EP3023569B2 - Spacer for spacing glass sheets of a multiple glazed window - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a spacer for spacing glass panes of a multi-glazed window, a multi-glazed window, and a method for producing a spacer having the features of the preambles of the independent claims.

Multi-glazed windows are also colloquially known as multi-pane insulating glass. This type of glazing is primarily used for thermal insulation, i.e. to prevent heat loss to a cold environment or to prevent the interior from heating up due to a relatively warmer environment.

Multi-glazed windows usually consist of at least two parallel panes of glass, which are separated by a spacer. This creates a space between the panes of glass, which, when filled with air or gas, forms an insulating layer.

Spacers made of aluminum, stainless steel or plastic are well known and are firmly bonded to the glass surfaces by pressing them together with a thermoplastic sealant.

Furthermore, it is common practice to provide spacers with a cavity that contains a desiccant to dry the air trapped in the space between the panes.

Spacers are usually designed to prevent the diffusion of water vapor from outside the cavity between the panes into the cavity between the panes and at the same time ensure the exchange of gas and water vapor between the atmosphere of the cavity between the panes and the desiccant.

As is well known, plastic spacers are manufactured in one piece by profile extrusion. The cavity is then subsequently filled with a drying agent.

However, this process is complex because it requires an additional work step outside the production line. A finished spacer with a desiccant also only has a short shelf life because the absorption capacity of the desiccant is increasingly exhausted when it comes into contact with the water vapor in atmospheric air.

DE 10 2006 024 402 A1 describes a spacer that is co-extruded in one step from silicone and a core containing a desiccant mixture. The base of the spacer, which faces the space between the panes on the installed window, is either provided with an open-pore silicone or with slots so that gas exchange can take place.

WO 2010/115456 A1 shows a multiple glazing pane comprising two outer panes of glass, at least one middle pane of glass and a spacer, wherein the spacer has a cavity for receiving a drying agent and a receiving profile for each middle pane of glass and the cavity of the spacer is filled with a drying agent. The spacer has an additional vapor barrier in the form of a metallic rolled foil.

However, this solution does not solve the problem of the limited storage time of the spacer manufactured in this way. The water absorption capacity of the drying agent is still exhausted.

Since silicone has a tendency to outgas, there is also the problem that precipitation forms in the space between the panes when used quickly ("fogging"). Silicone has a high water vapor penetration rate and is not suitable for protecting the loading of the desiccant matrix.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the known ones and to provide a spacer which can be produced cost-effectively and efficiently and has an improved storage capacity.

In particular, a spacer is to be provided which has improved properties with regard to outgassing of the plastic material and improved UV and thermal insulation properties.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved with the features of claim 1.

An advantageous spacer for spacing glass panes of a multi-glazed window comprises an outer shell. This outer shell at least partially encloses the drying agent and the drying agent is enclosed on all sides by the outer shell at least in a first raw product. In the end product, the drying agent is at least partially enclosed by the silicone-free outer shell.

In a first variant of the invention, the outer shell is produced by coextrusion of a plastic matrix with the drying agent. Production by coextrusion allows a flexible choice of material: the material can be freely selected in terms of color or properties for the vapor barrier function or for adhesives for contact with glass panes.

In a second variant, a spacer comprises a desiccant with an outer shell and an inner structure that is more porous than the outer shell. The outer shell and the inner structure are made from one component, typically a polymer matrix into which a desiccant is introduced. It has been found that monoextrusion automatically forms an outer shell that encloses the more porous inner part. The outer shell has a smooth, less porous surface. Due to its low porosity, the outer shell has a lower water vapor permeability and thus protects the desiccant during storage. The smooth outer structure thus has a certain Protective function against the passage of water vapor. In order not to exhaust the water absorption capacity of the porous inner structure, the component combination of plastic and drying agent can also be vacuum packed in airtight containers after monoextrusion.

In the end product, in both variants, there is a gas and water vapor connection between the porous inner structure and the ambient atmosphere in at least one area, preferably one side of the spacer, with an outer side that can be turned towards a space between the panes. Such a gas and water vapor connection can be made possible by means of a porous material or a perforation or other openings in the said area, preferably the said side, of the spacer in an end product. In both variants, the drying agent in the inner structure is held in a polymer matrix that is porous. Porous means in particular more porous and more permeable to water vapor than the outer shell of the spacer.

