Flexible high-temperature ultrabarrier

• US 7,486,019 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Padiyath, Raghunath, Roehrig, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Joseph L
• Assistant Examiner(s): QUARTERMAN, KEVIN J
• Application Number:
  US11/272,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20060062937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 313/498, 313/504, 313/506, 313/512, 313/238, 313/292
• US Class Current: 313/512
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/00 Functional layers of liquid crystal optical display excluding electroactive liquid crystal layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/03 Viewing layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/035 Ester polymer, e.g. polycarbonate, polyacrylate or polyester
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/80 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8445 multilayered coatings having a repetitive structure, e.g. having multiple organic-inorganic bilayers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8731 multilayered coatings having a repetitive structure, e.g. having multiple organic-inorganic bilayers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 77/00 Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass and not covered by groups H10K10/80, H10K30/80, H10K50/80 or H10K59/80
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 77/111 Flexible substrates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/264 Up to 3 mils
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3154 Of fluorinated addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31544 Addition polymer is perhalogenated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31928 Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer

Abstract

A flexible barrier assembly having a flexible visible light-transmissive substrate having a Tg greater than or equal to that of heat-stabilized polyethylene terephthalate (“HSPET”) overcoated with a first polymer layer having a Tg greater than or equal to that of HSPET and further overcoated with at least two visible light-transmissive inorganic barrier layers separated by at least one second polymer layer having a Tg greater than or equal to that of HSPET can be used to mount, cover, encapsulate or form moisture- and oxygen-sensitive articles such as organic light emitting devices and light valves.

Claims

1. A display or illuminating device comprising a moisture- or oxygen-sensitive light source or light valve at least partially covered with a barrier assembly comprising a flexible visible light-transmissive substrate having a Tg greater than or equal to that of HSPET overcoated with a polymer layer having a Tg greater than or equal to that of HSPET and further overcoated with at least two visible light-transmissive inorganic barrier layers separated by at least one polymer layer having a Tg greater than or equal to that of HSPET.

2. A display according to claim 1 wherein the polymer layer overcoating the moisture- or oxygen-sensitive light source or light valve or the at least one polymer layer separating the at least two visible light-transmissive inorganic barrier layers has a Tg greater than that of PMMA.

3. A display according to claim 1 wherein the polymer layer overcoating the moisture- or oxygen-sensitive light source or light valve and the at least one polymer layer separating the at least two visible light-transmissive inorganic barrier layers have a Tg of at least about 150°

C.

4. A display according to claim 1 wherein the flexible visible light-transmissive substrate comprises heat-stabilized PET, polyethylene naphthalate, polyoxymethylene, polyvinylnaphthalene, polyetheretherketone, fluoropolymer, polycarbonate, poly α

-methyl styrene, polysulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyetherimide, poly ether sulfone, polyamideimide, polyimide or polyphthalamide.

5. A display according to claim 1 wherein the polymer layer overcoating the moisture- or oxygen-sensitive light source or light valve or the at least one polymer layer separating the at least two visible light-transmissive inorganic barrier layers comprises a polymer of cyclohexane dimethanol diacrylate ester, isobomyl methacrylate, cyclic diacrylate or tris (2-hydroxy ethyl) isocyanurate triacrylate.

6. A display according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least two visible light-transmissive inorganic barrier layers comprises a metal oxide.

7. A display according to claim 6 wherein at least one inorganic barrier layer comprises indium tin oxide, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide or a mixed oxide of aluminum and silicon.

8. A display according to claim 1 having a sufficient number of inorganic barrier layers and having a substrate and first and second polymer layers having a sufficiently high Tg so that the barrier assembly is visible light-transmissive, has a water vapor transmission rate less than 0.005 g/m²/day at 50°

C. and 100% relative humidity, and has an oxygen transmission rate less than 0.005 cc/m²/day at 23°

C. and 90% RH.

9. A display according to claim 1 having a sufficient number of inorganic barrier layers and having a substrate and first and second polymer layers having a sufficiently high Tg so that the barrier assembly is visible light-transmissive and has a water vapor transmission rate less than 0.005 g/m²/day at 85°

C. and 100% relative humidity.

10. A display according to claim 1 wherein the barrier assembly has at least three visible light-transmissive inorganic barrier layers separated by polymer layers having a Tg of at least about 150°

C.

11. A display according to claim 1 further comprising a conductive layer between the barrier assembly and the moisture- or oxygen-sensitive light source or light valve.

12. A display according to claim 1 wherein the moisture- or oxygen-sensitive light source or light valve comprises an organic light emitting device.

13. A display according to claim 1 wherein the moisture- or oxygen-sensitive light source or light valve comprises a liquid crystal display.

14. A display according to claim 1 wherein the barrier assembly further comprises a functional layer or coating.

15. A display according to claim 14 wherein the functional layer or coating comprises flame retardants, UV stabilizers, abrasion resistant or hardcoat materials, optical coatings, prismatic films, adhesives, primers, or low adhesion backsize materials.