Radiant energy reflector and method for construction thereof

• US 4,666,263 A
• Filed: 01/16/1986
• Issued: 05/19/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NV Bekaert SA
• Original Assignee: Deposition Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Petcavich, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/819,797
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 350/641, 350/642, 350/320, 428/912.2, 428/458, 428/40, 428/687, 428/624, 428/626, 428/673, 428/685, 204/192 C, 204/192 P, 204/129 SP
• US Class Current: 359/883
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/20 on organic substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0808 having a single reflecting layer G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0866 incorporating one or more organic, e.g. polymeric layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12556 Organic component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12896 Ag-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12993 Surface feature [e.g., rough, mirror]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1452 Polymer derived only from ethylenically unsaturated monomer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31681 Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a radiant energy reflector comprising a laminated article mounted on a contoured support. The article includes a specularly reflective layer of silver protected on one side thereof from deterioration-inducing agents by a transparent cover sheet of polymeric material, and on the opposite side thereof by a non-polymeric protective layer of substantially inert and corrosion-resistant material. Also disclosed is a method for producing the article which yields an intimate and tenacious bond between the cover sheet, reflective layer and protective layer, thus reducing the likelihood of delamination.

Claims

1. A radiant energy reflector comprising a radiant energy transmissive cover sheet of polyethylene terephathalate, a speciularly reflective layer of silver which is not less than about 100 Å

thick intimately bonded to one side of said cover sheet, and a non-polymeric protective layer comprising stainless steel intimately bonded to said reflective layer on the side opposite said cover sheet.

2. A radiant energy reflector comprising a radiant energy transmissive cover sheet of polyethylene terephthalate, a specularly reflective layer of silver intimately bonded to one side of said cover sheet, and a protective layer of Stainless Steel intimately bonded to said reflective layer on the side thereof opposite sand cover sheet.

3. The reflector of claim 2 further comprising a rigid support member or base secured to said protective layer on the side thereof opposite said reflective layer.

4. The reflector of claim 2 wherein said reflective layer is not less than about 100 Å

thick.

5. The reflector of claim 4 further comprising a rigid support member or base secured to said protective layer on the side thereof opposite said reflective layer.

6. A method for producing a radiant energy reflector, comprising the steps of forming a specularly reflective layer of silver by sputtering the silver to a thickness of not less than about 100 Å

onto one side of a transparent cover sheet formed from polyethylene terephthalate, and then forming a protective layer by sputtering a substantially inert and corrosion resistant material onto said reflective layer on the side thereof opposite said cover sheet.

7. A method for producing a radiant energy reflector, comprising the steps of forming a specularly reflective layer of silver by sputtering the silver to a thickness of not less than about 100 Å

onto one side of a transparent cover sheet formed from polyethelene terephthalate, and then forming a protective layer by sputtering stainless steel onto said reflective layer on the side thereof opposite said cover sheet.

8. A method for producing a radiant energy reflector, comprising the steps of forming a specularly reflective layer of silver by sputtering silver onto one side of a transparent cover sheet of polyethylene terephthalate, and then forming a protective layer of Stainless Steel by sputtering Stainless Steel onto said reflective layer on the side thereof opposite said cover sheet.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising securing a rigid support member or base to said protective layer on the side thereof opposite said reflective layer.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said reflective layer is deposited to a thickness not less than about 100 Å

.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising securing a rigid support member or base to said protective layer on the side thereof opposite said reflective layer.

12. A radiant energy reflector comprising a radiant energy transmissive sheet of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of about 1 to 30 mils, a specularly reflective layer of silver sputter-depositied on one surface of said sheet ot a thickenss of not less than about 100 Å

, a protective layer of substantially inert and corrosion-resistant material intimately bonded to the reflective layer, and a pressure sensitive adhesive on the surface of said silver protective layer.

13. A radiant energy reflector comprising, in combination, a rigid support member contoured to provide a face having a predetermined geometrical shape, a radiant energy transmissive sheet of polyethylene terephathalate having a thickness of about 1 to 30 mils adhesively secured to said face of said support member, said sheet having sputter-deposited on that face which is towards the said face of said support member a specularly reflective layer of silver, said layer having a thickness of about 100 Å

to 500 Å

.

14. A method for producing a radiant energy reflector, comprising the steps of forming a specularly reflective layer of silver by sputting silver to a thickness not less than about 100 Å

thick onto one side of a transparent cover sheet, and then forming a protective layer by sputting a substantially inert and corrosion resistant material onto said reflective layer on the side thereof opposite said cover sheet.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of securing a rigid support member or base to said protective layer on the side thereof opposite said reflective layer.