Abstract: An ionomer composition comprises an ionomer that is the neutralized product of a precursor acid copolymer. The precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of an ?-olefin having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and about 20 to about 30 wt %, based on the total weight of the precursor acid copolymer, of copolymerized units of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms; a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 4000 g/10 min; and, when neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90% and when comprising counterions that consist essentially of sodium cations, the precursor acid copolymer produces a sodium ionomer that has a melt flow rate of about 0.7 to about 25 g/10 min and a freeze enthalpy that is not detectable or that is less than about 3.0 j/g. Further provided are articles comprising the ionomer composition.

Abstract: A safety laminate comprises an interlayer that comprises an ionomer that is the neutralized product of a precursor acid copolymer. The precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of a first ?-olefin having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and about 20 to about 30 wt % of copolymerized units of a first ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms; and has a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 4000 g/10 min. When neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90% and when comprising counterions that consist essentially of sodium cations, the precursor acid copolymer produces a sodium ionomer that has a melt flow rate of about 0.7 to about 25 g/10 min and a freeze enthalpy that is not detectable or that is less than about 3.0 j/g. The ionomer composition may further comprise a second ionomer that has a melt flow rate of about 10 g/10 min or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming an aqueous dispersion of an ionomer composition comprising mixing a solid ionomer composition with water heated to a temperature from about 80 to about 90° C., the solid ionomer composition comprising an ethylene acid copolymer comprising about 18 to about 30 weight % of copolymerized units of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, based on the total weight of the parent acid copolymer, the acid copolymer having a melt flow rate from about 200 to about 1000 g/10 min., wherein about 50% to about 70% of the total carboxylic acid groups of the copolymer are neutralized to carboxylic acid salts comprising sodium cations.

Abstract: A sodium/zinc mixed ionomer comprises carboxylate groups and a combination of counterions that consists essentially of sodium cations and zinc cations. The sodium/zinc mixed ionomer is the neutralization product of a precursor acid copolymer. The precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of an ?-olefin and an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and it has a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 4000 g/10 min. In addition, the precursor acid copolymer, when neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90%, and when comprising counterions that consist essentially of sodium ions, produces a sodium ionomer that has a freeze enthalpy that is not detectable or that is less than about 3.0 j/g, when determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Further provided are articles comprising or prepared from the sodium/zinc mixed ionomer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell pre-lamination assembly comprising a terionomer multilayer film or sheet and solar cell modules prepared therefrom.

Abstract: An ionomer blend composition comprises a blend of a first ionomer and a second ionomer that is different from the first ionomer. The first ionomer is derived from a first precursor acid copolymer that has a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 4000 g/10 min and that comprises copolymerized units of an ?-olefin and about 20 to about 30 wt % of copolymerized units of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. Moreover, the first precursor acid can be neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90% to form a sodium ionomer that has a MFR of about 0.7 to about 25 g/10 min and a freeze enthalpy that is less than about 3.0 j/g or that is not detectable, when determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A variety of articles may comprise or be produced from the ionomer blend composition, for example by injection molding.

Abstract: Described certain plasticized poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) interlayer sheets that may be used to produce safety glass and solar cell laminates having enhanced penetration resistance and adequate adhesion levels. In particular, the stress value of these interlayer sheets at an elongation of 120% is preferably in the range of from about 8 to about 15 N/mm2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pre-formed bi-layer thermoplastic film or sheet comprising a first surface layer made of acid copolymers, or ionomers, or combinations thereof and a second surface layer made of ethylene acrylate ester copolymers, a solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising the same, and a simplified process for manufacturing a solar cell module derived therefrom.

