Flexible electrically conductive film

• US 6,933,051 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Koster, Brian Leroy, Fleming, Robert James, Bright, Clark Ivan, Zelinsky, Maria Lenni, Anderson, Edward John, Lyons, Christopher Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): Nakarani, D. S.
• Application Number:
  US10/222,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20040033369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,102 Days
• Field of Search: 219/203, 296/84.1, 359/360, 428/437, 428/442, 428/463
• US Class Current: 428/463
• 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 17/10706 being photo-polymerized
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10816 by pressing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2038/0076 Curing, vulcanising, cross-linking
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2038/0092 Metallizing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2309/62 Inert
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2309/68 Vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/14 Corona, ionisation, electrical discharge, plasma treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2329/06 PVB, i.e. polyinylbutyral
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0008 Electrical discharge treatment, e.g. corona, plasma treatment; wave energy or particle radiation heat treatment B32B38/0036
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/10 at least one layer having inter-reactive properties
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/562 for coating elongated substrates
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/86 the heating conductors being embedded in the transparent or reflecting material H05B3/845 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3162 : Cross-linked polyester [e.g., glycerol maleate-styrene, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3163 : Next to acetal of polymerized unsaturated alcohol [e.g., formal butyral, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31649 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31699 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer

Abstract

An electrically conductive film contains electrically connected first and second visible light-transmissive metal or metal alloy layers separated by a visible light-transmissive crosslinked polymeric layer. The film can be joined or laminated into glazing (especially non-planar vehicular safety glazing) with reduced likelihood that the metal or metal alloy layers will be damaged or distorted. The film also can transparently shield a device that can cause or is sensitive to electromagnetic interference with reduced likelihood that the metal or metal alloy layers will fracture.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive visible light-transmissive film comprising electrically connected first and second visible light-transmissive metal or metal alloy layers separated by a visible light-transmissive crosslinked polymeric layer wherein the film is extensible.

2. A film according to claim 1 further comprising a flexible plastic support.

3. A film according to claim 2 further comprising a polymeric base coat layer between the support and the first metal or metal alloy layer.

4. A film according to claim 2 wherein an interface between the metal or metal alloy layers and adjacent layers within the film has been subjected to an adhesion-enhancing treatment, or one or more of the adjacent layers comprises an adhesion-enhancing adjuvant, whereby the interlayer adhesion is increased.

5. A film according to claim 4 wherein each of the metal or metal alloy layers and adjacent layers has been subjected to plasma treatment.

6. A film according to claim 2 wherein the film is stretched.

7. A film according to claim 2 wherein the film retains electrical conductivity when strained in a tensile mode by 10% of its original length.

8. A film according to claim 1 further comprising one or more pairs of an additional crosslinked polymeric spacing layer and an additional metal or metal alloy layer atop the second metal layer.

9. A film according to claim 1 wherein the metal or metal alloy layers comprise silver and the crosslinked polymeric layer comprises an acrylate polymer.

10. A film according to claim 1 wherein the film can be laminated into an automotive windshield without substantial wrinkling.

11. A film according to claim 1 wherein each of the layers is electrically connected.

12. A safety glazing pre-laminate comprising at least one layer of a mechanical energy-absorbing material joined to a visible light-transmissive extensible film comprising first and second visible light-transmissive metal or metal alloy layers separated by a visible light-transmissive crosslinked polymeric layer and further comprising electrodes that permit electrical current to be supplied to the metal or metal alloy layers.

13. An electrically heatable glazing article comprising at least one layer of a glazing material joined to a visible light-transmissive extensible film comprising first and second visible light-transmissive metal or metal alloy layers separated by a visible light-transmissive crosslinked polymeric layer and further comprising electrodes that permit electrical current to be supplied to the metal or metal alloy layers.

14. An article according to claim 13 wherein an interface between the metal or metal alloy layers and adjacent layers within the film has been subjected to an adhesion-enhancing treatment, or one or more of the adjacent layers comprises an adhesion-enhancing adjuvant, whereby the interlayer adhesion is increased.

15. An article according to claim 14 wherein one or more of the metal or metal alloy layers or adjacent layers has been subjected to plasma treatment.

16. An article according to claim 13 wherein the metal or metal alloy layers comprise silver and the crosslinked polymeric layer comprises an acrylate polymer.

17. An article according to claim 13 wherein the glazing material comprises non-planar glass and the article is optically clear and infrared-reflective.

18. An article according to claim 13 comprising a windshield.

19. An article according to claim 13 comprising architectural glazing.

20. A vehicle with electrically heatable glazing comprising at least one windshield, backlight, side window or skylight comprising an extensible film comprising first and second visible light-transmissive metal or metal alloy layers separated by a crosslinked visible light-transmissive polymeric layer and further comprising electrodes that permit electrical current to be supplied to the metal or metal alloy layers.

21. A vehicle according to claim 20 wherein the metal or metal alloy layers comprise silver and the crosslinked polymeric layer comprises an acrylate polymer.