WO2006092343A1

WO2006092343A1 - Rocks featuring increased light transmission, method for the production thereof, and use thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2006092343A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/050162
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edwin Nun; Isabella Mazurczyk; Sigrid Banken
Original assignee: Degussa Ag
Priority date: 2005-03-02
Filing date: 2006-01-11
Publication date: 2006-09-08
Also published as: DE102005010157A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for increasing the light transmission of rocks by entirely or partially filling the intercrystalline hollow spaces with a free-flowing, non-gaseous, translucent fluid. The invention further relates to rocks which have an increased light transmission compared to untreated rocks and whose intercrystalline hollow spaces are filled at least in part with a free-flowing, non-gaseous, translucent fluid. Also disclosed is the use of rocks featuring increased light transmission as a part or component.

Description

Rocks with increased light transmission, process for their preparation and their use

The present invention is a method for increasing the light transmission of rocks, the stones made translucent to untreated rocks themselves and their use.

Natural stone, also called natural stone, occupies an outstanding position among building materials. Natural stone components are unique. There is hardly a building material that combines colors and structures with convincing mechanical properties in such diverse ways as natural stone. Some minerals are translucent by nature, glazed minerals and crystals are even transparent.

Onyx is used for optical design elements due to its translucency. Rock salt chunks are provided with a light source, used as diffuse light sources. Other minerals, such as marble, are used both indoors and outdoors. Marbling or functionality are usually the factors for selecting the mineral.

As a transparent component, however, with the exception of onyx, no translucent applications are known. Here is clearly demarcated against crystals or glasses.

Numerous references refer to the refinement of surfaces of sensitive rocks. In "Minerals & Metallurgical Processing" (1993), 10 (2), 91-95, (ISSN 0747-9182) DS Murphy et al describe the formation of calcium fluoride on the surfaces of carbonate rocks. but in no way a change in light transmittance.

In EP 1 492 743 a surface treatment of cut rocks or cut concrete parts is described, with which the resistance to acids, bases, cleaning agents and contamination is achieved. This is done by organic-inorganic composites in Combination with a specified microroughness of the surface. An indication of a changed, better translucency is not given.

There is therefore a need for translucent construction material for interior fittings and components in order to produce special design effects, to set individual accents or to satisfy requirements of occupational safety by means of shadow-free and at the same time glare-free light, for example on work surfaces and traffic routes.

The object of the present invention was therefore to provide rocks with permanently increased light transmission and to provide a method which permanently increases the light transmission of rocks.

Surprisingly, it was found that by flowable, transparent fluids the

Translucence of rocks can be increased. For this purpose, a saturation of the rock matrix with the fluid is needed. The flowable, translucent fluid can saturate the rock in liquid form and increase its translucency.

Under the impregnation of the rock in the context of this invention, the filling of the intergranular cavities with the flowable, translucent fluid understood.

Intercrystalline cavities in the sense of this invention are pores and air-filled, coherent cavities between the crystallites forming the mass of the rock, which pass through the rock and are in contact with the surface of the rock.

The rock according to the invention may contain natural stone. The rock according to the invention preferably contains marble, calcite, granite, onyx, rock salt, dolomite, quartzite, sandstone or calcareous sandstone or a mixture of these. Most preferably, an inventive rock contains marble.

Depending on the application, the rock or its surface may have been treated mechanically. Preferably, the rock has one or more polished surfaces. Such polished rocks can be used particularly advantageously in the sanitary area and in the kitchen area but also for facade design. Flowable, translucent fluids include clear liquids that can not be removed from the rock by simply raising the temperature, eg, by contact with boiling water. These include, for example, oils, silicone oils or oily compounds. Furthermore, substances which impregnate the rocks in liquid form, but which prevents physical separation of the fluid from the rock by polymerization or crosslinking, should be mentioned. These include, for example, methyl methacrylate polymerized to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), styrene polymerized to polystyrene, butyl methacrylate polymerized to polybutyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate polymerized to polybutyl acrylate, transparent polymers or polymers in solution after evaporation of the solvents remain in the rock cavities. Even a sol-gel that has not yet hardened can saturate the rock. After hardening of the sol gel, which is triggered by the action of heat and may be accompanied by crosslinking, the rock has a significantly increased translucency compared to the untreated rock. For example, with a carbonate rock, preferably a 1 cm thick, planar cararam marble, held against a light source, a felt-tip marker can be seen on the back of the rock. Also, the light penetrating the rock highlights the marbling of the rock in a striking way. With untreated marble, both are not the case with the same light intensity.