Abstract: A non-autoclave process of manufacturing a glass laminate comprising: (a) providing an assembly comprising (i) a first rigid sheet layer, and (ii) an interlayer sheet comprising a copolymer comprising units from an alpha olefin and about 17 weight to about 25 weight % of units from an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, groups wherein about 1 to about 100 mole % of the carboxylic acid groups are neutralized with metal ions; and (b) forming the glass laminate from the assembly without use of an autoclave comprising in sequence (i) applying vacuum to the assembly; and (ii) applying heat to the assembly while still under vacuum.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a solar cell module, the process comprising: (i) providing a solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells and an encapsulant film or sheet consisting essentially of a non-neutralized acid copolymer composition prepared from (a) non-neutralized acid copolymer of an alpha olefin and about 15 to about 23 wt % of alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbons, based on the total weight of the acid copolymer, wherein the acid copolymer has a Melt Index of greater than 100 to about 600 g/10 min, and (b) about 0.01 to about 10 wt %, based upon the total weight of the acid copolymer composition, of organic peroxide; and (ii) laminating the pre-laminate assembly to form the solar cell module by subjecting the assembly to heat and, optionally, vacuum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell laminate comprising a preformed bi-layer sheet having a poly(vinyl butyral) sub-layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides for certain multilayer polymeric laminates and high strength laminates produced therefrom. The multilayer polymeric laminates provide improved acoustic barrier properties of the high strength laminates of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising one or more solar cells laminated between two compositionally distinct encapsulant layers, and the method of preparing a solar cell module from such an assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a safety laminate or solar cell module comprising an acid terpolymer containing film or sheet, wherein the acid terpolymer comprises copolymerized units derived from an ?-olefin, about 15 to about 30 wt % of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbons, and about 0.5 to about 40 wt % of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester having 4 to 12 carbons, based on the total weight of the acid terpolymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a safety laminate or solar cell module comprising an acid terpolymer containing film or sheet, wherein the acid terpolymer comprises copolymerized units derived from an ?-olefin, about 15 to about 30 wt % of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbons, and about 0.5 to about 40 wt % of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester having 4 to 12 carbons, based on the total weight of the acid terpolymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a safety laminate or solar cell module comprising an acid terpolymer containing film or sheet, wherein the acid terpolymer comprises copolymerized units derived from an ?-olefin, about 15 to about 30 wt % of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbons, and about 0.5 to about 40 wt % of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester having 4 to 12 carbons, based on the total weight of the acid terpolymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell pre-lamination assembly comprising a terionomer multilayer film or sheet and solar cell modules prepared therefrom.

Abstract: Provided are multilayer laminates having one or more layers comprising twisted nematic liquid crystals and one or more layers of a polymeric sheet. The twisted nematic liquid crystal layers reflect infrared radiation. Thus, the multilayer laminates are useful to reduce the transmission of infrared energy. For example, in some embodiments the multilayer laminates are useful as windows to reduce energy consumption necessary to cool the interior of a structure such as an automobile or building. Preferably, the multilayer laminates retain one or more of the beneficial properties of safety glass. The multilayer laminates may include additional layers such as infrared absorbing layers, half wave plates, and the like, to minimize the transmission of infrared energy. The multilayer laminates may also include further additional layers such as polymeric films, polymeric sheets, rigid sheets, and the like.

Abstract: The invention describes a polymeric sheet that has at least one layer that comprises an ionomer or ionomer blend that incorporates a partially neutralized alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid component and is useful in glass laminate applications. The ionomer or ionomer blend contains one or more monovalent metal ions in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 60%, preferably about 10 to about 55%, and more preferably about 15 to about 50%, and one or more polyvalent metal ions in an amount ranging from about 40 to about 99%, preferably about 45 to about 90%, and more preferably about 50 to about 85%. This ratio range of monovalent and polyvalent metal neutralization ions provides synergistically greater adhesion to glass than found for either the monovalent or the polyvalent metal neutralization ions alone.

Abstract: Light concentrating articles capable of concentrating about 1.02 to about 2000 sun equivalents of solar energy onto a solar cell comprise a thermoplastic composition, preferably an ionomer composition. The light concentrating articles may be made by a variety of processes, which are provided herein, such as for example an injection molding process, an injection overmolding process, an extrusion process, a cast film or sheet process, a blown film or sheet process, a vacuum forming process, a compression molding process, a transfer molding process, or a profile extrusion process. Secondary forming processes, such as bending, stamping, embossing, machining, laminating, adhering, metallizing, and the like may also be used in forming the light concentrating articles.