Solar energy reflecting film structure and process of manufacture therefor

• US 3,876,552 A
• Filed: 03/16/1972
• Issued: 04/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Edward Moynihan
• Original Assignee: Robert Edward Moynihan
• Inventors: Moynihan, Robert Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Allan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Derrington, J. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/235,401
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 260/41B,42.22 252/300 161/5
• US Class Current: 428/328
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/082 comprising vinyl resins; comprising acrylic resins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/20 comprising aluminium or copper B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence
• 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 17/10614 comprising particles for purposes other than dyeing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/41 Opaque
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/04 Gold
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/08 Silver
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/12 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/24 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2329/06 PVB, i.e. polyinylbutyral
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/00 Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin fibrous or filamentary layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/02; particulate layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/16; foamed layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/306 comprising vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/08 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 29/14 Homopolymers or copolymers of acetals or ketals obtained by polymerisation of unsaturated acetals or ketals or by after-treatment of polymers of unsaturated alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/28 Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/256 Heavy metal or aluminum or compound thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/268 Monolayer with structurally defined element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/27 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified weight per unit area [e.g., gms/sq cm, lbs/sq ft, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31699 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer

Abstract

An optically transparent and solar energy reflecting film structure is provided which is characterized by the presence therein of opaque metal platelets such as those of silver, gold, aluminum or copper. A process also is provided which includes blending opaque metal platelets with an organic polymeric material such as polyvinyl butyral and shaping the resulting blend into a film structure by extruding or compression molding means.

Claims

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING AN OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT AND SOLAR ENERGY REFLECTING FILM STRUCTURE OF POLYVINYL ACETAL RESIN HAVING DISPERSED THEREIN OPAQUE METAL PLATELETS OF A PARTICLE SIZE BETWEEN ABOUT 5 AND ABOUT 43 MICRONS WHEREIN SAID OPAQUE METAL PLATELETS ARE PRESENT IN SAID FILM STRUCTURE IN AN AMOUNT BETWEEN ABOUT 0.005 AND ABOUT 2% BY WEIGHT, BASED UPON THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF SAID FILM STRUCTURE.

2. The article of claim 1 having a thickness of up to about 0.075 inch.

3. The article of claim 2 having a visible light transmission of at least about 8 percent.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein the opaque metal platelets are selected from the group consisting of silver, aluminum, gold, copper and copper bronze compositions.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein said polyvinyl acetal resin is polyvinyl butyral.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein said opaque metal platelets are present in said film structure in an amount between about 0.01 and about 1% by weight, based upon the total weight of said film structure.

7. A process of manufacture for making optically transparent and solar energy reflecting film structures which comprises blending opaque metal platelets of a particle size between about 5 and about 43 microns with a polyvinyl acetal resin material and shaping the resulting blend into a film structure at a temperature above the softening point of said polyvinyl acetal thereby to obtain a monolithic film structure having between about 0.005 and about 2% by weight of opaque metal platelets dispersed therein based upon the total weight of said film structure.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein said polyvinyl acetal resin is polyvinyl butyral.