Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-07
2004-04-06
Pyon, Harold (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or...
C428S143000, C428S148000, C428S149000, C428S323000, C428S330000, C428S331000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06716513
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a material having a hydrophilic surface, and more particularly to a hydrophilic material for use, for example, as glasses, mirrors, reflector plates, and protective plates, where antifogging properties and antifouling properties are required, and to a process, a coating composition and an apparatus for producing the same.
2. Background Art
When the temperature is brought to the dew point or below, the moisture in the air condenses and, consequently, fog is likely to occur on the surface of transparent materials, such as glasses and plastics, reflecting materials, such as mirrors and metal plates, and other materials, such as materials having a design on the surface thereof, Further, upon the deposition of rainwater or water spray on the surface of these materials, the water is likely to deposit as water droplets rather than as a water layer. Thus, the presence of fog or water droplets on the surface of materials often makes it impossible to exhibit functions inherent in the materials, or deteriorates the appearance and design of the materials due to scattering of light.
The following techniques are known to render the surface of the substrate hydrophilic to solve the problem of such fogging and the scattering of light.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 278431/1997 discloses a method for forming profile irregularities (concaves and convexes) on the surface of a substrate, comprising the steps of: coating a surface treating agent comprising phosphoric acid or its salt, a soluble aluminum compound, a water-soluble silicate, a surfactant, and a solvent; and heat treating the coating at 300 to 700° C.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 100234/1999 discloses a method for forming profile irregularities, wherein a layer is formed which comprises metal oxide particles having a particle diameter of 3 to 300 nm and a metal oxide and has profile peaks having an arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) of 1.5 to 80 nm and a mean distance between concaves and convexes (Sm) of 4 to 300 nm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present inventors have now found that the regulation of the surface state of a hydrophilic material can provide a hydrophilic material having excellent antifogging properties without sacrificing the layer hardness and endurance properties.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hydrophilic material which, while maintaining satisfactory layer hardness and endurance properties, is less likely to fog and is less likely to cause the deposition of water droplets and soils or stains thereon.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hydrophilic material comprising at least a substrate and a hydrophilic layer provided as the outermost layer on the substrate, the hydrophilic layer comprising at least hydrophilic metal oxide particles and a hydrophilic inorganic amorphous material, the hydrophilic layer having on its surface profile peaks, the hydrophilic layer having roughness properties such that, when a segment is set in only a portion not containing the profile peaks, the ten-point mean roughness (Rz) and the mean distance between concaves and convexes (Sm) obtained from a profile curve in the segment are 10 nm≦Rz≦40 nm and 10 nm≦Sm≦300 nm, respectively, while, when a segment is set so as to pass through the profile peaks, the ten-point mean roughness (Rz) and the mean distance between concaves and convexes (Sm) obtained from a profile curve in the segment are 40 nm≦Rz≦200 nm and 300 nm≦Sm≦1500 nm, respectively.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hydrophilic material comprising at least a substrate, a first hydrophilic layer provided on the substrate and consisting essentially of a hydrophilic inorganic amorphous material and hydrophilic metal oxide particles, and a second hydrophilic layer provided as the outermost layer on the first hydrophilic layer and consisting essentially of a hydrophilic inorganic amorphous material.
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International Preliminary Examination Report dated Jun. 5, 2001, for PCT/JP00/01438, International Filing Date Mar. 9, 2000.
JPO Abstract 56(1981)-121661, Sep. 24, 1981.
JPO Abstract 08(1996)-188442, Jul. 23,1996.
JPO Abstract 09(1997)-278431, Oct. 28, 1997.
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Hasuo Hiroto
Kato Takayuki
Kobayashi Hideki
Nakanishi Yoshiyuki
Chevalier Alicia
Jones Day
Pyon Harold
Toto Ltd.
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