The increase in translucency is also achieved by saturation of the rocks with silicone polyester resins. For a lasting effect only those substances can be used, which permanently fill the pores of the rocks.

The present invention therefore relates to a method for increasing the light transmission of rock, which is characterized in that the intercrystalline cavities of the rock are at least partially filled with the same by contacting the rock with a flowable, non-gaseous, translucent fluid.

Likewise provided by the present invention is a rock with increased light transmission compared with a corresponding untreated rock, which is characterized in that its intergranular cavities are at least partially filled with a flowable, non-gaseous, translucent filling material selected from oil, silicone oil, stearates, Glycerolester, fats, oily compounds, a mixture of such compounds or with a translucent polymer or copolymer or with a translucent cured sol-gel or with a translucent cured silicone polyester resin or a translucent aminopropyl triethoxysilane cured silicone polyester resin or filled with a transparent solidifying polyurethane dispersion are.

Likewise provided by the present invention is the use of a rock according to the invention with increased light transmission as a component in the construction of optical elements, indirect light sources, shadow-free floors, shadow-free stairs, work surfaces, kitchen elements, sanitary facilities, kitchens or staircases, or as material for floorboards, countertops, sinks , Sideboards, splash guards, shadowless stairs or indirect light sources.

In addition, the present invention is a light transmission increasing agent, which is characterized in that the agent is a material selected from oils, silicone oils, stearates, glycerol esters, fats, silicone polyester resins, oily compounds or a mixture of such compounds or a sol-gel, obtainable by mixing a) a silane of the formula (Z ¹ ^ Si (OR) ₃ , where Z ¹ = OR or 3-glycidyloxypropyl (= Gly) and

R = identical or different alkyl radicals having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, b) an alcohol, c) a water-containing initiator selected from an aqueous acid or aqueous base, d) a further silane of the formula (Z ² ) _z Si (OR) _4-z , with R = identical or different alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with Z ² = H _a F _b C _n with a and b = integers, a + b = l + 2n, z = 1 or 2, n = 1 to 16 or in the case that Z ¹ = GIy, Z ² =

3-aminopropyl (= Am) and z = 1, and e) an inert solvent having a content of 0 wt .-% to 30 wt .-% based on the mass of the uncured sol gel and f) a fumed silica or a precipitated silica or a monomer selected from methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, styrene or a mixture of these monomers, or a silicone polyester resin, a silicone polyester resin with aminopropyltriethoxysilane, or a polyurethane dispersion. For the purposes of the present invention, light transmission is understood to mean the product of the attenuation coefficient and the thickness of the rock parallel to the propagation direction of the light beam. The attenuation coefficient describes in Lambert's law the reduction of the intensity of the visible light transmitted through the rock, equivalent to the weakening of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the rock in the wavelength range of 400 to 800 nm. The reduction of the intensity I _{0 of} the electromagnetic radiation when passing through a Body is governed by Lambert's Law, which is given by the formula below.

I = I ₀ * exp (-α D),

with I = intensity of the electromagnetic radiation after passing through the body,

I ₀ = intensity of the electromagnetic radiation before passing through the body, D = thickness of the body parallel to the propagation direction of the light beam, α = attenuation coefficient, α depends on the distribution of the intensities on the wavelengths of the light emitting the light source. For the purposes of the invention, light sources are understood to mean all light sources which are designed for visible light or adapted to the human perception of light; these are, for example, in the household, at workplaces or at and / or in buildings, conventional incandescent lamps, halogen lamps, energy-saving lamps, gas discharge lamps, light-emitting semiconductor systems or fluorescent tubes. The smaller the amount of the product of α and D, the greater the light transmission, and vice versa. Therefore, the product of α and D can be considered as a measure of light transmission.

