INFRARED REFLECTING FILMS FOR SOLAR CONTROL AND OTHER USES

• US 20100316852A1
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Condo, Peter D., Bright, Clark I., Kirkman, Janet R., Stoss, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 9,034,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/201
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10005 laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/366 Low-emissivity or solar control coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/38 at least one coating being a coating of an organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/282 reflecting for infrared and transparent for visible light, e.g. heat reflectors, laser protection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/287 comprising at least one layer of organic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 Thickness [relative or absolute]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal

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.

Claims

1. A solar control film comprising in sequence at least 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, wherein the thicknesses of the metal layers and spacing layer are such that 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 seed layers are discontinuous and the metal layers are continuous.

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

11. The film of claim 1 wherein the seed layers have a physical thickness greater than 0 and less than about 5 nm, the metal layers have a physical thickness of about 5 to about 50 nm and the organic spacing layer has a physical thickness of about 50 to about 130 nm.

12. The film of claim 1 wherein the film if incorporated into laminated safety glazing and measured at a 0°

angle of incidence will exhibit at least about 70% visible light transmittance.

13. The film of claim 1 wherein the film if incorporated into laminated safety glazing and measured at a 0°

angle of incidence will exhibit at least about 75% visible light transmittance.

14. 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.

15. The article of claim 14 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%.

16. The article of claim 14 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%.

17. A method for forming a solar control film, which method comprises:

a) providing a visible light-transmissive flexible support,

b) forming a first nucleating oxide seed layer 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 nucleating oxide seed layer atop the spacing layer,

f) forming a second metal layer atop the second seed layer, and

g) forming a polymeric protective layer atop the second metal layer,

wherein the thicknesses of the metal layers and spacing layer are such that the film is visible light-transmissive and infrared-reflective.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the support comprises a multilayer optical film.

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

25. A method according to claim 17 wherein a seed layer comprises gallium oxide, indium oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide or a mixture thereof, and further wherein the seed layers have a physical thickness greater than 0 and less than about 5 nm, the metal layers have a physical thickness of about 5 to about 50 nm and the organic spacing layer has a physical thickness of about 50 to about 130 nm, and the film if incorporated into laminated safety glazing and measured at a 0°

angle of incidence will exhibit at least about 70% visible light transmittance.

20-24. -24. (canceled)