Abstract: A laminated glazing unit having improved impact strength comprising a), b) and c) in sequence: a) a glass layer; b) a plasticized layer containing partial polyvinyl butyral; c) another glass layer; and d) means, preferably a multiplicity of spaced projections, dispersed on the surface of at least one of the foregoing layers, preferably the plasticized layer, capable of resisting adhesion to the layer with which it is in contact, the area without said dispersed means (e.g. between projections) of the layer having such dispersed means having high affinity for adhesion to the layer with which it is in contact, such laminated glazing at a specific pummel adhesion having a greater mean break height than that of a laminated glazing containing layers a) b) and c) but without d). The dispersed means may be on the surface of a glass layer but is preferably on the plasticized layer.

Abstract: A process for improving the size distribution of granules formed during synthesis of polyvinyl butyral which involves delaying addition of surfactant to the reaction medium in which the polyvinyl butyral is being formed until after gel break. The surfactant is usually polyacrylic acid or a copolymer of acrylic acid with up to 20 weight percent of one or more copolymerized monomers, in an amount effective to counteract excessive agglomeration of the polyvinyl butyral granules.

Abstract: A process which comprises reacting maleic anhydride and a primary or secondary C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alcohol to form a maleic half ester, and then polymerizing the half ester and monoalkenyl aromatic monomer in ester solvent in the presence of a catalyst to form a solution of monoalkenyl aromatic monomer-maleic half ester copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 110,000 Daltons. After formation of the copolymer, the reaction solution is neutralized to form a mixture of an alkaline salt solution of the copolymer and solvent and then the solvent is removed from the mixture.

Abstract: A mold for a shaped laminate having a rigid member which includes a cavity through which plastic layers are drawn in forming the laminate, such cavity comprising a deformable wall portion having a shape-sustaining configuration matching the surface contour of a rigid member of the laminate, such deformable wall portion being reshapable to another shape-sustaining configuration matching the surface contour of an alternative shape of rigid member of a different shaped laminate.

Abstract: Floorings and flooring compositions containing a plasticized, preferably recovered, PVB resin. In a preferred aspect, the floorings and the flooring compositions contain a major amount of a second compatible resin such as non-plasticized PVB, and also a major amount of a composition insert filler. The floorings can contain substantially reduced levels of chlorine.

Abstract: A laminate comprising a sheet of polycarbonate laminated to another sheet comprising, on a weight basis, a) 30 to 90% polyvinyl butyral and b) 70 to 10% thermoplastic polyurethane, containing a plasticizing amount of one or more C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkanediols or diethylene glycol.

Abstract: A solar screening film for a motor vehicle windshield comprises an interference filter having one or more heat reflecting metal layers and one or more coacting reflection-suppressing layers to minimize reflection and enhance visible transmission and a gradient band continuation of the interference filter above the direct line of forward vision through a windshield when the film is disposed therein in a motor vehicle, for reflective rejection of infra-red solar energy, such band including a light-reflecting metal layer gradually increasing in thickness toward an edge of the film.

Abstract: A wrinkle-free bilayer glazing panel comprising sequentially: a) a sheet of glass; b) a layer of plasticized partial polyvinyl butyral; c) a transparent polyester layer; and d) a layer of cross-linked, self-healing polyurethane.

Abstract: Plasticized polyvinyl butyral sheet optionally containing a gradient color band is formed by continuously extruding a sheet having a predetermined region across its width formed from melt issuing from a die at an increased mass flow rate in comparison with other portions of the melt forming the rest of the sheet and then forwardly distorting such sheet immediately after forming by preferentially stretching the side containing the predetermined region to form an arcuate shape of substantially uniform thickness. Arcuately shaped sections are then cut from the sheet to form discrete, shaped interlayer blanks having improved thickness uniformity and dimensional stability providing improved performance when used in laminated safety glass.

Abstract: Sheet for safety glazings made of: a) polyvinyl butyral internally plasticized by the presence in the polymer of C.sub.7 to C.sub.15 aliphatic aldehyde groups and b) an external plasticizer in amount sufficient to provide a sheet glass transition temperature of about 25.degree. to 30.degree. C.

Abstract: A shaped interlayer blank adapted for use with glass in a vehicle windshield, such blank formed of plasticized polyvinyl butyral and having a quadrilateral peripheral contour with two sides of arcuate shape and a wedge-shaped thickness profile. The blank preferably has an arcuate gradient color band substantially parallel to an arcuate edge of the blank in the greater thickness region of the blank. The wedge-shaped thickness gradually increases from about 30 mils to about 35 to 40 mils across the width of the blank. The blank is tailored for safety windshields featureing head-up displays where to function effectively the glass layes must be nonparallel and canted with respect to each other.