The method according to the invention will be described below by way of example, without the invention, the scope of which results from the claims and the description, being restricted thereto. The claims themselves belong to the disclosure of the present invention. If areas or preferred areas are specified in the following text, then all theoretically possible subareas in these areas should also be indicated belong to the disclosure content of the present invention, without that they have been explicitly named for reasons of clarity.

The inventive method for increasing the light transmission of rock is characterized by the fact that the intercrystalline cavities of the rock by contacting the

Rock with a flowable, non-gaseous, translucent fluid are at least partially filled with selbigem. The cavities are at least partially, preferably completely filled. Complete filling in the context of the present invention is preferably understood to mean a filling of all the cavities which can be achieved by the fluid from the surface which is in contact with the fluid.

The inventive method is based essentially on the mutual forces of attraction between the surfaces formed by the intergranular cavities and the fluid. Through these forces, the fluid can penetrate through the intercrystalline cavities of the rock.

In the method according to the invention, a natural stone is preferably used as rock. Particularly preferred is a rock selected from marble, calcite, granite, onyx, rock salt, dolomite, quartzite, sandstone or limestone or a mixture of these. Most preferably, marble is used as rock.

The contacting of the fluid with the rock can be accomplished by various well-known methods. Thus, the fluid can be applied to the rock e.g. be geräkelt, painted, rolled, sprayed or by immersion of the rock in the fluid to be brought into contact with this.

Preferably, a portion of the surface of the rock is contacted with the fluid. This is advantageous because it can be achieved in a simple manner that the air displaced by the fluid can escape from the cavities. Most preferably, the surface is brought into contact with the fluid simply coherently. This has the advantage that the surface of the rock is completely brought into contact with the fluid, so that the escaping air only at a defined part of the surface of the rock can escape.

The duration of the contacting is basically arbitrary. Preferably, the contacting of the rock with the fluid is for a duration that causes a complete filling of all accessible cavities. Preferably, the surface of the rock is contacted with the fluid for a period of from 5 seconds to 3 hours, preferably from 10 seconds to 1 hour, and more preferably from 12 seconds to 30 minutes. The indicated periods are particularly preferred for rocks which have a size of 1 mm to 10 cm, particularly preferably 2 mm to 2 cm and very particularly preferably of 5 mm to 1 cm in the dimension perpendicular to the contact surface with the fluid. The contacting of the rock with the fluid can be stopped, in particular, as soon as the fluid does not further wet the part of the surface which has not been brought into contact with the fluid.

Preferably, after completion of contacting the rock with the fluid, the fluid brought into contact with the surface of the rock is removed from the surface of the rock by drying, dabbing, scraping, blowing, spinning or by heating. The

Removing excess fluid can in particular by compressed air, eg. B. by means of a

Air knife or by wiping with a rubber squeegee. By removing the excess fluid depending on the fluid used surface effects such. As hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, oleophobia, oleophilicity, gloss or color effects can be adjusted.

Preferably, the rock is contacted with the fluid at a temperature of at most 100 ° C, preferably at a temperature of at most 45 ° C in contact. The filling of the intercrystalline cavities of the rock can be carried out at standard ambient pressure. However, it is also possible to support the mutual forces of attraction between the fluid and the surfaces formed by the intercrystalline cavities of the rock in such a way that a negative pressure is created in the cavities of the rock or the fluid is pressed into the intercrystalline cavities with an overpressure. In this way it is possible to accelerate the filling of the cavities of the rock.

The fluid used is preferably a fluid having a refractive index which is at most 50%, preferably at most 30%, particularly preferably at most 10% and most preferably at most 5% different from the refractive index of the main crystal species present in the rock. Refractive index is understood to mean the real refractive index, which describes the refraction of visible light during the transition from one medium to another medium, eg from air in rock, from rock in air, from rock into a filling material or from filling material in rock. The term "main crystal grade" refers to the type of crystal which is present in a volume fraction of at least 50% of the crystallites in the rock.

