitrile, based upon a total weight of the matrix polymer. The refractive indices of the matrix polymer and the inorganic filler differ by less than or equal to 0.05 at 25° C.
1 . An assembly, comprising:
a glazing layer;
a light absorbing layer; and
a thermo-responsive layer between the glazing layer and the light absorbing layer,
wherein the thermo-responsive layer comprises a matrix polymer having a glass transition temperature and an inorganic filler, wherein the matrix polymer comprises 0.5 to 10 weight percent of repeat units derived from acrylonitrile, based upon a total weight of the matrix polymer, wherein the refractive indices of the matrix polymer and the inorganic filler differ by less than or equal to 0.05 at 25° C.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the matrix polymer comprises 1 to 5 weight percent of repeat units derived from acrylonitrile.
3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the matrix polymer further comprises polystyrene and/or polyacrylate repeat units.
4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the polyacrylate comprises polymethacrylate, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ethyl methacrylate), poly(butyl methacrylate), or a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing.
5 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the ratio of polystyrene to polyacrylate is 10:1 to 1:10.
6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the glass transition temperature is 25° C. to 100° C.
7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the filler has an average particle size that is less than or equal to 10 micrometers.
8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the matrix polymer refractive index is 1.4 to 1.75.
9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the refractive indices of the inorganic filler and the matrix polymer differ by less than or equal to 0.01 at 25° C.
10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the glazing layer comprises a multiwall sheet comprising a first wall, a second wall, and ribs disposed therebetween, wherein the first wall has a first wall first surface and a first wall second surface, and the second wall has a second wall first surface and a second wall second surface, wherein the thermo-responsive layer is attached to the second wall second surface.
11 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein an air gap is present between the thermo-responsive layer and the light absorbing layer.
12 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the matrix polymer has greater than or equal to 85% transparency measured according to ASTM D1003-00.
13 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the matrix polymer comprises polyesters, polycarbonates, polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ethyl methacrylate), poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate), poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile), poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene-co-acrylonitrile), copolymers of styrene, acrylonitrile, (meth)acrylic acids, and (meth)acrylates, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.
14 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the matrix polymer comprises poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile), or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
15 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermo-responsive layer further comprises a plasticizer.
16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the plasticizer comprises benzoate esters, aliphatic esters, aryl esters of phosphates, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.
17 . The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the plasticizer comprises penterythritol tetrabenzoate, resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate), and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.
18 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises silica, quartz, glass, ceramic particles, gypsum, feldspar, calcium silicate, barium metaborate, mica, clays, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum trihydroxide, Fuller's earth, calcium hydroxide, pyrophyllite, talc, zinc borate, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.
19 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises magnesium hydroxide, glass, or a combination comprising one or both of the foregoing.
20 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the filler is present in an amount of 5% to 80% by weight.
21 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermo-responsive layer, having a thickness of 25 μm to 2,500 μm, has greater than or equal to 10% reflection when exposed to temperatures greater than a glass transition temperature of the matrix polymer.
22 . A method of making an assembly, comprising:
forming the glazing layer;
forming the light absorbing layer; and
forming the thermo-responsive layer, wherein the thermo-responsive layer is between the glazing layer and the light absorbing layer to form the assembly;
wherein the thermo-responsive layer comprises a matrix polymer having a glass transition temperature and an inorganic filler, wherein the matrix polymer comprises 0.5 to 10 weight percent of repeat units derived from acrylonitrile, based upon a total weight of the matrix polymer, wherein the refractive indices of the matrix polymer and the inorganic filler differ by less than or equal to 0.05 at 25° C.
23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising co-extruding the glazing layer and the thermo-responsive layer.
24 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising laminating the thermo-responsive layer to a surface of the glazing layer.
25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising co-extruding the light absorbing layer and the thermo-responsive layer.
26 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising laminating the thermo-responsive layer to a surface of the light absorbing layer.
27 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising determining a normal working temperature of the assembly, and choosing the matrix polymer so that a difference between the glass transition temperature and the normal working temperature is less than or equal to 20° C.