The spacer according to the invention also preferably has at least one primary seal for the material connection of the spacer to at least one glass pane, namely a highly adhesive glue. Optionally, the adhesive glue can be covered with a protective film. To improve the adhesion of the highly adhesive glue, a surface treatment can be carried out on the profile, for example using the corona or plasma process.

In the first variant, at least the silicone-free outer shell and the drying agent of the spacer are present as a composite by coextrusion. By coextruding the outer shell with the drying agent, this is present as a multi-layer composite of the two components.

In a preferred embodiment of this first variant, the spacer is made entirely of materials which, after shaping, have no or only negligible outgassing; in particular, the spacer is completely silicone-free.

In order to make silicone safe from so-called "fogging", the material is usually refined by tempering after extrusion. This poses the risk of loading the drying agent. This is another advantage of not using silicone.

This bond eliminates the need for the spacer to be fitted with a desiccant later. In addition, the desiccant can be enclosed by the outer shell during production in a way that is as diffusion-resistant as desired.

This allows the spacer according to the invention to be stored under atmospheric conditions without the water absorption properties of the drying agent being exhausted by the water vapor in the atmospheric air. The spacer according to the invention thus allows the same to be stored until the insulating glass is manufactured.

In the second variant, the outer shell essentially has a low water vapor permeability and is bonded to the porous inner structure by monoextrusion. By using monoextrusion, which results in a component connection with two different structures, spacers can be produced cost-efficiently, since, in contrast to coextrusion, only one material mixture is used.

By directly extruding a polymer structure that contains the desiccant, there is no need to subsequently add a desiccant to the spacer. Since the outer shell has a substantially low water vapor permeability, storage under atmospheric conditions is also possible.

The moisture absorption of desiccants is typically standardized. Zeolite desiccants typically have a water absorption capacity of 20%. Due to the protective function of the outer shell, the initial water load of the desiccant remains low and this value is maintained even during storage or water cooling during the profile extrusion process. It has been shown that, particularly in the monoextrusion of a desiccant matrix made of TPE, the water vapor absorption in the desiccant present within the outer shell is much slower than with known spacers. With a standard load, the water vapor absorption after one month for a spacer made of TPE according to the invention is 5%, while the same value for known silicone-based spacers is over 8%. The spacers according to the invention are therefore much less critical with regard to water vapor absorption during production and storage.

The manufacturing process for spacers according to the invention can also be made more efficient. In particular, it is possible to increase the extrusion speed by simply cooling in a water bath without significantly damaging the water absorption capacity of the desiccant.

In a preferred embodiment of the first variant, the spacer is present as a composite by coextrusion of a thermoplastic material with a plastic matrix enriched with the drying agent.

In a preferred embodiment of the second variant, the spacer is in the form of a monoextrusion of a drying agent contained in a plastic matrix, which results in an outer shell and a comparatively more porous inner structure.

In a further preferred variant of both embodiments, the at least one primary seal is also present as a composite by coextrusion with the outer shell. The primary seal preferably runs longitudinally along the entire length of the profile. The primary seal designed in this way can thus fulfil a dual function: to firmly seal the spacer to a pane of glass and at the same time act as a seal to prevent the diffusion of water vapor from outside the space between the panes into the space between the panes. It goes without saying that a primary seal with such a dual function, ie a material that simultaneously has sufficient adhesive properties between the spacer profile and a pane of glass and also has sufficient sealing properties, can be advantageous in conjunction with other types of spacers and not necessarily in coextruded form. Adhesive butyl is used, for example, to create such a dual function.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable to use an adhesive film (preferably an acrylate adhesive tape) in a manner known per se, which serves to position and fix the spacer against a pane of glass during the production of insulating glass. In order to improve the adhesion of the adhesive tape, the spacer can also be subjected to a corona treatment, at least in the area that is provided with the adhesive tape. The adhesive tape can be provided with a cover film, which can be removed before the spacer is used.