If a fluid is used which contains an optically homogeneous medium and particles, preferably such a medium and a type of particle is used whose refractive indices differ in pairs from the refractive index of the main crystal species by at most 45%, preferably at most 25%. For the purposes of this invention, pairwise means that both the refractive indices of the medium and the particle, the particle and the main crystal type and the main crystal type and the medium are compared.

As the fluid, an oil, a silicone oil, stearates, glycerin esters, fats, silicone-silicone polyester resins, an oleaginous compound or a mixture of these can be used. Particularly preferred in the process according to the invention is a chemically stable oleaginous compound, e.g. Tricaprylin (CAS: 538-23-8).

The fluid used in the process according to the invention may be a sol-gel, mixed from a) a silane of the formula (Z ¹⁾ Si (OR) ₃ , where Z ¹ = OR or 3-glycidyloxypropyl (= Gly) and R = identical or different, B) an alcohol, c) a water-containing initiator selected from an aqueous acid or aqueous base, d) a further silane of the formula (Z ² ) _z Si (OR) _4-z , with R ₃ = identical or different alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with Z ² = H _a F _b C _n with a and b = integers, a + b = l + 2n, z = 1 or 2, n = 1 to 16 or the case that Z ¹

= GIy, Z ² = 3-aminopropyl (= Am) and z = 1, and e) an inert solvent having one on the mass of the uncured sol gel relative proportion of 0 wt .-% to 30 wt .-%, and f) a fumed silica or a precipitated silica are used. In this case, the excess sol-gel can be removed after contacting and the sol-gel remaining in the rock can be thermally cured. The thermal curing of the sol gel can be carried out by drying at room temperature or elevated temperature. Preferably, the thermal curing takes place at elevated temperature, because thereby the solidification times can be significantly reduced. Hardening is preferably carried out at a temperature of 80 ° C to 500 ° C, more preferably in a temperature range of 90 ° C to 250 ° C, most preferably in a temperature range of 100 ° C to 220 ° C. As fumed silicas or precipitated silicas, for example, there can be used, which must be made under the name Aerosil ^® or Sipernat ^® by Degussa AG. Due to the presence of silica particles shrinkage of the sol-gel during curing can be largely avoided. In this way, the formation of cracks in the sol-gel located in the intergranular cavities of the rock can be suppressed as much as possible.

In the preparation of this sol-gel by mixing compounds of the formula GIySi (OR) ₃ with compounds of the formula AmSi (OR) ₃ , the molar ratio of compounds of the formula GIySi (OR) ₃ to compounds of the formula AmSi (OR) ₃ in The mixture can be varied within wide ranges. Preferably, the molar ratio of 5: 1 to 1: 5, preferably from 1.5: 1 to 1: 1.5 and particularly preferably 1: 1. For the preparation of such a sol gel is preferably 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (AMEO) and 3- Glycidyloxypropyltriethoxysilane (GLYEO) or 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AMMO) and 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GLYMO). These compounds are available from Degussa AG under the trade name Dynasylan ^®.

Likewise, tetraethoxysilane and methyltriethoxysilane, octyltriethoxysilane, hexadecyltrimethoxysilane and / or 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyltriethoxysilane or mixtures thereof can be used for the preparation of the sol-gel , This mixture may also contain alcohol, e.g. Ethanol or isopropanol.

The growth of the particles in the sol-gel and the formation of a network is of pH and the temperature depends. At pH values below 7, predominantly network-like structures are formed. Such conditions are for. B. for applications on and / or in rocks that are acid resistant, more suitable. At pH values of at least 7, particle-like structures grow in dependence on time and pH, which have fewer network-like structures. Such conditions are for. B. for natural stones that are acid-sensitive, such as marble, more suitable. Further details on the influence of the pH on the particle formation may, for. BR Her, "The chemistry of Silica" (Wiley, New York 1979) can be favored by varying the initiator, so by using an aqueous acid or aqueous base, the formation of a network or the formation of particles favor the aggregation of particles at a pH of 7 to 10.

