Prevention of fogging and discoloration of multi-pane windows
AssigneeTremco Incorporated
InventorsJames A. Box, Thomas W. Greenlee, Lori A. Postak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fogging and discoloration of multi-pane windows is prevented by sealing the windows with a polymeric seal and by sorbing off-gases evolved by the seal through the use of diatomaceous earth. The diatomaceous earth can be disposed within the volume defined by the panes and the seal, preferably by being disposed within a hollow spacer, or the diatomaceous earth can be mixed with the seal itself. If the diatomaceous earth is mixed with the seal, it can constitute about 1-15 percent by volume of the seal, preferably 1-2 percent by volume. Diatomaceous earth has been found to be especially effective in preventing fogging and discoloration of low emissivity glass.
Claims21
In a polymeric window seal that has the tendency to evolve organic off-gases, the improvement comprising:
- a scavenger disposed within the seal, the scavenger sorbing the organic off-gases before their evolution from the seal, the scavenger consisting essentially of diatomaceous earth.
A multi-pane window, comprising:
- spaced, generally parallel, glass panes;
- a polymeric seal disposed about the periphery of the panes, the seal establishing an airtight volume intermediate the panes, the seal evolving organic off-gases that have the tendency to migrate into the volume and condense on the panes;
- and
- a scavenger disposed within the seal for sorbing the off-gases, the scavenger consisting essentially of diatomaceous earth.
A method for preventing fogging and discoloration of multi-pane windows, comprising:
- spacing the panes to define a volume therebetween;
- sealing the volume by means of a polymeric seal disposed about the periphery of the panes, the seal evolving organic off-gases that have the tendency to migrate into the volume;
- and
- sorbing the organic off-gases with a scavenger disposed within the seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.