The spacer according to the invention preferably has a substantially four-edged shape in profile. In a preferred embodiment, the profile cross-section of a spacer according to the invention has a substantially rectangular shape with a first side length of between 6 and 24 mm, and particularly preferably 12 or 16 mm side length. The side length also depends in particular on the planned application: for applications for triple glazing, total widths of 12 - 30 mm are typically preferred. A second side preferably has a side width of between 6 and 16 mm, more preferably 6 to 8 mm.

The spacer materials are preferably selected to provide a substantially flexible spacer that allows automated production of multi-glazed windows and can be wound onto rolls for storage. The multi-glazed windows can then be manufactured by robots.

In a further preferred embodiment, the spacer has at least one vapor barrier to prevent water vapor diffusion on one side of the spacer. The vapor barrier should preferably prevent the diffusion of water vapor through the side that faces outwards during assembly, i.e. faces the frame. A vapor barrier according to the invention can be a film that is glued on after extrusion. The vapor barrier is preferably produced by producing a vapor-impermeable plastic in a coextrusion process with the outer shell and the drying agent or the polymer matrix as a composite. Alternatively, the vapor barrier can be in the form of a metallic rolled foil and/or sputter-deposited metallic or glassy layer. A vapor barrier that is in the form of a laminate is particularly preferred, in particular made of a PE layer to which at least one PET-SiOx layer is applied. Two PET-SiOx layers are preferred. The PE layer can be easily connected, in particular welded, to the outer shell of a spacer made of TPE. At the same time, the PET-SioX layer forms a good contact for commonly used primary seals, e.g. butyl adhesive. Such a vapor barrier can be applied immediately after or during extrusion. Welding is preferably carried out immediately after extrusion of the profile.

For example, this can be done by welding on three sides using a Leister hot air device.

Alternatively, the extrusion nozzle itself can be provided with a feed for the vapor barrier. In particular, film thicknesses below a permissible stress limit can be directly connected to the plastic melt within the tool. In another alternative, the film is fed to the extruded profile directly after the nozzle during the relaxation phase.

In a preferred embodiment, the spacer has a first, substantially flat base surface and a second, substantially flat opposite base surface. Preferably, the first base surface in the end product is substantially permeable to water vapor and the second base surface is substantially impermeable to water vapor. During assembly, the first base surface is aligned so that it faces the space between the panes and the second base surface faces the window frame.

For the purposes of the present invention, a distinction is made between a tradable raw product and a tradable end product of the spacer according to the invention. In the raw product, the diffusion of water vapor to the inner structure, which contains the drying agent, is made more difficult. This is achieved by a diffusion-tight outer shell in the first embodiment or by a less porous, smooth outer shell in the second embodiment. The end product, i.e. the spacer "activated" during or shortly before assembly, enables the diffusion of water vapor into the interior of the spacer better on at least one side, which faces a gap between two panes of glass.

In a preferred embodiment, the first base surface has at least one opening, in particular one or more perforations.

In a further preferred embodiment, the second base surface has the vapor barrier. The vapor barrier is preferably a laminate made of PE and at least one PET-SiOx layer. Alternatively, metallic rolled foils are also conceivable, in particular Rolled foils comprising aluminum or stainless steel foil. A vapor-deposited metal layer is also conceivable.

In a preferred embodiment of the first variant, the outer shell coextruded with the desiccant matrix does not contain any silicone, in particular it contains a thermoplastic elastomer, or consists essentially thereof, selected from the group consisting of: TPS (styrene block copolymers), TPC (thermoplastic polyester elastomers), TPV (crosslinked thermoplastic olefin elastomers), TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers) and TPA (thermoplastic polyamide elastomers).

In a particularly preferred embodiment, additionally tempered chalk and/or talc can be added to the outer shell, in particular made of TPV. This can reduce the Shore hardness.

Preferably, the thermoplastic elastomer has at least one, preferably all of the following properties:
The Shore hardness is between 60 ShA and 75 ShA, preferably between 65 ShA and 70 ShA.

It can be processed by extrusion.

It has only minimal or negligible outgassing and/or is essentially solvent-free. Acceptable outgassing and fogging values can be found in DIN standard EN 1279-6,

It is compatible with the known insulating glass sealants, especially butyl, polyurethane, polysulfides, silicone or hot melt.

It has a temperature resistance of -20°C to 80°C.

It has low, or negligible, thermal expansion and thermal conduction.

It is essentially UV resistant.