Intermediate forms of larger particles that form reticulate can be achieved by changing the pH, by controlling the viscosity and by changing the water concentration, but also by the admixture of particles, on whose surfaces network formation is catalyzed.

As already mentioned, an aqueous acid, preferably a mineral acid or an aqueous base, preferably an inorganic base, can be used as the initiator. If an aqueous acid is used as the initiator, so much aqueous acid is preferably used that the resulting sol-gel has a calculated pH of 2 to 6. If an aqueous base is used as the initiator, so much base is preferably used that the resulting sol-gel has a calculated pH of 8 to 11. The addition of the aqueous base or aqueous acid is preferably carried out so that the molar ratio of water to compounds of the formula (Z ¹ ^ Si (OR) ₃ , in particular to GIySi (OR) ₃ , in the preparation of the first mixture of 100,000 : 1 to 10: 1, preferably from 1000: 1 to 100: 1.

The sol gel used as a fluid in the process of the present invention, which is contacted with the surface of the rock, preferably has a content of alcohol, e.g. at

Ethanol or isopropanol, of at least 50% by weight. Due to the content of liquid

Components, the viscosity can be adjusted so that the fluid is the pores of the rock can fill and displace the existing air in the pores. If the sol-gel contacted with the surface of the rock has a significantly lower content of liquid components, then the pores are not completely filled after solidification of the sol-gel. Also, the rapid increase in viscosity due to volatilization of the alcohols can result in incomplete filling of the pores.

As fluids but also mixtures containing a thermal initiator and a monomer or a mixture of monomers, are used, wherein the monomers in the rock, preferably after complete filling of the cavities of the rock with the fluid, are thermally polymerized. Preferably used as monomers are those selected from methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, styrene or methyl styrene.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention can be used as fluid a silicone polyester resin, in particular a silicone polyester resin with aminopropyltriethoxysilane or an aqueous polyurethane dispersion in the rock, preferably after complete filling of the cavities of the rock with this fluid, at a temperature of at most 100 ° C, preferably at most 50 ° C is thermally cured.

The removal of excess fluid from the surface can be done as described above. Removal of the cured components can be accomplished by abrading, scraping, shaving, brushing or trimming, not only cutting off the cured component during trimming, but also cutting off some of the rock.

With the method according to the invention rocks with increased light transmission can be produced in a simple manner.

Rocks according to the invention with increased light transmission compared to a corresponding untreated rock are characterized in that their intergranular cavities at least partially or completely with a translucent filling material selected from oil, silicone oil, stearates, glycerol esters, fats, oily compounds, a mixture of such compounds or with a translucent polymer or copolymer or with a translucent cured sol gel or with a translucent cured Silicone polyester resin or a translucent cured silicone polyester resin with aminopropyltriethoxysilane or filled with a transparent polyurethane dispersion. In a particular embodiment, the intergranular cavities are completely filled.

In a preferred embodiment, the rock of the invention is in its intergranular cavities with a hardened sol-gel obtainable by mixing a) a silane of the formula (Z ¹ ^ Si (OR) ₃ , with Z ¹ = OR or 3-glycidyloxypropyl (= Gly ) and R = identical or different alkyl radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, b) an alcohol, c) a water-containing initiator selected from an aqueous acid or aqueous base, d) a further silane of the formula (Z ² ) _z Si ( OR) _4-z , with R = identical or different alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with Z ² = H _a F _b C _n with a and b = integers, a + b = 1 + 2n, z = 1 or 2 , n = 1 to 16, or in the case where Z ¹ = Gly, Z ² = 3-aminopropyl (= Am) and z = 1, and e) an inert solvent having an unsaturation on the bulk of the sol Gel-related proportion of 0 wt .-% to 30 wt .-%, and f) a fumed silica or a precipitated silica gef lev el.

