High rigidity interlayers and light weight laminated multiple layer panels

Abstract

This disclosure is related to the field of polymer interlayers for multiple layer panels and multiple layer panels having at least one polymer interlayer sheet. Specifically, this disclosure is related to the field of high rigidity interlayers and light weight laminated multiple layer panels incorporating high rigidity interlayers.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A multi-layer interlayer comprising:
 a stiff polymer layer;   a soft polymer layer in contact with said stiff polymer layer;   wherein at least one polymer layers comprises plasticized poly(vinyl butyral); and   wherein the stiff polymer layer has a glass transition temperature of greater than 33° C.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 1  wherein said stiff polymer layer and said soft polymer layer comprise poly(vinyl butyral). 
     
     
         3 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 1  wherein said multilayer interlayer comprises a second stiff polymer layer in contact with said soft polymer layer, and wherein the soft polymer layer is between said two stiff polymer layers. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the stiff polymer layers has a glass transition temperature of greater than 33° C. and the soft polymer layers has a glass transition temperature of less than 30° C. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the stiff polymer layers has a glass transition temperature of greater than 33° C. and the soft polymer layers has a glass transition temperature of less than 15° C. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the stiff polymer layers has a glass transition temperature of greater than 33° C. and the soft polymer layers has a glass transition temperature of less than 5° C. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the stiff polymer layers has a glass transition temperature of greater than 33° C. and the soft polymer layers has a glass transition temperature of less than 0° C. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 6  wherein the first and the third polymer layers have a glass transition temperature of greater than 33° C. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 7  wherein the first and the third polymer layers have a glass transition temperature of greater than 33° C. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-layer interlayer comprising:
 a first stiff polymer layer;   a soft polymer layer in contact with said first stiff polymer layer;   a second stiff polymer layer;   wherein said soft polymer layer is between said first and said stiff polymer layers;   wherein the multi-layer interlayer has an equivalent glass transition temperature, T eq , of greater than or equal to 29° C.; and,   wherein the soft polymer layer has a glass transition temperature of less than 30° C.;   
     
     
         11 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 10  wherein said interlayer has an equivalent glass transition temperature, T eq , of greater than or equal to 31° C. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 10  wherein at least one polymer layers comprises plasticized poly(vinyl butyral). 
     
     
         13 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 10  wherein said first and second stiff polymer layers and said soft polymer layer comprise plasticized poly(vinyl butyral). 
     
     
         14 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 10  wherein the soft polymer has a glass transition temperature of less than 15° C. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 10  wherein the soft polymer has a glass transition temperature of less than 5° C. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-layer interlayer of  claim 10  wherein the soft polymer has a glass transition temperature of less than 0° C. 
     
     
         17 . A multi-layer glass panel comprising:
 a first glass substrate;   a second glass substrate;   a first stiff polymer layer;   a soft polymer layer in contact with said first stiff polymer layer;   a second stiff polymer layer in contact with said soft polymer layer;   wherein said soft polymer layer is between said first and said second stiff polymer layers; and   wherein the multi-layer interlayer has an equivalent glass transition temperature, T eq , of greater than or equal to 29° C.; and   wherein wherein the soft polymer layer has a glass transition temperature of less than 30° C.   
     
     
         18 . The multi-layer glass panels of  claim 17 , wherein the combined thickness of said first glass substrate and said second glass substrate is less than or equal to 3.7 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-layer glass panels of  claim 17 , the combined thickness of said first glass substrate and said second glass substrate is less than or equal to 3.2 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-layer glass panel of  claim 17  wherein the thickness of said second glass substrate is less than the thickness of said first glass substrate.