ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMER FILM

• US 20180267296A1
• Filed: 03/20/2017
• Published: 09/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richmond, Zachary J., Rubino, Evangelia
• Application Number:
  US15/463,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20180267296A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/14 Protective coatings, e.g. hard coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1815 with cooling or heating systems cooling arrangements for laser mirrors H01S3/0401
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/124 Intrinsically conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/22 the conductive material comprising metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/24 the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/02 Heaters specially designed for de-icing or protection against icing
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/04 Heating means manufactured by using nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/146 Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/845 specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors

Abstract

An electrically conductive polymer film is presented. The electrically conductive polymer film includes a polymeric base material, a plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles randomly oriented within the polymeric base material, and a pair of electrodes electrically interconnected with the plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles. The electrodes are configured to be connected to an electrical power source. The polymeric base material may e.g. be polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyester, and/or polyamide. The plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles may be metallic nanowires, metal-plated nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoparticles, and/or graphene oxide nanoparticles. The plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles may also or alternatively include an inherently conductive polymer such as polylanine, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene polystyrene sulfonate, and/or 4,4-cyclopentadithiophene. The plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles may be substantially uniformly distributed throughout the polymeric base material.

Claims

1. A electrically conductive polymer film, comprising:

a polymeric base material;

a plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles randomly oriented within the polymeric base material; and

a first and second electrode electrically interconnected with the plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles and configured to be connected to an electrical power source.

2. The electrically conductive polymer film according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric base material is transparent.

3. A window assembly having defrosting capabilities configured to be disposed on a motor vehicle, comprising:

a first transparent substrate; and

the electrically conductive polymer film according to claim 2 applied to a major surface of the first transparent substrate.

4. The window assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a first adhesive layer intermediate the electrically conductive polymer film and the first transparent substrate.

5. The window assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a transparent protective layer applied to a surface of the electrically conductive polymer film and a second adhesive layer intermediate the electrically conductive polymer film and the transparent protective layer.

6. The window assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a second transparent substrate and wherein the electrically conductive polymer film is intermediate the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate.

7. The electrically conductive polymer film according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles comprise 0.01% to 0.1% by weight of the electrically conductive polymer film.

8. The electrically conductive polymer film according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric base material is selected from the group consisting of:

polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyester, and polyamide.

9. The electrically conductive polymer film according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of:

metallic nanowires, metal-plated nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoparticles, and graphene oxide nanoparticles.

10. The electrically conductive polymer film according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles comprise an inherently conductive polymer.

11. The electrically conductive polymer film according to claim 10, wherein the inherently conductive polymer is selected from the group consisting of:

polylanine, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene polystyrene sulfonate, and 4,4-cyclopentadithiophene.

12. The electrically conductive polymer film according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles are substantially uniformly distributed throughout the polymeric base material.

13. A mirror assembly having defrosting capabilities configured to be disposed on a motor vehicle, comprising

a mirror formed of a substrate with a transparent surface and a silvered surface opposite the transparent surface;

and

the electrically conductive polymer film according to claim 1 applied to the transparent surface or the silvered surface of the substrate.

14. The mirror assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a first adhesive layer intermediate the electrically conductive polymer film and the substrate.

15. The mirror assembly according to claim 14, wherein the polymeric base material is transparent and wherein the electrically conductive polymer film is applied to the transparent surface of the substrate.

16. The mirror assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a transparent protective layer applied to a surface of the electrically conductive polymer film and a second adhesive layer intermediate the electrically conductive polymer film and the transparent protective layer.