In a further preferred embodiment, the intercrystalline cavities of the rock are filled with a polymer or copolymer obtained by preferably thermally initiated polymerization. Preferably, the polymers or copolymers are those obtained by polymerizing monomers selected from methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate or styrene with a thermal initiator.

However, the rocks of the invention may also be filled with a translucent cured silicone polyester resin, a translucent cured silicone polyester resin with aminopropyltriethoxysilane, or with a light-transmissive cured aqueous polyurethane dispersion.

The light-permeable present in the cavities of the rock according to the invention Filler material is under an ambient pressure of 800 hPa to 1300 hPa, preferably under an ambient pressure of 950 hPa to 1150 hPa, more preferably below the standard ambient pressure of 1000 hPa to 1050 hPa and at an ambient temperature of -10 ° C to 110 ° C, preferably at an ambient temperature of 15 ° C to 55 ° C, more preferably at an ambient temperature of 20 ° C to 25 ° C resistant. Particularly preferably, the components mentioned in the intergranular cavities of the rock in the treatment with conventional cleaning and care products resistant. Typical cleaning / care products and / or methods can be found, for example, in the brochure 3.2 of the German Natural Stone Association eV, "Construction Information Natural Stone Cleaning and Maintenance" (1997).

In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the inventive rock is free of flowable fluid, cured polymer, cured sol gel, cured silicone polyester resin, cured silicone polyester resin with aminopropyltriethoxysilane, or cured aqueous polyurethane dispersion.

The rocks according to the invention preferably have a thickness of 1 mm to 10 cm, preferably a thickness of 2 mm to 2 cm, particularly preferably a thickness of 5 mm to 1 cm. For rocks with a thickness above 10 cm, an increase in the light transmission is often not or not perceive by the naked eye, which is why the technical and economic benefits of such rocks is low.

To determine the light transmission of the untreated rock, a measuring arrangement is used, which is sketched in FIG. 1, wherein scattering effects are not taken into account in the light beams shown. Visible light emitted by the light source (a) with wavelengths between 400 nm and 800 nm and with the intensity I ₀ strikes the untreated rock (b). On the way along the direction of propagation of visible light through the untreated rock it experiences a weakening, which can be described by the aforementioned Lambert's law. The light leaving the untreated rock has a less intense intensity than I ₀ , which can be measured by a photosensor (c). The intensity I ₀ can be determined by observing the visible light emitted by the light source (a) after removal of the untreated rock can be made directly on the photosensor (c), without changing the spatial position of the light source and the photosensor. By applying Lambert's law to the quotient of the intensity I ₀ and the intensity of untreated rock, one can calculate the measure of the light transmission mathematically from the following formula,

untreated rock D = In I ₀ - In untreated rock,

win.

The measure of the light transmission of the treated rock is determined in the manner just described by placing the treated rock instead of the untreated rock. The thickness D of the untreated rock is at most 10 cm and does not differ from the thickness of the treated rock. The treated rock is brought in the same spatial orientation and position with respect to the light source and the photosensor as the untreated rock.

The measure of the light transmission of the treated rock can be calculated from the following formula,

untreated rock D = In I ₀ - In treated rock,

win.

The increase in light transmission can be calculated by making differences from the two formulas just mentioned;

((^ Untreated rock ^~~ OC treated rock) D = In treated rock ^~ In untreated rock

Particularly preferred rocks according to the invention have an increase in the light transmission, which is increased by at least 2%, preferably at least 6%, preferably at least 10% in relation to the light transmission of the untreated rock. By increasing the light transmission by at least 2%, it is generally ensured that with conventional light sources, a translucency that is perceptibly perceptible to the naked eye is achieved, compared to the translucency of the untreated rock. In this way, the in Natural stones, such. B. in marble existing grains and inclusions are particularly well brought to light advantage.

The rocks of the invention may, for. B. can be obtained by the above-described inventive method.

