Abstract: An image-bearing article comprising a rigid sheet bearing an image which is coated on the image-bearing side and over the image with an adhesion promoter. A process of preparing an image-bearing article comprising a coated image-bearing rigid sheet: (a) providing a rigid sheet; (b) printing an image on the rigid sheet so as to produce an image-bearing rigid sheet containing an image-bearing side; and (c) coating an adhesion promoter on the image-bearing side and over the image to produce a coated image-bearing rigid sheet containing a coated image-bearing side.

Abstract: A polymeric film or sheet comprising an ionomeric composition comprising ionomeric copolymer of an alpha olefin and about 1 to about 30 wt % of alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbons, based on the total weight of the ionomeric copolymer, wherein the carboxylic acid is neutralized to a level of 1 to 100 mol %, with one or more metal ions, based on the total number of moles of carboxylate groups in the ionomeric copolymer, and wherein the ionomeric copolymer has a Melt Index of about 20 to about 300 g/10 min. The ionomeric composition preferably comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of silane coupling agent, organic peroxide, and combinations thereof. In addition, an article comprising an interlayer formed of the polymeric film or sheet and an additional layer selected from the group consisting of glass, other polymeric interlayer sheets, polymeric film layers, and metal films or sheets. Examples of articles include safety windows and solar cells.

Abstract: A polymeric film or sheet comprising an acid copolymer composition comprising acid copolymer of an alpha olefin and about 1 to about 30 wt % of alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbons, based on the total weight of the acid copolymer composition, wherein the acid copolymer has a Melt Index of about 75 to about 600 g/10 min. The acid copolymer composition preferably comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of silane coupling agent, organic peroxide, and combinations thereof. In addition, an article comprising an interlayer formed of the polymeric film or sheet and an additional layer selected from the group consisting of glass, other polymeric interlayer sheets, polymeric film layers, and metal films or sheets. Examples of articles include safety windows and solar cells.

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 solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising (i) a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells and having a light-receiving side and a back side, and (ii) stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet as an encapsulant layer, wherein the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet is positioned next to the light-receiving or the back side of the solar cell component and comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) composition containing about 10 to about 23 wt % of a plasticizer based on the total weight of the composition. A process of preparing solar cell assembly comprising (i) providing a solar cell component and a stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet comprising a poly(vinyl butyral) composition containing about 10 to about 23 wt % of a plasticizer based on the total weight of the poly(vinyl butyral) composition, and (ii) encapsulating the solar cell component in a polymer matrix comprising the poly(vinyl butyral) composition.

Abstract: A polyester blend composition that comprises at least two copolymers selected from certain copolymers, particularly blends of branched and linear biodegradable copolymers. Also provided is a blown film that is produced from the polyester blend composition, and a process for producing the polyester blend composition and the film. The film is biodegradable, transparent, and has excellent mechanical properties.

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 is an infra red (IR)-blocking coating and a process for applying the IR-blocking coating onto the surface of a polymer. The process comprises the steps of dispersing an IR-blocking material in a mixture of solvent comprising a dissolved polymer and using standard printing processes to coat at least a portion of the surface of a bulk polymer, preferably a sheet or film. The present invention also provides safety glass laminates whose polymer interlayers have improved adhesion to glass in addition to light blocking properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell module comprising an encapsulant layer formed of a polymeric sheet comprising an acid copolymer, an ionomer derived therefrom, or a combination thereof and having a thickness greater than or equal to 50 mils (1.25 mm).