It is essentially colorfast over a period of up to 20 years and under the influence of UV light.
It has a low, or negligible, water vapor permeability.

It has a low, or negligible, gas absorption, especially argon absorption.

It preferably has a lifespan of more than 20 years.

UV-stabilized, organic materials such as TPE olefins and TPU elastomers have proven to be particularly suitable. They are characterized by low water vapor permeation. TPA polyamides or adapted biopolymer compounds that meet the above conditions can also be used.

In a preferred embodiment of the second variant, the polymer matrix for the drying agent consists of components of the Olefinic TPE group, in particular Infuse 9007 from the manufacturer DOW.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, chalk and/or talc is added to the polymer matrix (particularly made of Olefic TPE). This can reduce the Shore hardness.

Preferably, the monoextruded polymer matrix has at least one, preferably all of the following properties:
The Shore hardness is between 60 ShA and 75 ShA, preferably between 65 ShA and 70 ShA.

It can be processed by extrusion.

It is compatible with the known insulating glass sealants, in particular butyl, polyurethane, polysulfides, silicone or hot melt.

It has a temperature resistance of -20°C to 80°C.

It has a low, or negligible, thermal expansion and heat conduction.

It is essentially colorfast over a period of up to 20 years and under the influence of UV light.

It contains an outer shell created by monoextrusion, which has a low, or negligible, water vapor permeability.

It has a low, or negligible, gas absorption, especially argon absorption.

It preferably has a service life of more than 20 years.

In both variants, it is also conceivable to add further components to the desiccant matrix, for example to increase UV stability. One possible option is Desmopan DP 9370AU from the manufacturer Bayer.

In a preferred embodiment, the primary seal is made of an adhesive selected from the group of butyl, acrylate and hot melt adhesives. If the primary seal is designed as an adhesive, it can perform two functions at the same time: on the one hand, the seal is useful for sealing in a conventional manner. At the same time, it performs a positioning function when installing insulating glass. Instead of using two different materials as before (acrylate for positioning and butyl for sealing), the primary seal can perform both functions. Of course, this solution can also be used advantageously in conjunction with other spacers.

A spacer according to the invention can be adapted to the contour of the glass. The spacer is preferably designed as a single piece. This makes the entire handling during assembly easier. In addition, the single piece design of the spacer enables particularly cost-effective production.

In a further preferred embodiment, the spacer has, in addition to its essentially rectangular basic shape, a recess, in particular a groove, for receiving a glass pane. A spacer designed in this way is particularly suitable for receiving the middle pane of glass in a triple-glazed window. Preferably, such a spacer also has a part of the primary seal in this groove.

In connection with triple glazing, a spacer can be used in particular, which has a basic shape as in WO 2010/11545 shown. By means of coextrusion or monoextrusion, it is also conceivable to provide the spacer with further shape features in a simple manner. The spacer can particularly preferably have a shape feature which has a precisely defined position in relation to the central receptacle of the spacer and which serves to position the spacer when inserting the central pane. This shape feature can typically be designed as a track groove on the side facing away from the side for receiving the central pane. While such a shape feature is particularly preferred in connection with spacers according to the invention, it goes without saying that it can also be advantageous for other spacers for triple glazing.

In a preferred embodiment of the first variant of these spacers suitable for triple glazing, the outer shell has two chambers with desiccant, which are present as a composite by coextrusion with the outer shell.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the spacer has at least one weakening point on the first flat base surface, which is perforated during or shortly before the insulating glass is manufactured and thereby ensures that the first flat base surface is permeable to gas and water vapor to the drying agent. Such a weakening point can be achieved by making the wall thickness of the outer shell thinner than the surrounding wall thickness. Such a weakening is particularly preferred in the first variant. However, it can also be advantageous in the second variant.

This has the advantage that the desiccant is protected by the outer shell during and after the production of the spacer and the water absorption capacity of the desiccant is not exhausted prematurely.

The drying agent can preferably be present as a matrix in a plastic. Drying agents based on molecular sieves, in particular silica gels and zeolites, are particularly suitable.

The outer shell primarily ensures UV resistance, elasticity and high dimensional stability. In a preferred embodiment, the drying agent can make up to 40, preferably up to 70%, more preferably up to 90% of the cross-section of the spacer. The outer shell has a wall thickness of 1 ± 0.5 mm.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing a spacer, in particular a spacer as described above.

