Abstract: Disclosed is an improved non-autoclave lamination process for manufacturing solar cell modules, which comprises an additional heating step following and in addition to a heat/vacuum process.

Abstract: The present invention provides certain laminates comprising a decorated poly(vinyl butyral) sheet and a film. Preferably, the film is a solar control film.

Abstract: Solar cell modules are provided having a solar cell layer and a colored multi-layer encapsulant sheet where an uncolored surface sub-layer of the encapsulant sheet is in direct contact with the solar cell layer.

Abstract: A solar cell module comprising a solar cell layer comprised of one or a plurality of electrically interconnected solar cells and an encapsulant layer comprised or made of a poly(vinyl butyral) sheet having melt flow rate (MFR) of about 0.8 to about 2 g/10 min as determined according to ASTM 1238 (150° C., 5 kg load, 2 mm orifice) and a process for producing the same.

Abstract: A process for preparing a transparent laminate comprising a colored interlayer and a rigid sheet, comprising: (a) forming a color concentrate comprising a thermoplastic ionomer copolymer and about 1 to about 10 wt % (based on the total weight of the color concentrate) of pigment by: (i) combining (a) one or more colored master batch, each comprising about 50 to about 80 wt % (based upon the weight of the master batch) a thermoplastic matrix polymer and about 20 to about 50 wt % (based on the weight of the master batch) of pigment, and (b) one or more thermoplastic ionomer copolymer; and (ii) melt mixing the one or more colored master batch and the one or more thermoplastic ionomer copolymer at a temperature above the melting points of the thermoplastic ionomer copolymer and the thermoplastic matrix polymer; (b) forming an interlayer composition comprising thermoplastic ionomer copolymer and about 0.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved PVB composition comprising an adhesion control agent which is a mixture of potassium and magnesium salts in a ratio of from about 0.05:1 to about 5:1, by weight, potassium salts to magnesium salts. The present invention also describes a method for improved control of adhesion of PVB to glass.

Abstract: An image-bearing article comprising a film layer bearing an image and an acoustic poly(vinyl acetal) interlayer sheet having a Glass transition temperature of 23° C. or less. In addition, a process of preparing an image-bearing article comprising an image-bearing film layer and an acoustic poly(vinyl acetal) interlayer sheet: (a) providing a film layer; (b) printing an image on the film layer so as to produce an image-bearing film layer containing an image-bearing side; and (c) laminating an the acoustic poly(vinyl acetal) interlayer sheet to the image-bearing side of the image-bearing film layer. Preferably the film layer is coated on the image-bearing side and over the image with an adhesion promoter.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved PVB composition comprising an adhesion control agent which is a mixture of potassium and magnesium salts in a ratio of from about 0.05:1 to about 5:1, by weight, potassium salts to magnesium salts. The present invention also describes a method for improved control of adhesion of PVB to glass.

Abstract: An image-bearing article comprising an interlayer bearing an image wherein the interlayer is an acoustic poly(vinyl acetal) interlayer having a Tg 23° C. or less. The acoustic poly(vinyl acetal) interlayer is preferably laminated to a film layer, a white layer, a second interlayer sheet or a rigid layer. The image-bearing article can preferably be coated on the image-bearing side and over the image with an adhesion promoter.

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

Abstract: An image-bearing article comprising a film layer bearing an image and a polymeric interlayer sheet comprising an ionomer copolymer of an alpha-olefin and about 15 to about 30 wt % of an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid based on the total weight of the ionomer copolymer, wherein about 5 to about 90 percent of the carboxylic acids are neutralized with one or more metal ions. In addition, a process of preparing an image-bearing article comprising an image-bearing film layer and an ionomer interlayer sheet: (a) providing a film layer; (b) printing an image on the film layer so as to produce an image-bearing film layer containing an image-bearing side; and (c) laminating an ionomer interlayer sheet to the image-bearing side of the image-bearing film layer. Preferably the film layer is coated on the image-bearing side and over the image with an adhesion promoter.

Abstract: An image-bearing article comprising a rigid sheet bearing an image and a polymeric interlayer sheet comprising an ionomer copolymer of an alpha-olefin and about 15 to about 30 wt % of an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid based on the total weight of the ionomer copolymer, wherein about 5 to about 90 percent of the carboxylic acids are neutralized with a metal ion. In addition, a process of preparing an image-bearing article comprising an image-bearing rigid sheet and an ionomer interlayer 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) laminating an ionomer interlayer sheet to the image-bearing side of the image-bearing rigid sheet. Preferably the rigid sheet is coated on the image-bearing side and over the image with an adhesion promoter.

Abstract: An image-bearing article comprises an opaque layer 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 white layer comprises the steps of providing an opaque layer; printing an image on the opaque layer so as to produce an image-bearing opaque layer containing an image-bearing side; and coating an adhesion promoter on the image-bearing side and over the image to produce a coated image-bearing opaque layer containing a coated image-bearing side.

Abstract: Described is image-bearing article comprising an opaque layer bearing an image which is coated on the image-bearing side and over the image with an adhesion promoter and laminated to an ionomer interlayer sheet. Also described is a process of preparing an image-bearing article comprising a coated image-bearing opaque layer laminated to an ionomer interlayer sheet, comprising the steps of providing a opaque layer; printing an image on the opaque layer so as to produce an image-bearing opaque layer containing an image-bearing side; coating an adhesion promoter on the image-bearing side and over the image to produce a coated image-bearing opaque layer containing a coated image-bearing side; and laminating an ionomer interlayer sheet to the coated image-bearing side of the coated image-bearing opaque layer by the adhesion promoter.

Abstract: An image-bearing article comprising an interlayer bearing an image and a white layer or another colored layer. The image-bearing article can be coated on the image-bearing side and over the image with an adhesion promoter.

Abstract: An image-bearing article comprising an interlayer bearing an image and a white layer. The image-bearing article can be coated on the image-bearing side and over the image with an adhesion promoter.

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: The present invention is a decorative glass laminate comprising a rigid interlayer bearing a printed image that has been ink-jetted onto at least one of the interlayer surfaces, and a process for preparing same. The interlayer has a storage young's modulus of 50–1000 Mla at 0.3 Hz and 25 C, as determined according to ASTM D 5026-95a and a finite thickness of less than equal to about 0.38 mm.