Method for defining a sports or playing area by means of a thermochromatic spin transition material

Abstract

A surface marking method using a thermochromatic spin transition material.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method for delimiting a sports or playing area, said method comprising on said area:
 the application of a thermochromatic spin transition material having a spin transition temperature above room temperature, on the lines or surfaces for delimiting said surface,   raising the temperature of said lines or surfaces to a temperature above the spin transition temperature of said material.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31  such that said spin transition material is selected from spin transition materials having a spin transition temperature comprised between 20° C. and 85° C., with or without thermal hysteresis. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31  such that said material is selected from thermochromatic spin transition materials comprising iron. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 31  such that said material is selected from thermochromatic spin transition materials comprising a ligand selected from the triazole (trz) or pyrazine (pz) ligands, optionally substituted. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 31  such that said material is selected form compounds of formula: Fe(R-trz) 3 R′ 2  
 wherein:
 R, a substituent of the triazole ligand represents a hydrogen atom or a group selected from amino, C 2 -C 10  alkyl groups, 
 R′, a counter-ion, is the NO 3   − , BF 4   −  or p-toluenesulfonate (p-tol) anion. 
 
 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 31  such that said material is selected from the compounds of formula:
   Fe(pz)M(CN) 4   (II)
 
 wherein 
 M represents a metal selected from Pt, Pd, Ni. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 31  such that the spin transition material is selected from the following compounds:
 Fe(4-NH 2 -trz) 3 (NO 3 ) 2 , Fe(4-NH 2 -trz) 3 (BFd 4 ) 2 , Fe(4-NH 2 -trz) 3 Br 2 , [Fe(4-n-butyl-trz) 3 ][p-tol] 2 , [Fe(4-n-pentyl-trz) 3 ][p-tol] 2 , [Fe(4-n-hexyl-trz) 3 ][p-tol] 2 , [Fe(4-n-heptyl-trz) 3 ][p-tol] 2 , [Fe(4-n-heptyl-trz) 3]Br   2 , Fe(pz)Pt(CN) 4 , Fe(pz)Pd(CN) 4 , Fe(pz)Ni(CN) 4 . 
 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 31  such that the application of said spin transition material comprises the application of a composition comprising said material mixed in a polymer base, and optionally a solvent. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38  such that the polymer is polyvinyl acetate. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 38  such that the solvent is acetonitrile or water. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 31  such that the application of the spin transition material is accomplished by spin coating. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 31  such that said rise in temperature is achieved by having an electric current pass into a heating resistor positioned on said delimitation lines or surfaces, prior to the application of said material. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42  such that said method further comprises the application of a conducting material plate between said heating resistor and said spin transition material. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 31  such that the rise in temperature is achieved by having hot air pass over said lines or surfaces. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 44  such that the spin transition material has thermal hysteresis. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 31  such that said method further comprises the application on said line or surface of an insulating material layer, prior to the optional application of said heating resistor and prior to the application of said material. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 46  such that said insulated material is polyurethane. 
     
     
         48 . A sports or playing area which may be obtained by the method according to  claim 31 . 
     
     
         49 . A method for making a line or surface for delimiting a sports or playing area comprising the application of a spin transition material as defined according to  claim 31  on a heat-insulating material. 
     
     
         50 . A line or surface for delimiting a playing area which may be obtained by the method of  claim 49 . 
     
     
         51 . A method for detecting contact on a line or surface for delimiting a sports or playing area comprising:
 delimitation of the sports or playing area according to  claim 31 ;   detection of the change in color of the thereby marked line or surface at the contact point.   
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 51  such that said contact is selected from the impact of a shot, ball or projectile or the contact of a user. 
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 51  such that said spin transition material is selected from spin transition materials having a spin transition temperature comprised between 50° C. and 85° C. 
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 51  such that said spin transition material has thermal hysteresis. 
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 51  such that said spin transition material is the compound of formula: Fe(trz) 3 (NO 3 ) 2 . 
     
     
         56 . A device comprising:
 an insulating material ( 2 );   a heating resistor ( 1 ) positioned on said insulating material ( 2 );   a conducting material plate ( 4 ) on said resistor and   a thermochromatic spin transition material ( 3 ) on said conducting material plate, said spin transition material having a spin transition temperature above room temperature.   
     
     
         57 . The device according to  claim 56 , wherein the device is configured to be applied on lines or surfaces for delimiting said lines or surfaces with said spin transition material. 
     
     
         58 . A method for marking surfaces, comprising marking said surfaces with the device of  claim 56 . 
     
     
         59 . A thermochromatic spin transition material having a spin transition temperature above room temperature, for delimiting a sports or playing area. 
     
     
         60 . The thermochromatic spin transition material according to  claim 59 , having a spin transition temperature comprised between 50° C. and 85° C. with hysteresis for detecting contact on a surface.