A silicone-free outer shell and an inner structure that is more porous than the outer shell and contains the desiccant are extruded so that the porous inner structure is completely enclosed by the outer shell.

In a first variant, a silicone-free outer shell and a drying agent are coextruded using a profile multiple nozzle so that the drying agent is completely enclosed by the outer shell in a diffusion-tight manner.

A suitable profile nozzle is for example in US 5851609 shown. A suitable profile nozzle has several channels to extrude the individual components.

In a second variant, the outer shell and the inner structure are monoextruded in such a way that a more porous inner structure is created than the outer shell, which is completely enclosed by the outer shell.

After extrusion, the outer shell is preferably made permeable to air and vapor in at least one place in both embodiments. In the second variant, this step can also be omitted, depending on the porosity of the outer shell.

This step can be postponed until the insulating glass is manufactured.

The method according to the invention allows extrusion to take place with water cooling without the drying agent's water absorption capacity being exhausted before assembly, because at this point the drying agent is completely enclosed by the outer shell. This allows extrusion to be carried out much more efficiently and with a higher throughput.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer shell is perforated in at least one place following extrusion to create an opening.

In a further preferred embodiment, the outer shell is extruded with a weakened point, which is opened at least at one point following the extrusion, so that an opening is created.

Such a weakened point can be created, for example, using a profile nozzle that is designed to extrude a weakened point, particularly a point with a reduced wall thickness. This makes it easier to perforate the corresponding point on the outer shell.

In a preferred embodiment, the extrusion additionally comprises the extrusion of a seal, in particular a seal comprising a butyl, acrylate or hot melt adhesive.

In a special embodiment, the part of the outer shell facing the space between the panes is only made air and vapour permeable during assembly This can be done, for example, by having the part in question perforated by a production robot during processing. This can happen at weak points.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a multi-glazed window with at least two spaced apart parallel glass panes and a spacer arranged between the glass panes for spacing as previously described.

The spacer is preferably fixed directly to the glass pane with a primary seal.

Preferably, the gap between the first and second glass panes, which is formed by the spacer and is located outside the gap between the panes, is sealed with another secondary seal. Such secondary seals are known in the art. Polysulfites, polyurethanes and silicones have proven to be particularly suitable.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer shell completely encloses the drying agent at the time the spacer is fixed to a glass pane. As a result, particularly in the first variant, the outer shell encloses the inner structure containing the drying agent in an air- and vapor-tight manner.

In both embodiments, the edge of the spacer facing the space between the panes can be made permeable to air and vapour, for example by perforating it or by removing part of the outer shell at a weakened point.

In a preferred embodiment, the multi-glazed window is assembled in an automated process using a robot. It is particularly preferred that perforation is only carried out during the insulating glass production by an application robot so that the desiccant load is kept low and the water absorption capacity remains as high as possible.

In a preferred embodiment, the multi-glazed window comprises at least two panes of glass which are spaced apart by a spacer and define a space between the panes, and an outer space located on the outside of the spacer between the panes. Preferably, said outer space is sealed in a diffusion-tight manner with a secondary seal. The spacer does not comprise any silicone and in particular comprises an outer shell which at least partially encloses a desiccant matrix.

In both variants, the outer shell is preferably designed in such a way that vapor diffusion is possible between the space between the panes and a desiccant embedded in the desiccant matrix.

Due to the outer shell of the spacer, the initial water loading of the drying agent is very low. This also increases the service life of a multi-glazed window fitted with the spacer according to the invention. The conditions according to the EN1279 Part 2 and Part 3 standards are met more reliably and for longer. The argon loss from the space between the panes is less than 1% per year.

In a preferred embodiment of both variants, the internal structure has at least one cavity. The at least one cavity leads to a reduction in the PSI value. Internal structures without cavities are also conceivable. However, due to material and cost savings, an embodiment with cavities is preferable.

