Abstract: A bonding material is described that is well suited to bonding polymer films, such as polyester films, to other substrates. In one embodiment, for instance, the bonding material can be used to bond a polyester film to a layer containing an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer to form a backing material for a photovoltaic device. The bonding material generally comprises a block copolymer combined with a coupling agent. The block copolymer generally contains a polyester segment in combination with a different polymer segment. The different polymer segment may comprise, for instance, polyethylene glycol polymer blocks. The coupling agent, on the other hand, can comprise a functional silane. The polyester segments on the block copolymer attach to the polyester film, while the silane coupling agent reacts with the second polymer blocks and reacts with a constitutent in an adjacent layer.

Abstract: Scratch-resistant thermoplastic films are disclosed. The films include a scratch-resistant coating that is formed from an acrylated binder, a thermal initiator, and a melamine crosslinker. Of particular advantage, the coating can be formed on the film during an in-line process while the film is being formed. The melamine crosslinker not only causes the coating to crosslink but also improves the adhesion of the coating to the film layer. In one embodiment, the film layer is made from a polyester.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coated polymer film having release properties. The film includes a self-supporting polymer film layer, and a release coating on the film layer. The release coating, which can also be applied to alternate substrates, includes a cross-linkable acrylic and a polyolefin wax. The coating can optionally include a polysiloxane in combination with one or both of the acrylic and polyolefin wax.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coated polymer film having release properties. The film includes a self-supporting polymer film layer, and a release coating on the film layer. The release coating, which can also be applied to alternate substrates, includes a cross-linkable acrylic and a polyolefin wax. The coating can optionally include a polysiloxane in combination with one or both of the acrylic and polyolefin wax.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a strippable or dissolvable release coating on the surface of substrate such as a flexible polymeric film or web. The release coating is subsequently coated with a layer of material and then dissolved in a solvent to release the layer. The release coating is made from a copolymer of methylmethacrylate and ethylacrylate or from a homopolymer of polyacrylic acid. Release coatings made of methylmethacrylate and ethylacrylate copolymers having glass transition temperatures of about 60.degree. C. or greater, or made of a ipolyacrylic acid homopolymer having a glass transition temperature of about 100.degree. C. or higher, are also provided. The release coatings provide excellent supporting substrates for the formation of an overcoated metallized layer, are readily strippable in acetone, and can be formed during an in-line process which begins with drawing a flexible film or web from a molten polymeric material.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a dissolvable or strippable polymeric release coating on the surface of flexible web, forming an overcoated metallized or optically variable layer on said release coating, and stripping or dissolving the release coating to release the overcoated layer. The release coating comprises a polymer of crotonic acid which is soluble in a solvent such as acetone. The polymer may be a copolymer of crotonic acid and at least one vinyl ester such as vinyl acetate. The release coating may be formed during an in-line process which begins with drawing the flexible web from a molten polymeric material. The methods are particularly advantageous for forming optically variable flakes and multilayered optically variable devices.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film coated with a permanent antistatic composition to form an antistatic coating thereon, and a method for priming a thermoplastic film with the antistatic composition. The antistatic composition comprises: from 2 to 11% by weight of an antistatic copolymer; from 0 to 0.45% by weight of an antistatic compound; from 0.25 to 2% by weight glycidoxy silane; from about 0.3 to 2% by weight spherical silica particles having an average diameter of 10-100 nanometers; and water, or a mixture or water and organic solvent, wherein the total weight percent of all components equals 100%.

Abstract: Reclaimable overhead transparencies for plain paper copiers are obtained by strongly adhering particulates having a large mean particle size to a transparent base sheet. A transparent, polymeric antistatic binder composition which does not substantially gel or yellow upon heating to reclamation temperatures and a glycidoxy silane are used to strongly adhere the large particulates to the base sheet. The polymeric antistatic binder composition is a mixture of an acrylic polymer or copolymer with an antistatic copolymer. The use of large particulates and the use of the mixture of an acrylic polymer or copolymer and an antistatic copolymer improves antistatic properties without the need for yellowing, foul-odor producing amounts of nitrogenous antistatic agents or gel-forming amounts of cross-linking agents which would adversely affect reclaimability. An emulsified wax is included in the coating composition to reduce the static coefficient of friction of the overhead transparency.

Abstract: A thin, biaxially oriented polyester film which is asymetrically oriented by stretching 1-2 times in the machine direction and about 3-5 times in the transverse direction in the plane of the film is disclosed. The film has a birefringence of at least 0.085, an optical retardation of at least 9000 nanometers and a shrinkage of less than 2% in any direction at 150.degree. C. The film produced is substantially free of color fringes when viewed in partially polarized light. There are also disclosed two processes for the production of said film.

Abstract: Oriented polyester films primer coated in-line with a hydrolyzed aminosilane are disclosed. These silanes in the unhydrolyzed state have the formula:XSi(R.sup.2).sub.a (R.sup.3).sub.bwherein X is a radical selected from the group consisting of H.sub.2 NR.sup.1 HNR.sup.1 --H.sub.2 NR.sup.1 HNR.sup.1 HNR.sup.1 --; the R.sup.1 's are the same or different groups selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl or phenyl; R.sup.2 is a hydrolyzable group selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkoxy, an acetoxy group or a halide; R.sup.3 is a nonreactive, nonhydrolyzable group selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alkyl or phenyl; (a) is an integer ranging from 1 to 3; (b) is an integer ranging from 0 to 2, with the sum of (a) and (b) being 3.The hydrolyzed aminosilane is applied to the film in-line as an aqueous solution at any suitable stage during manufacture of the film, i.e.

Abstract: A substantially wrinkle-free, high modulus, thermoplastic film having at least one compound curve is disclosed. The substantially wrinkle-free film may form a part of a laminate which itself has utility in automotive glazing applications.An improved lamination process is also disclosed for the production of non-planar laminates from planar sheets of heat-shrinkable films through the use of a negative image mold of the non-planar article to be laminated. Heat-shrinkable films which may be used in the practice of the invention include polyester films, polyolefin films, polyamide films, polyurethane films, polycarbonate films, polyvinylchloride films, and polystyrenic films.The method is applicable to a wide range of non-planar articles and is particularly suitable to articles having at least one compound curve forming at least part of its surface. The improved lamination process of the present invention has specific utility in the manufacture of automotive glazing products such as windshields and rear windows.