Infrared reflecting films for solar control and other uses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9034459-B2
Application number	US-81011008-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2008
Priority date	Dec 28, 2007
Publication date	May 19, 2015
Grant date	May 19, 2015

Abstract

Solar control films containing a visible light-transmissive flexible support, a first nucleating oxide seed layer, a first metal layer, an organic spacing layer, a second nucleating oxide seed layer, a second metal layer and a polymeric protective layer. The thicknesses of the metal layers and spacing layer are such that the films are visible light-transmissive and infrared-reflective. The films have high visible light transmittance, high Reflected Energy and low Total Solar Heat Transmission.

First claim

We claim:

1. A solar control film comprising in sequence at least a visible light-transmissive flexible support, a first discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands, a first metal layer, an organic spacing layer, a second nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands, a second metal layer and a polymeric protective layer, wherein the seed layers each have a physical thickness greater than 0 and less than 5 nm, the metal layers each have a physical thickness of 5 to 12 nm, and the organic spacing layer has a refractive index of 1.3 to 1.7 and an optical thickness of 75 to 275 nm, further wherein the film is visible light-transmissive and infrared-reflective.

2. The film of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a multilayer optical film.

3. The film of claim 1 further comprising an organic base coat layer between the support and the first seed layer.

4. The film of claim 3 wherein the organic base coat layer comprises an acrylate polymer.

5. The film of claim 1 wherein a seed layer comprises gallium oxide, indium oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide or mixture thereof.

6. The film of claim 1 wherein the first and second seed layers comprise zinc oxide.

7. The film of claim 1 wherein the first and second seed layers comprise zinc oxide doped with aluminum or aluminum oxide.

8. The film of claim 1 wherein the first and second metal layers comprise silver.

9. The film of claim 1 wherein the organic spacing layer comprises an acrylate polymer.

10. The film of claim 1 wherein a laminated safety glazing article incorporating the solar control film, exhibits at least about 70% visible light transmittance measured at a 0° angle of incidence corresponding to the normal axis to the film.

11. The film of claim 1 wherein a laminated safety glazing article incorporating the solar control film, exhibits at least about 75% visible light transmittance measured at a 0° angle of incidence corresponding to the normal axis to the film.

12. A laminated glazing article comprising in sequence at least a first glazing material layer, a first mechanical energy-absorbing layer, a solar control film according to claim 1 , a second mechanical energy-absorbing layer and a second glazing material layer.

13. The article of claim 12 wherein the article has at least about 70% visible light transmittance, Total Solar Heat Transmission less than about 60%, and Reflected Energy of at least about 20%.

14. The article of claim 12 wherein the article has at least about 75% visible light transmittance, Total Solar Heat Transmission less than about 60%, and Reflected Energy of at least about 25%.

15. A method for forming a solar control film, which method comprises:
a) providing a visible light-transmissive flexible support,
b) forming a first discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands atop the support,
c) forming a first metal layer atop the first seed layer,
d) forming an organic spacing layer atop the first metal layer,
e) forming a second discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands atop the spacing layer,
f) forming a second metal layer atop the second seed layer, and
g) forming a visible light-transmissive polymeric protective layer atop the second metal layer,
wherein each of the discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layers has a physical thickness greater than 0 and less than 5 nm, each of the metal layers has a physical thickness of 5 to 12 nm, and the organic spacing layer has a refractive index of 1.3 to 1.7 and an optical thickness of 75 to 275 nm, further wherein the film is visible light-transmissive and infrared-reflective.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the support comprises a multilayer optical film.

17. A method according to claim 15 further comprising forming an organic base coat layer between the support and the first seed layer.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein a laminated safety glazing article incorporating the solar control film, exhibits at least about 70% visible light transmittance measured at a 0° angle of incidence corresponding to the normal axis to the film.

Assignees

• Condo Peter D
• Kirkman Janet R
• Bright Clark I
• Stoss Walter
• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Condo Peter D
• Kirkman Janet R
• Bright Clark I
• Stoss Walter

Classifications

• C03C17/366 Primary

  Low-emissivity or solar control coatings · CPC title

• B32B2367/00

  Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate · CPC title

• B32B17/10

  of synthetic resin · CPC title

• B32B17/10174

  Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer · CPC title

• B32B17/10761

  containing vinyl acetal · CPC title