Multilayer composite films and articles prepared therefrom

Abstract

The present invention is an optically transparent laminate film comprising: at least three layers of film, wherein at least two of the at least three layers comprise ionomeric films, and wherein the film can be suitable for use in a photovoltaic cell or in packaging.

1 . A laminate article comprising:
 (i) a first outer layer comprising a first ionomer;   (ii) a core layer comprising at least one polymer layer and positioned such that a first surface of the core layer is in direct contact with at least one surface of the first outer layer;   (iii) a second outer layer comprising a second ionomer and positioned such that a second surface of the core layer is in direct contact with at least one surface of the second outer layer;   wherein the at least one core layer polymer is a non-ionomeric polymer and   wherein the individual optical transmittance for each of the first ionomer layer, the second ionomer layer, the core layer unit, and the laminate at the same wavelength can each be measured, and wherein the measured transmittance for the laminate is greater than the expectation value of the transmittance calculated from the transmittance of the three individual layers in their non-laminated state weighted by their thicknesses in the laminate;   or   wherein the laminate article, the first ionomer and the second ionomer and the core layer polymer are characterized by a transition temperature measured under tensile conditions at 1 Hz by DMA such that the value of the transition temperature for the laminate article is greater than the value of the transition temperature of the core layer polymer measured under identical conditions in a non-laminated state.   
     
     
         2 . The laminate article of  claim 1  wherein the first outer layer and the second outer layer comprise identical compositions. 
     
     
         3 . The laminate article of  claim 1  having an optical transmittance of light of 500 nm wavelength that is greater than 85%. 
     
     
         4 . The laminate article of  claim 1  which shows a DMA transition temperature of greater than 65° C. at 1 Hz. 
     
     
         5 . The laminate article of  claim 4  wherein the core layer polymer shows a DMA transition temperature of less than 40° C. at 1 Hz when not laminated to the outer layers. 
     
     
         6 . The laminate article of  claim 1  wherein the core layer polymer is a laminate. 
     
     
         7 . The laminate article of  claim 1  wherein the core layer polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane; ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyester; polyacetals; ethylene acid copolymers, ethylene acrylate copolymers and blends, laminates or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The laminate article of  claim 1  wherein the first ionomer and the second ionomer independently comprise a copolymer obtained by the copolymerization of ethylene and an ethylenically unsaturated C 3 -C 8  carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         9 . The laminate article of  claim 1  wherein the first ionomer and the second ionomer independently comprise an acid copolymer that includes from about 8 wt % to about 25 wt % of the acid, based on the total weight of the acid copolymer. 
     
     
         10 . The laminate article of  claim 9  wherein the first ionomer and the second ionomer independently comprise an acid copolymer that includes from about 11 wt % to about 25 wt % of the acid, based on the total weight of the acid copolymer. 
     
     
         11 . The laminate article of  claim 10  wherein the first ionomer and the second ionomer independently comprise an acid copolymer that includes from about 14 wt % to about 19 wt % of the acid, based on the total weight of the acid copolymer. 
     
     
         12 . The laminate article of  claim 11  wherein the first and second ionomers independently comprise an acid copolymer that includes from about 15 wt % to about 19 wt % of the acid, based on the total weight of the acid copolymer. 
     
     
         13 . An optically transparent laminate film comprising: at least three layers of film, wherein (a) at least two of the at least three layers of film comprise an ionomeric film (b) at least one of the at least three layers of film independently in a non-laminated state (i) transmits less than about 85% incident visible light or (ii) has a haze value of equal to or greater than about 6% as measured according to ASTM D1003-00 on the at least one layer having a thickness of about 40 mil or less and (c) the transparent laminate (i) transmits at least about 85% of incident visible light or (ii) has a haze value of equal to or less than about 6% as measured according to ASTM D1003-00. 
     
     
         14 . An article comprising the optically transparent laminate film of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14  wherein the article is a package or container. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15  wherein the article comprises one or more layers of glass laminated to at least one of the ionomeric films. 
     
     
         17 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The laminate article of  claim 1  wherein the first ionomer or the second ionomer independently comprises a copolymer obtained by the copolymerization of ethylene; an ethylenically unsaturated C 3 -C 8  carboxylic acid; and an alkyl ester of a second ethylenically unsaturated C 3 -C 8  carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         31 . The laminate article of  claim 1  that is produced by extrusion. 
     
     
         32 . The laminate article of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more layers of glass laminated to at least one of the first outer layer or the second outer layer. 
     
     
         33 . A laminate glazing system comprising the laminate article of  claim 32  and selected from the group consisting of: a vehicle windshield or sidelite; a laminated window; other safety glass in buildings; cabinet glass; glazing in a door; shelving; other laminated glazing.