Near Infrared Reflecting Composition and Coverings for Architectural Openings Incorporating Same

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions that can be used in forming products with increased near infrared (IR) reflective capability. A composition can include IR reflective and/or IR transmissive non-white pigments and can be formed with suitable viscosity so as to successfully coat substrates, e.g., yarns, suitable for use in forming coverings for architectural openings, e.g., window coverings. Also disclosed are textile substrates coated with the compositions, including textile substrates coated with compositions that include abrasive, inorganic IR reflective dark pigments.

1 . A covering for an architectural opening comprising:
 a cured polymeric composition comprising a polymeric resin and a non-white pigment, the pigment being an infrared reflective pigment or an infrared transparent pigment, the cured polymeric composition having a CIELAB L* value of less than about 90 measured at an observation angle of 25°, the covering reflecting more than about 15% of impinging solar radiation between about 700 and about 2500 nm.   
     
     
         2 . The covering of  claim 1 , wherein the cured polymeric composition is a first coating layer on a substrate selected from a fibrous construct, a wood, metal or polymer substrate or a textile. 
     
     
         3 . The covering of  claim 1 , wherein the cured polymeric composition is a second coating on a substrate, the covering further comprising a first coating between the substrate and the second coating. 
     
     
         4 . The covering of  claim 3 , wherein the first coating comprises one or more white or non-white IR reflective pigments. 
     
     
         5 . The covering of  claim 3 , wherein the first coating is more IR reflective than the second coating. 
     
     
         6 . The covering of  claim 4 , wherein the non-white pigment of the second coating is an inorganic infrared reflective pigment. 
     
     
         7 . The covering of  claim 2 , wherein the fibrous construct includes a mono filament or multi filament yarn or staple yarn and/or includes one or more fibers comprising a glass fiber, a polyester fiber, a polyolefin fiber, a natural fiber, or a combination thereof, wherein the one or more fibers are mono- or multi-filament fibers or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The covering of  claim 1 , wherein the covering is a window covering. 
     
     
         9 . The covering of  claim 1 , wherein the covering reflects more than about 50% of impinging solar radiation between about 700 and about 2500 nm and/or reflects more than about 25% of all impinging solar radiation. 
     
     
         10 . The covering of  claim 1 , wherein the non-white pigment is a black pigment and/or comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         11 . A method for forming the covering of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 mixing the polymer resin with the non-white pigment to form a composition, the pigment being an infrared reflective pigment or an infrared transparent pigment;   adjusting the viscosity of the composition such that the composition has a viscosity of less than about 5000 cP as measured with a Brookfield RTV at 20 rpm;   coating a substrate with the composition; and   curing the composition.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the composition includes the non-white pigment in a concentration equal to or less than about 50 parts per hundred parts of the polymeric resin. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising including a viscosity reducing agent in the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the polymer resin comprises reactive monomeric or oligomeric components, the monomeric or oligomeric components polymerizing during the step of curing the composition. 
     
     
         15 . A composition for coating a component of an architectural opening, the composition comprising:
 a polymeric resin; and   a non-white pigment, the pigment being an infrared reflective pigment or an infrared transparent pigment; wherein   the composition has a viscosity of less than about 5000 cP as measured with a Brookfield RTV at 20 rpm, and the cured composition has a CIELAB L* value of less than about 90 measured at an observation angle of 25°.   
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 15 , further comprising one or more of a plasticizer, a viscosity reducing agent, or a flame retardant. 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the resin is in the form of an emulsion in an aqueous medium. 
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 15 , claims wherein the polymeric resin is a polyvinyl chloride resin, a polyolefin resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, a polylactide resin, an acrylic resin, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The composition according to  claim 15 , further comprising additional pigments. 
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the non-white pigment is black and/or comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         21 . The composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the polymeric resin is in the form of a plurality of reactive monomers, oligomers, or mixtures thereof, the reactive monomers, oligomers, or mixtures thereof reacting with one another to form a polymer. 
     
     
         22 . The covering of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises aluminum or poly(vinyl chloride). 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the viscosity of the composition is adjusted such that the composition has a viscosity of less than about 2500 cP. 
     
     
         24 . The composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the composition has a viscosity of less than about 2500 cP. 
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the composition has a CIELAB L* value of less than about 70. 
     
     
         26 . The composition according to  claim 19 , wherein the additional pigments include an interference pigment or carbon black.