• Figur 1 zeigt ein schematisches Profil eines Abstandhalters aus dem Stand der Technik.
• Figur 2 zeigt ein weiteres schematisches Profil eines Abstandhalters für mehrfachverglaste Fenster.
• Figur 3 zeigt eine schematische Profilansicht eines Abstandhalters gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Figur 4 zeigt eine schematische Profilansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Abstandhalters gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Figur 5 zeigt eine schematische Profilansicht eines Abstandhalters gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung zwischen zwei Glasscheiben.
• Figur 6 zeigt eine schematische Profilansicht einer weiteren alternativen Form eines Abstandhalters gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Figur 7 zeigt eine schematische Profilansicht einer weiteren alternativen Form eines Abstandhalters gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Figur 8 zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung eines Abstandhalters teilweise im Querschnitt gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Figur 9 zeigt eine schematische Profilansicht einer weiteren alternativen Form eines Abstandhalters gemäss der vorliegenden Erfinding
• Figur 10 zeigt eine schematische Profilansicht einer weiteren alternativen Form eines Abstandhalters gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung
• Figur 11 zeigt eine schematische Profilansicht einer weiteren alternativen Form eines Abstandhalters gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to drawings and concrete embodiments, without, however, being limited to these.

• Figure 1 shows a schematic profile of a spacer from the prior art.
• Figure 2 shows another schematic profile of a spacer for multi-glazed windows.
• Figure 3 shows a schematic profile view of a spacer according to the present invention.
• Figure 4 shows a schematic profile view of another embodiment of a spacer according to the present invention.
• Figure 5 shows a schematic profile view of a spacer according to the present invention between two glass panes.
• Figure 6 shows a schematic profile view of another alternative form of spacer according to the present invention.
• Figure 7 shows a schematic profile view of another alternative form of spacer according to the present invention.
• Figure 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a spacer partially in cross section according to the present invention.
• Figure 9 shows a schematic profile view of another alternative form of a spacer according to the present invention
• Figure 10 shows a schematic profile view of another alternative form of a spacer according to the present invention
• Figure 11 shows a schematic profile view of another alternative form of a spacer according to the present invention

All figures are not to scale, especially The wall thickness of the outer shells 7 or 12 can be variable depending on the choice of material. In the Figures 5 to 9 the outer shell 7 or 12 is now shown as an example.

Figure 1 shows a spacer 1 from the prior art with a substantially rectangular profile cross-section. A primary seal 3 is attached to the two narrow sides. Butyl compounds are usually used as the primary seal. The spacer 1 also has a vapor barrier 4. Aluminum, aluminum alloys, stainless steel or plastic films are usually used as the vapor barrier 4.

Figure 2 shows another spacer 1 that is adapted for use with multi-glazed windows with three or more panes. The spacer 1 has a vapor barrier 4 and two primary seals 3 on the respective narrow sides of the spacer 1. The spacer also has a groove with another sealant 6, whereby acrylic adhesive or hot melts are generally used. A glass pane 5 is firmly connected to the spacer 1 in the groove by the seal 6. On the side facing away from the third pane 5, the spacer is also provided with a track groove that indicates the position of the groove. The track groove is used to position the spacer during the manufacture of insulating glass. In Fig. 2 the track groove is shown in conjunction with a conventionally manufactured spacer. It goes without saying that such track grooves are particularly easy to produce in conjunction with the coextruded or monoextruded spacers described below.

Figure 3 shows a spacer 1 according to the invention with a thermoplastic casing 7 which encloses a drying agent 8. The spacer 1 has a casing 7 with a thickness of 1 mm. In addition, the spacer 1 has a height H of 6.5 mm, a height h of 3.5 mm, a width B of 9.8 mm and a width b of 0.8 mm. The spacer 1 also has a sputtered surface 4 which acts as a vapor barrier to prevent the passage of gas and water vapor. The narrow sides of the spacer 1 are provided with an acrylic elastomer (VAMAC; Typon) as a highly adhesive adhesive (positioning adhesive) 3. The casing 7 also has perforations 9 on one side so that gas exchange can take place between the drying agent and the space between the panes (not shown).

The sheath 7 consists of a flexible, hand-bendable thermoplastic elastomer. The elastomer has a Shore A hardness of over 60 ShA, is fogging-proof and diffusion-tight for water vapor and argon gas. The sheath 7 is particularly preferably made of the Saran product group and is co-extruded together with the desiccant matrix.