The rocks of the invention with increased light transmission can, for. B. be used as a component in the construction of optical elements, indirect light sources, shadeless floors, shadowless stairs, work surfaces, kitchen elements, sanitary facilities, kitchens or staircases. Likewise, the rocks according to the invention can be used directly as material for floorboards, worktops, sinks, sideboards, splash guard elements, shadowless stairs, works of art or indirect light sources.

Some types of natural stone, even in the untreated state, have perceptible translucency, such as e.g. Onyx. The rocks with increased light transmission according to the invention have a light transmission enhancer in their intergranular cavities.

Preferred light transmission enhancers of the present invention are agents comprising a material selected from oils, silicone oils, stearates, glycerol esters, fats, oleaginous compounds, or a mixture thereof, or a cured sol gel obtainable by mixing a) a silane of formula (Z ¹⁾ Si (OR) ₃ , with Z ¹ = OR or 3-glycidyloxypropyl (= Gly) and R = identical or different, having 1 to 6 carbon atoms alkyl radicals, b) an alcohol, c) a water-containing initiator selected from an aqueous acid or aqueous base, d) a further silane of the formula (Z ² ) _z Si (OR) _4-z , with R = identical or different alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with Z ² = H _a F _b C _n with a and b = integers, a + b = 1 + 2n, z = 1 or 2, n = 1 to 16, or in the case where Z ¹ = Gly, Z ² = 3-aminopropyl (= Am) and z = 1, and e) an inert solvent having a relative to the mass of the uncured sol-gel n content of 0 wt .-% to 30 wt .-%, and f) a fumed silica or a precipitated silica, or a monomer selected from methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, styrene or a mixture of these monomers, a silicone polyester resin, a silicone polyester resin with aminopropyl triethoxysilane, or a polyurethane dispersion.

Claims

claims:

1. A method for increasing the light transmission of rock, characterized in that the intercrystalline cavities of the rock by contacting the rock with a flowable, non-gaseous, translucent fluid are at least partially with selbigem gelullt.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a part of the surface of the rock is brought into contact with the fluid.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface is brought into contact with the fluid simply connected.

4. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rock is brought into contact with the fluid for a period of 5 seconds to 3 hours.

5. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rock is brought into contact with the fluid at a temperature of at most 100 ° C, preferably of at most 45 ° C.

6. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filling of the intergranular cavities of the rock is carried out at standard ambient pressure.

7. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the contacting is terminated as soon as the fluid does not interfere with the fluid

Contacted part of the surface not further wetted.

8. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the brought in contact with the surface of the rock fluid is removed from the surface of the rock after completion of the contacting by drying, dabbing, stripping, blowing, spinning or by heating ,

9. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a fluid having a real refractive index is used, which differs by a maximum of 50% from the refractive index of the main crystal species that is present in the rock.

10. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a fluid containing an optically homogeneous medium and particles, is used, whose refractive indices are different from the refractive index of the main crystal species in the

Rock is present, in pairs differ by a maximum of 45%.

11. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that an oil, silicone oil, stearates, glycerol esters, fats, silicone polyester resins, an oily compound or a mixture of such compounds is used as the fluid.

12. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the fluid is a mixture of a) a silane of the formula (Z ¹ ^ Si (OR) ₃ , with Z ¹ = OR or 3-glycidyloxypropyl (= Gly) and R = same or different, 1 to 6 carbon atoms c) an alcohol, c) a water-forming initiator selected from an aqueous acid or aqueous base, d) a further silane of the formula (Z ² ) _z Si (OR) _4-z , where R = the same or different Alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with Z ² = H _a F _b C _n with a and b = integers, a + b = 1 + 2n, z = 1 or 2, n = 1 to 16 or in the event that Z ¹ = Gly, Z ² = 3-aminopropyl (= Am) and z = 1, and e) an inert solvent having a content of 0 wt .-% to 30 wt., Based on the mass of the uncured sol-gel .-%, and f) a fumed silica or a precipitated silica is used, the excess fluid is removed and the fluid is thermally cured at a temperature of 80 ° C to 500 ° C.

13. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a mixture containing a thermal initiator and a monomer or a mixture of monomers is used as the fluid, wherein the monomers are thermally polymerized in the rock.

14. Rock with elevated relative to a corresponding untreated rock

Light transmission, characterized in that its intergranular cavities at least partially with a translucent filler selected from oil, silicone oil, stearates, glycerol esters, fats, oily compounds, a mixture of such compounds or with a translucent polymer or copolymer or with a translucent cured sol-gel or with a translucent cured silicone polyester resin or a translucent cured with aminopropyltriethoxysilane

Silicone polyester resin or filled with a transparent solidifying polyurethane dispersion.

15. Rock according to claim 14, characterized in that its intergranular cavities with hardened sol-gel, obtainable by mixing a) a silane of the formula (Z ¹ ^ Si (OR) ₃ , with Z ¹ = OR or 3-Glycidyloxypropyl (= GIy) and R = identical or different, having 1 to 6 carbon atoms alkyl radicals, b) an alcohol, c) a water-containing initiator selected from an aqueous acid or aqueous base, d) a further silane of the formula (Z ² ) _z Si (OR) _4-z , with R = identical or different alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with Z ² =

H _a F _b C _n with a and b = integers, a + b = 1 + 2n, z = 1 or 2, n = 1 to 16 or in the case that Z ¹ = GIy, Z ² = 3 -Aminopropyl (= Am) and z = 1, and e) an inert solvent having a content of 0 wt .-% to 30 wt .-%, based on the mass of the uncured sol gel, and f) a fumed silica or a precipitated silica, are filled.

16. Rock according to claim 15, characterized in that its inter-crystalline cavities of the rock with a thermally initiated

Polymerization obtained polymer or copolymer are filled.

17. Rock according to at least one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the rock has a thickness of 1 mm to 10 cm.

18. Rock according to at least one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the translucent filling material present in the intergranular cavities of the rock is stable under the standard ambient pressure and the standard ambient temperature of 15 ° C to 55 ° C.

19. Rock according to at least one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the rock contains natural stone.

20. Rock according to at least one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that the rock contains marble, calcite, granite, onyx, rock salt, dolomite, quartzite, sandstone or limestone or a mixture of these.

21. Rock according to at least one of claims 14 to 20, characterized in that the rock is obtainable by a method according to at least one of claims 1 to 13.

22. Rock according to at least one of claims 14 to 21, characterized in that the light transmission is increased by at least 2% compared to the light transmission of the untreated rock.

23. Use of a rock with increased light transmission according to at least one of claims 14 to 22, as a component in the construction of optical elements, indirect light sources, shadeless floors, shadowless stairs, work surfaces, kitchen elements, sanitary facilities, kitchens or staircases or as a material for floorboards, Worktops, sinks, sideboards, splashbacks, art objects, shadowless stairs or indirect light sources.

24. A light transmission enhancer, characterized in that the agent is a material selected from oils, silicone oils, stearates, glycerol esters, fats, silicone polyester resins, oily compounds or a mixture of these, a sol gel obtainable by mixing a) a silane of the formula ( Z ¹ ^ Si (OR) ₃ , with Z ¹ = OR or 3-glycidyloxypropyl (= Gly) and R = identical or different, having 1 to 6 carbon atoms alkyl radicals, b) an alcohol, c) a water-containing initiator selected from an aqueous acid or aqueous base, d) a further silane of the formula (Z ² ) _z Si (OR) _4-z , with R = identical or different alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with Z ² = H _a F _b C _n with a and b = integers, a + b = 1 + 2n, z = 1 or 2, n = 1 to 16 or in the case where Z ¹ = Gly, Z ² = 3-aminopropyl (= Am) and z = 1, and e) an inert solvent with a bez on the mass of the uncured sol gel ogenen proportion of 0 wt .-% to 30 wt .-%, and f) a fumed silica or a precipitated silica or a monomer selected from methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, styrene or a mixture of these monomers, a silicone polyester resin, a

Silicone polyester resin with aminopropyltriethoxysilane, or a polyurethane dispersion, comprises or is.