Abstract: A melt blended thermoplastic molding composition consisting essentially of, on a weight basis: (A) 40 to 70 parts plasticized polyvinyl butyral; (B) 60 to 30 parts poly(methylmethacrylate); (C) 0 to 15 parts filler; (D) 0 to 30 parts elastomeric graft polymer; and 0 to 30 parts thermoplastic polyurethane; provided that at least 10 parts of (D) or (E) or mixtures of (D) and (E) is present; and the sum of (A)+(B)+(C)+(D)+(E) is always 100.

Abstract: A laminate which is substantially free of distortion when used in a safety glazing comprising a transparent, thermoplastic substrate layer, optionally surface treated or coated to improve adhesion, bearing one or more functional performance layers, such as an infra-red radiation reflecting stack, and at least one layer of plasticized polyvinyl butyral bonded on one side to a functional performance layer or the substrate layer having a roughened deairing surface on its other side characterized by a roughness value, Rz, of at least 10 micrometers, such plasticized polyvinyl butyral layer, before bonding to the substrate layer or functional performance layer, possessing low surface waviness on each side characterized by a wave index value, WI, of less than 15,000 square micrometers.

Abstract: A process for forming intermediate sheeting for forming shaped interlayer blanks comprising extruding plasticized polyvinyl butyral melt into an endless straight-sided sheet having a gradient color band extending along one side, the melt forming the region of the sheet laterally of the color band extruding at a greater thickness than that forming the portion containing the color band, thereby providing a wedge-shaped thickness profile in the sheet, quenching the extruded sheet to set the polymer and winding the sheet in roll form. The intermediate sheet is at least about twenty inches wide and the wedge-shaped cross section gradually increases from about 28 to 32 mils at one edge to about 33 to 40 mils at the other edge.

Abstract: A method of forming a bilayer glazing panel by providing an optically clear prelaminate of stretched polyester film coated with a cross-linked, self-healing polyurethane layer; assembling the prelaminate with a layer of plasticized partial polyvinyl butyral with the side of the polyester film without the polyurethane layer in facing contact with a subjacent textured surface of the partial polyvinyl butyral layer; clamping the assembled layers in a perimeter anchoring system; sequentially carrying out the following steps i), ii), iii), and optionally the above clamping step within an air autoclave; i) deairing the interface between the polyester film and plasticized partial polyvinyl butyral; ii) forcing localized regions of the layers within the perimeter anchoring system against a sheet of glass; and iii) subjecting the assembly of step ii) to elevated temperature and pressure while the plastic layers remain clamped within the perimeter anchoring system to firmly bond the plastic layers and glass sheet toget

Abstract: A method of dimensionally stabilizing a transparent, shrinkable thermoplastic layer, such as polyethylene terephthalate, in a draw-formed laminate with plasticized polyvinyl butyral which comprises heat setting the thermoplastic layer.

Abstract: In a solar screening assembly optionally heatable for defrosting/defogging/deicing which includes a plasticized polyvinyl butyral layer and a metal/dielectric stack comprising one or more light-reflecting metal layers and two or more antireflective layers, a cap layer Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 or SiOx where x.ltoreq.2, in face-adhering contact with the plasticized polyvinyl butyral layer, such assembly when laminated with glass exhibiting pummel adhesion of at least 3 after at least 1000 hours exposure to UV radiation in a Fadeometer, Weatherometer or equivalent system.

Abstract: Polyvinyl butyral resin containing a modification-promoting amount of up to about 15 mole % ionomeric groups which are preferably the metal sulfonate salt of an aldehyde chemically combined with oxygen atoms of adjacent precursor vinyl alcohol groups. Such resin is prepared from a precursor PVOH containing chemically bound ionic acid groups.

Abstract: A sheet formed of a polyblend comprising, on a weight basis, a) 30 to 90% polyvinyl butyral containing about 11 to 30% hydroxyl groups and b) 70 to 10% thermoplastic polyurethane which is the reaction product of:(i) polyether polyol or a mixture of polyether polyol and polyester polyol; and(ii) aliphatic diisocyanate, aromatic diisocyanate or a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic diisocyanates;the combined percentages of a) plus b) in the polyblend always equaling 100%; such sheet at 0.76 mm thickness having no greater than 2% haze.

Abstract: A flexible, draw-formed laminate for a safety glazing comprising a transparent, thermoplastic carrier film which is shrink-stable during laminating formation of such safety glazing bonded to at least one layer of plasticized polyvinyl butyral, such film having a greater tensile modulus than that of the layer of plasticized polyvinyl butyral. The carrier film is preferably flexible polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate having one or more functional performance coatings or layers on its surface such as a multi-layered solar radiation control stack.