The vapor barrier 4 for secondary sealing preferably consists of a composite functional film. Films sputtered with SiO ₂ to make them diffusion-tight are particularly suitable. A laminate made of PE/PET-SiOx/PET-SiOx that is welded on after extrusion is particularly preferred, with the PE layer facing the spacer and the PET-SiOx layer facing the glass. Alternatively, EVOH-based films are conceivable. Alternatively, a glass, aluminum, stainless steel or plastic film can be glued on after the coextrusion of the casing 7 and the desiccant matrix 8. The primary seals (positioning adhesives) 3 can also be attached to the spacer 1 in an attached manufacturing step. It is also conceivable to integrate the provision of a suitable vapor barrier in the coextrusion process. The vapor barrier 4 can be a rolled metal foil that can be selected to be between 10 and 30 mm (aluminum) or 6 and 12 mm (stainless steel) thick, depending on the material used. The rolled films can also be corrugated. The corrugation is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spacer. This makes the spacer more flexible and easier to roll up. Of course, in this case the plastic material applied to the film is also corrugated accordingly.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment to the spacer 1 from Figure 3 The spacer 1 has a thermoplastic casing 7 made of Saran ^™ Barrier Films from DOW, which encloses a desiccant matrix 8 (as described above) in two separate chambers. For example, Infuse 9007 DOW can be used as the desiccant matrix. The casing 7 is provided with perforations 9 at two locations 9 so that water vapor exchange is possible between the desiccant matrix and the space between the panes (not shown). Fig.4 shows a schematic of a middle pane 5 of a triple-glazed window, which is set into a groove and is firmly bonded to the spacer 1 by means of an adhesive 6. The spacer also has a track groove for positioning relative to the middle pane. The spacer 1 also has a vapor barrier 4. The vapor barrier preferably has a film coated with SiOx, e.g. a PET-SiOx film. A laminate made of PE/PET-SiOX/PET-SiOx from the manufacturer AMCOR is preferred. The PET-SiOx layer is a PET carrier that is coated with silicon in a high vacuum. Alternatively, vapor barriers made of a subsequently attached stainless steel film, aluminum rolled foil or another metal foil or vapor-deposited metal are also conceivable.

The spacer also has two primary seals 3 made of an acrylic adhesive, which were also subsequently attached. Alternatively, TPU foam, butyl, hot melt or EPDM would also be suitable.

The desiccant matrix used for Figure 3 and 4 3A zeolite with a volumetric content of 25 to 60% in a matrix of an olefin block copolymer (e.g. INFUSE ^™ 9700 from DOW ^® ) or a polyolefin elastomer (e.g. ENGAGE ^™ from DOW ^® ) is used.

The thermoplastic sheath 7 and the desiccant matrix 8 are coextruded in one process step. Alternatively, the seal 6 can also be coextruded with the desiccant matrix 8 and the thermoplastic sheath 7.

Figure 5 shows a spacer 1 mounted between two panes 5. The spacer 1 has a thermoplastic coating 7 in combination with a drying agent 8. The thermoplastic coating consists of TPU or olefins. The spacer also has an adhesive tape 11 on both sides, which was previously coated with a film and the film was removed before the spacer 1 was applied to the glass panes 5. The spacer 1 also has primary barriers 3 made of butyl adhesive. A secondary seal 10 made of polysulfide - Thiover or polyurethane - Polyver additionally seals the spacer 1 from the outside atmosphere. The drying agent 8 is extruded as a matrix made of drying agent and a plastic, whereby the materials of the Figures 3 and 4 be used.

Figure 6 shows a spacer 1, in which, in contrast to the Figure 5 the adhesive tape and the primary barrier were replaced by a primary barrier 3 made of adhesive hot melt or butyl (adhesive). The primary barrier 3 thus performs a double function: bonding the glass panes and preventing vapor diffusion. The primary barrier 3 can be co-extruded with the other components of the spacer. To apply the adhesive tape, Figure 6 (not shown in detail) similar to the Figures 2 or 3 a recess or a groove is provided (which is also already used in these figures to accommodate the primary seals 3. Depending on whether a version with a barrier film (comparable to the illustrations in Figures 3 and 4 ) or a rolled stainless steel foil is used, a recess (in the case of a barrier foil) or a groove (between the stainless steel foil and the profile) is provided to accommodate the adhesive tape.

