Barrier materials for mirror assemblies

Abstract

Provided herein is a reflective optical construction containing a fluoropolymer barrier layer, wherein the fluoropolymer is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers and copolymers of at least one tetrafluoropropene or pentafluoropropene, preferably 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. Also disclosed is a method of forming a reflective optical construction including (a) applying a barrier layer comprising one or more fluoropolymers selected from the group consisting of homopolymers and copolymers of at least one tetrafluoropropene or pentafluoropropene, and (b) curing.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A reflective optical construction comprising:
 (a) an optically transparent substrate containing a reflective layer disposed on the back of said substrate; and   (b) a barrier layer disposed on a portion of at least one surface of the reflective layer, the barrier layer comprising a fluoropolymer, wherein said fluoropolymer is a copolymer of monomer units selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoropropenes and pentafluoropropenes, and wherein said barrier layer protects said reflective layer from corrosion.   
     
     
         22 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 21 , wherein said fluoropolymer is represented by Formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n is a number from about 10 to about 2,500; and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are independently selected from H and F. 
     
     
         23 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 22 , wherein n is a number from about 15 to about 2,000. 
     
     
         24 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 21 , wherein said fluoropolymer has a molecular weight between about 2,000 and about 200,000 Daltons. 
     
     
         25 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 21 , wherein said fluoropolymer is a copolymer derived from a tetrafluoropropene compound. 
     
     
         26 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 21 , wherein said fluoropolymer is a copolymer derived from a compound selected from the group consisting of HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze, and HFO-1225. 
     
     
         27 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 26 , wherein said fluoropolymer is a copolymer derived from HFO-1234yf. 
     
     
         28 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 26 , wherein said fluoropolymer is a copolymer derived from HFO-1234ze. 
     
     
         29 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 21 , wherein the thickness of said fluoropolymer barrier layer is between about 1 micron and about 3,000 microns. 
     
     
         30 . A reflective optical construction comprising:
 (a) an optically transparent substrate containing a reflective layer disposed on the back of said substrate; and   (b) a barrier layer disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface of the reflective layer, the barrier layer consisting essentially of at least one fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of copolymers derived from a tetrafluoropropene compound, and copolymers derived from a pentafluoropropene compound, wherein the fluoropolymer has a molecular weight between about 2,000 and about 200,000 Daltons; wherein said barrier layer protects said reflective layer from corrosion.   
     
     
         31 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 30 , wherein said fluoropolymer has a molecular weight between about 10,000 and about 100,000 Daltons. 
     
     
         32 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 30 , wherein said tetrafluoropropene compound or pentafluoropropene compound is selected from the group consisting of HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze, and HFO-1225. 
     
     
         33 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 32 , wherein said tetrafluoropropene compound is HFO-1234yf. 
     
     
         34 . The reflective optical construction of  claim 32 , wherein said tetrafluoropropene compound is HFO-1234ze. 
     
     
         35 . A method of forming a reflective optical construction comprising:
 (a) applying a barrier coating solution to a reflective layer disposed on the back of an optically transparent substrate, the barrier coating solution comprising at least one fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of copolymers derived from a tetrafluoropropene compound and copolymers derived from a pentafluoropropene compound, wherein the fluoropolymer has a molecular weight between about 2,000 and about 200,000 Daltons; and   (b) curing the applied barrier coating solution to form a barrier layer on the reflective layer.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the barrier coating solution is applied by spray coating. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the curing step comprises heating to a temperature between about 60° C. and about 350° C. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said tetrafluoropropene compound or pentafluoropropene compound is selected from the group consisting of HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze, and HFO-1225. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said tetrafluoropropene compound is HFO-1234yf. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said barrier coating solution further comprises an organic solvent.