Method of fabricating insulating glass units

Claim 1

A method of fabricating an insulating glass unit which comprises disposing a spacing member between panes of glass adjacent the edges thereof to hold said panes in a predetermined spaced relation, the spacing member and glass panes cooperating to provide a channel about the periphery of the assembly, applying a partially crosslinked hot-melt butyl rubber sealant composition into said channel, said sealant being in continuous contact with said glass panes and spacing member and of a type such that substantially complete crosslinking will occur when the composition is heated to from about 325° to about 425° F., and applying sufficient heat to the exterior face of said sealant composition to raise the temperature of the outermost portion of the sealant composition to from about 325° to about 425° F. while the innermost portion of the sealant composition remains at a temperature substantially below about 325° to about 425° F. thereby causing substantially complete crosslinking of that portion of the sealant composition heated to from about 325° to about 425° F. forming a high-strength thermoset bond about the outer periphery of the channel while the innermost portion of the sealant composition adjacent the spacing member remains partially crosslinked providing a high tack, adhesive bond about the inner periphery of the channel.

Claim 2

A method of fabricating an insulating glass unit which comprises disposing a spacing member between panes of glass adjacent the edges thereof to hold said panes in a predetermined spaced relation, the spacing member and glass panes cooperating to provide a channel about the periphery of the assembly, applying a partially crosslinked hot-melt butyl rubber sealant composition into said channel, said sealant being in continuous contact with said glass panes and spacing member and of a type such that substantially complete crosslinking will occur when the composition is heated to from about 325° to about 425° F., and applying sufficient heat to the exterior face of said sealant composition to raise the temperature of the outermost portion of the sealant composition to from about 325° to about 425° F. while the innermost portion of the sealant composition remains at a temperature substantially below about 325° to about 425° F. thereby causing substantially complete crosslinking of that portion of the sealant composition heated to from about 325° to about 425° F. forming a high-strength thermoset bond about the outer periphery of the channel while the innermost portion of the sealant composition adjacent the spacing member remains partially crosslinked providing a high tack, adhesive bond about the inner periphery of the channel.