Abstract: Sulfonated aromatic copolyesters and articles made therefrom, and processes for producing the sulfonated aromatic copolyesters and articles are provided. Articles that can be made from the sulfonated aromatic copolyesters include films, coatings and laminates. Some of the compositions and articles are biocompostable. The films can further be used to form shaped articles such as sheets, food packaging such as sandwich wraps, thermoformed containers, and coatings for, for example, films and other substrates. The sulfonated aromatic copolyesters contain a hydroxyalkanoic acid component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell module comprising at least one layer of a poly(allyl amine) or poly(vinyl amine)-primed polyester film, and the process for making the solar cell module.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell module comprising at least one encapsulant layer which has 1) a total thickness of from about 0.1 to about 20 mils and 2) at least one surface layer made of ionomers containing a finite amount of polymerized residues of ?-olefins and from about 18 to about 25 wt % of polymerized residues of ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids. The present invention also provides a process of manufacturing the solar cell module.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoplastic film or sheet comprising two surface layers made of acid copolymers, or ionomers, or combinations thereof and at least one inner layer made of ethylene acrylate ester copolymers, a solar cell module comprising at least one encapsulant layer derived therefrom, and a process of manufacturing the solar cell module.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film or sheet having a thickness of about 1 mil (0.026 mm) to about 20 mils (0.51 mm) containing a surface embossed layer comprising a copolymer of alpha olefin(s) with alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid comonomer(s), ionomers derived therefrom and combinations thereof useful for making solar cell laminates, wherein the surface is embossed with a pattern which provides channels for de-airing, the channels having depth of about 20 microns or less, a width of about 30 microns to about 300 microns and spaced about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm apart, and use thereof in photovoltaic cells and the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: Sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters and articles made therefrom, and processes for producing the sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters and articles are provided. Articles that can be made from the sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters include films, coatings and laminates. Some of the compositions and articles are biocompostable. The films can further be used to form shaped articles such as sheets, food packaging such as sandwich wraps, thermoformed containers, and coatings for, for example, films and other substrates. The sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters are derived from copolyesters produced from aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters formed from an aromatic dicarboxylic acid component, an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid component, a first glycol component consisting of 1,4-butanediol, a second glycol component, and optionally, a polyfunctional branching agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides certain sulfonated copolyetherester compositions containing hydroxyalkanoic acids and processes for producing such sulfonated aromatic copolyetheresters. The invention further provides shaped articles, preferably in the shape of films, coatings and laminates, having improved thermal properties, wherein the shaped articles are produced from the certain sulfonated copolyetherester compositions. Some of these materials are also biocompostable. The sulfonated copolyetheresters are produced from a mixture of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid component, hydroxyalkanoic acid component, a sulfonate component, a poly(alkylene ether) glycol component, a glycol component, an optional other glycol component, an optional branching agent, and an optional color reducing agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides monofilaments coated with certain adhesive layers and methods to produce the coated filaments. Also provided are fabrics formed from the monofilaments. The coated monofilaments and fabrics provide improved adhesion with additional coating top layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides certain aromatic copolyetheresters that include hydroxyalkanoic acid residues, and processes for making the copolyetheresters, and articles containing the copolyetheresters. The copolyetheresters have desirable thermal properties, and can be used in forming shaped articles, such as films, coatings and laminates. The copolyetheresters are produced from a mixture of aromatic dicarboxylic acids, hydroxyalkanoic acids, a poly(alkylene ether) glycol, a glycol component, optional other glycol, optional branching agents, and optional color reducing agent components. Some of the copolyetheresters are biocompostable.

Abstract: Aliphatic-aromatic polyetherester compositions, articles made from the aliphatic-aromatic polyetherester compositions, and processes for producing the aliphatic-aromatic polyetherester compositions and articles are provided. Articles that can be made from the aliphatic-aromatic polyetherester compositions include films, coatings and laminates. Some of the compositions and articles are biocompostable. The films can further be used to form shaped articles such as sheets, food packaging such as sandwich wraps, thermoformed containers, and coatings for, for example, films and other substrates. The aliphatic-aromatic polyetheresters are based on copolyesters produced from a mixture of aromatic dicarboxylic acids, aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, poly(alkyene ether) glycols, and glycols.

Abstract: Aliphatic-aromatic polyetherester compositions, articles made from the aliphatic-aromatic polyetherester compositions, and processes for producing the aliphatic-aromatic polyetherester compositions and articles are provided. Articles that can be made from the aliphatic-aromatic polyetherester compositions include films, coatings and laminates. Some of the compositions and articles are biocompostable. The films can further be used to form shaped articles such as sheets, food packaging such as sandwich wraps, thermoformed containers, and coatings for, for example, films and other substrates. The aliphatic-aromatic polyetheresters are based on copolyesters produced from a mixture of aromatic dicarboxylic acids, aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, poly(alkyene ether) glycols, and glycols.