Metallic films and articles using same

• US 5,506,059 A
• Filed: 05/14/1993
• Issued: 04/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Christensen, Leif, Robbins, William B., Yasis, Rafael M., Volkmann, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YAMNITZKY, MARIE ROSE
• Application Number:
  US08/062,390
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 428/420, 428/421, 428/412, 428/469, 428/457, 428/458, 428/480, 428/704, 428/626, 428/35.3, 428/35.8, 428/323, 428/201, 428/461, 428/523
• US Class Current: 428/457
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/02 Pretreatment of the material to be coated C23C14/04 takes precedence
• 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 5/0858 the reflecting layers comprising a single metallic layer with one or more dielectric layers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0209 Inorganic, non-metallic particles
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/095 Plasma, e.g. for treating a substrate to improve adhesion with a conductor or for cleaning holes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/1163 Chemical reaction, e.g. heating solder by exothermic reaction
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/381 by special treatment of the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/388 by the use of a metallic or inorganic thin film adhesion layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12569 Synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 Of polycarbonate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31536 Including interfacial reaction product of adjacent layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 : Of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31681 : Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 : Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31938 : Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon

Abstract

A metallic film is disclosed. The film has a layer of an organic polymer substrate having an sulfur-reactive surface, to which is adhered a vapor deposited metallic layer. Optionally, a metallic halide layer is formed on the metallic layer to provide depolarizing capacity for the metallic film. Methods of making and using the metallic film are disclosed. Biomedical electrodes, including radiolucent defibrillation electrodes, window films, optical reflectors, and flexible electronic circuits are articles which can use the metallic film as a component.

Claims

1. A window film comprising a metallic film comprising:

a substrate of organic polymer, a sulfur-reactive surface on the organic polymer substrate, and a layer of vapor deposited metal adhered to the sulfur-reactive surface via sulfur-metal interaction, wherein the organic polymer is semicrystalline and the organic polymer substrate is pre-treated to provide a quasi-amorphous surface prior to formation of the sulfur-reactive surface, wherein the sulfur-reactive surface is formed by a plasma-induced reaction of the organic polymer with a sulfur-containing gas or vapor, and

wherein the sulfur-containing gas or vapor comprises alkyl mercaptans, hydroxyalkyl mercaptans, hydrogen sulfide, alkyl sulfides, carbon disulfide, or other sulfide gases.

2. The film according to claim 1, wherein the organic polymer comprises a polyolefin, a polyester, or a polycarbonate.

3. The film according to claim 1, wherein the sulfur-containing gas comprises hydrogen sulfide gas.

4. The film according to claim 1, wherein the sulfur-reactive surface is discontinuous.

5. The film according to claim 1, wherein the sulfur-reactive surface is continuous.

6. The film according to claim 1, wherein the layer of vapor deposited metal comprises at least one of chromium, titanium, nickel, copper, tin, indium, gold, silver, or alloys of them.

7. The film according to claim 6, wherein the metal is evaporated in a chamber at low pressures and deposited to react with the sulfur-reactive surface to form metal-sulfur covalent bonds, metal-sulfur coordination bonds, or a combination of both.

8. The film according to claim 1, further comprising a metallic halide layer on an exposed surface of the layer of vapor deposited metal.

9. The film according to claim 8, wherein the metallic halide is a chloride of the same metal as is used for the metallic layer.

10. An optical reflector comprising a metallic film consisting essentially of:

a substrate of organic polymer, a sulfur-reactive surface on the organic polymer substrate, and a layer of vapor deposited metal adhered to the sulfur-reactive surface via sulfur-metal interaction, wherein the organic polymer is semicrystalline and the organic polymer substrate is pre-treated to provide a quasi-amorphous surface prior to formation of the sulfur-reactive surface, wherein the sulfur-reactive surface is formed by a plasma-induced reaction of the organic polymer with a sulfur-containing gas or vapor, and

wherein the sulfur-containing gas or vapor comprises alkyl mercaptans, hydroxyalkyl mercaptans, hydrogen sulfide, alkyl sulfides, carbon disulfide, or other sulfide gases.

11. The optical reflector, according to claim 10, wherein the organic polymer comprises a polyolefin, a polyester, or a polycarbonate.

12. The optical reflector, according to claim 10, wherein the layer of vapor deposited metal comprises at least one of chromium, titanium, nickel, copper, tin, indium, gold, silver, or alloys of them.

13. The optical reflector, according to claim 12, wherein the metal is evaporated in a chamber at low pressures and deposited to react with the sulfur-reactive surface to form metal-sulfur covalent bonds, metal-sulfur coordination bonds, or a combination of both.

14. The optical reflector, according to claim 10, wherein the sulfur-containing gas comprises hydrogen sulfide gas.

15. The optical reflector, according to claim 10, further comprising a metallic halide layer on an exposed surface of the layer of vapor deposited metal.

16. An electrical conductor film for a biomedical electrode, comprising:

a substrate of organic polymer, a sulfur-reactive surface on the organic polymer substrate, a layer of vapor deposited metal adhered to the organic polymer surface via sulfur-metal interaction, and a metallic halide layer on an exposed surface of the layer of vapor deposited metal.

17. The electrical conductor film, according to claim 16, wherein the sulfur-reactive surface is formed by a plasma-induced reaction of the organic polymer with a sulfur-containing gas or vapor.

18. The electrical conductor film, according to claim 17, wherein the sulfur-containing gas comprises hydrogen sulfide gas.

19. The electrical conductor film, according to claim 16, wherein the metallic halide is a chloride of the same metal as is used for the metal layer.

20. The electrical conductor film, according to claim 19, wherein the layer of vapor deposited metal comprises silver or an alloy of silver.

21. The electrical conductor film, according to claim 16, wherein the organic polymer comprises a polyolefin, a polyester, or a polycarbonate.

22. The electrical conductor film, according to claim 16, wherein the layer of vapor deposited metal comprises chromium, titanium, nickel, copper, tin, indium, gold, silver, or alloys of them.

23. The electrical conductor film, according to claim 16, wherein the sulfur-reactive surface is discontinuous.

24. The electrical conductor film according to claim 16, wherein the sulfur-reactive surface is continuous.

25. The electrical conductor film, according to claim 16, wherein the layer of vapor deposited metal is of a thickness such that the film is radiolucent.