The Figure 7 differs from the Figure 5 by a vapor barrier 4 welded to the thermoplastic elastomer 7, made of a SiOx-coated film or a glued film made of aluminum or stainless steel. The thermoplastic elastomer 7 encloses a drying agent 8.

It goes without saying that all of the above-mentioned embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another as desired.

Figure 8 shows a perspective cross-section of a section of a spacer 1 which is present as a strip cutout. The spacer 1 has a first flat base surface 20 which, when mounted, points towards a space between the panes (not shown) and a second flat base surface 21 which, when mounted, points towards a window frame (not shown). The spacer 1 has perforations 9 along the entire length of the side 20 in order to enable gas exchange with the drying agent. The base surface 21 is delimited by a diffusion-tight film.

Figure 9 shows a perspective cross-section of a spacer 1, which is available as a strip cutout. The spacer 1 has an outer shell 12 and a porous inner structure 13. The outer shell 12 and the inner structure 13 are mono-extruded as a component compound from a plastic matrix and drying agent. The drying agent preferably used is zeolite and preferably makes up 50% of the drying agent matrix. The plastic for the matrix is Infuse 9007 from Dow. Alternatively, HTC8312/59 from KRAIBURG TPE Gmbh & Co. KG can also be used. This embodiment can also be used for triple glazing and can be provided with a track groove as described above. This embodiment can also be provided with adhesive tape and vapor barriers, in particular a vapor barrier made of a PE/PET-SiOx/PET-SiOx laminate film, as described above.

Extrusion takes place at a temperature of 130°C (at the extrusion nozzle) to 160°C (in the feed line) and an extrusion speed of 5 to 30 m/min.

Figure 10 shows a perspective cross-section of a spacer 1. The drying agent 8 has two cavities 14. The drying agent is surrounded by a casing 7. The drying agent 8 with the cavities 14 is coextruded with the casing 7.

Figure 11 differs from Figure 10 in that the spacer 1 is mono-extruded as a whole from a plastic matrix. The spacer 1 has an outer shell 12 and an inner structure 13. The inner structure also has two cavities 14.

In Figure 10 and in Figure 11 The cavities 14 reduce the PSI value on the one hand, and material savings are achieved on the other. It goes without saying that these embodiments can also be used for triple glazing and can be provided with a track groove as described above. These embodiments can also be provided with adhesive tape and vapor barriers, in particular a vapor barrier made of a PE/PET-SiOx/PET-SiOx laminate film, as described above.

For all of the above embodiments, it is possible to cool the extrusion with water during the manufacturing process.

This enables a high extrusion speed and at the same time the drying agent is subjected to less stress in the extrusion process. The spacers produced in this way have a longer shelf life.

By choosing a thermoplastic elastomer in the Figures 3-8 and 10 The spacer outer skin also has a lower water vapor permeability. This significantly increases the service life of multi-glazed windows with the spacers according to the invention.

In the Figure 9 and 11 The service life is also increased with an outer shell with lower water vapor permeability, which is created by monoextrusion.

Claims (5)

1. Spacer (1) for spacing apart glass panes (5) of a multi-glazed window comprising a silicone-free outer shell (7; 12) which surrounds an inner structure (8; 13), wherein the outer shell (7; 12) is present by extrusion in the form of a composite comprising the inner structure (8; 13), wherein
   the spacer (1) has a substantially rectangular cross section and is provided with a first, substantially planar base area (20) and a second, substantially planar opposing base area (21) and wherein the first base area (20) is substantially permeable to water vapour and the second base area (21) is substantially impermeable to gases, in particular to water vapour and inert gases, in particular argon and krypton, wherein the second base area (21) comprises at least one vapour barrier (4) to prevent water vapour diffusion through the vapour barrier (4), characterised by that the vapour barrier (4) is formed by a film of a PE layer and at least one PET-SiOx layer constructed as a laminate.
2. Spacer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vapour barrier (4) is applied directly in the extrusion process or directly following the extrusion process.
3. Spacer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vapour barrier (4) is applied by co-extrusion.
4. Spacer (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein the vapour barrier (4) is a laminate of PE/PET-SiOx/PET-SiOx.
5. Spacer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PET-SiOx film is a film coated with SiOx.

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