Infrared reflecting films for solar control and other uses

• US 9,034,459 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Condo, Peter D., Kirkman, Janet R., Bright, Clark I., Stoss, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruthkosky, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Powers, Laura C
• Application Number:
  US12/810,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20100316852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,345 Days
• Field of Search: 428/463, 428/437, 428/442, 428/195.1, 428/461, 428/457, 428/500, 428/627, 428/522, 428/626, 428/138, 428/141, 428/1.1, 428/201, 428/221, 428/421, 428/458, 428/469, 428/480, 428/535, 428/135, 428/142, 428/143, 428/147, 428/148, 428/149, 428/209, 428/213, 428/216, 428/314.4, 428/324, 428/328, 428/329, 428/32.1, 428/330, 428/331, 428/344, 428/34.4, 428/34.7, 428/403, 428/405, 428/407, 428/408, 428/40.6, 428/412, 428/414, 428/419, 428/41.5, 428/471, 428/508, 428/513, 428/515, 428/65.1, 428/688, 428/689, 428/699, 428/701, 428/702, 428/704, 428/913, 428/914, 428/95, 428/163.1, 219/203, 296/84.1, 359/360, 359/265, 359/273, 359/275, 359/585, 359/586, 359/601, 359/614, 359/1, 359/267, 359/3, 359/580, 359/582, 359/588, 174/254, 204/192.1, 294/58, 296/231
• US Class Current: 428/201
• 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 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/366 Low-emissivity or solar control coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/38 at least one coating being a coating of an organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/282 reflecting for infrared and transparent for visible light, e.g. heat reflectors, laser protection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/287 comprising at least one layer of organic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 Thickness [relative or absolute]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal

Abstract

Solar control films containing a visible light-transmissive flexible support, a first nucleating oxide seed layer, a first metal layer, an organic spacing layer, a second nucleating oxide seed layer, a second metal layer and a polymeric protective layer. The thicknesses of the metal layers and spacing layer are such that the films are visible light-transmissive and infrared-reflective. The films have high visible light transmittance, high Reflected Energy and low Total Solar Heat Transmission.

Claims

1. A solar control film comprising in sequence at least a visible light-transmissive flexible support, a first discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands, a first metal layer, an organic spacing layer, a second nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands, a second metal layer and a polymeric protective layer, wherein the seed layers each have a physical thickness greater than 0 and less than 5 nm, the metal layers each have a physical thickness of 5 to 12 nm, and the organic spacing layer has a refractive index of 1.3 to 1.7 and an optical thickness of 75 to 275 nm, further wherein the film is visible light-transmissive and infrared-reflective.

2. The film of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a multilayer optical film.

3. The film of claim 1 further comprising an organic base coat layer between the support and the first seed layer.

4. The film of claim 3 wherein the organic base coat layer comprises an acrylate polymer.

5. The film of claim 1 wherein a seed layer comprises gallium oxide, indium oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide or mixture thereof.

6. The film of claim 1 wherein the first and second seed layers comprise zinc oxide.

7. The film of claim 1 wherein the first and second seed layers comprise zinc oxide doped with aluminum or aluminum oxide.

8. The film of claim 1 wherein the first and second metal layers comprise silver.

9. The film of claim 1 wherein the organic spacing layer comprises an acrylate polymer.

10. The film of claim 1 wherein a laminated safety glazing article incorporating the solar control film, exhibits at least about 70% visible light transmittance measured at a 0°

angle of incidence corresponding to the normal axis to the film.

11. The film of claim 1 wherein a laminated safety glazing article incorporating the solar control film, exhibits at least about 75% visible light transmittance measured at a 0°

angle of incidence corresponding to the normal axis to the film.

12. A laminated glazing article comprising in sequence at least a first glazing material layer, a first mechanical energy-absorbing layer, a solar control film according to claim 1, a second mechanical energy-absorbing layer and a second glazing material layer.

13. The article of claim 12 wherein the article has at least about 70% visible light transmittance, Total Solar Heat Transmission less than about 60%, and Reflected Energy of at least about 20%.

14. The article of claim 12 wherein the article has at least about 75% visible light transmittance, Total Solar Heat Transmission less than about 60%, and Reflected Energy of at least about 25%.

15. A method for forming a solar control film, which method comprises:

a) providing a visible light-transmissive flexible support,

b) forming a first discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands atop the support,

c) forming a first metal layer atop the first seed layer,

d) forming an organic spacing layer atop the first metal layer,

e) forming a second discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands atop the spacing layer,

f) forming a second metal layer atop the second seed layer, and

g) forming a visible light-transmissive polymeric protective layer atop the second metal layer,

wherein each of the discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layers has a physical thickness greater than 0 and less than 5 nm, each of the metal layers has a physical thickness of 5 to 12 nm, and the organic spacing layer has a refractive index of 1.3 to 1.7 and an optical thickness of 75 to 275 nm, further wherein the film is visible light-transmissive and infrared-reflective.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the support comprises a multilayer optical film.

17. A method according to claim 15 further comprising forming an organic base coat layer between the support and the first seed layer.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein a laminated safety glazing article incorporating the solar control film, exhibits at least about 70% visible light transmittance measured at a 0°

angle of incidence corresponding to the normal axis to the film.