Radiation curable adhesives for reflective laminated solar panels, laminated solar panels including radiation curable adhesives, and/or associated methods

Abstract

Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for creating flat laminated mirrors, e.g., for use in concentrating solar power (CSP) applications. In certain example embodiments, the first substrate is a low iron glass substrate. A reflective coating is provided between the first and second substrates. The first and second substrates are laminated together via a radiation curable laminating adhesive with the reflective coating between the substrates. In certain example embodiments the radiation curable laminating adhesive is cured via UV radiation in order to form a laminated reflective article.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of making an article, the method comprising:
 providing a first low-iron glass substrate, the first substrate having a thickness of about 0.5-3 mm;   disposing a multi-layer thin-film reflective coating on a major surface of the first substrate, the reflective coating comprising, in order moving away from the substrate, a tin-inclusive layer, an Ag-inclusive layer directly contacting the tin-inclusive layer, and a copper-inclusive layer directly contacting the Ag-inclusive layer;   disposing a radiation curable laminating adhesive over the reflective coating;   providing a second glass substrate substantially parallel to the first substrate, the second substrate being oriented over the laminating adhesive, the second substrate being at least as thick as the first substrate, the second substrate having an iron content higher than an iron content of the first substrate;   laminating together the first substrate with the reflective coating disposed thereon and the second substrate to form a reflective article by irradiating the substrates with UV radiation such that the radiation curable laminating adhesive is cured to form a solid polymer interlayer.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the laminating adhesive comprises at least oligomers, monomers, an adhesion promoter, and a photoinitiator. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the laminating adhesive is cured using UV radiation at a wavelength of from about 340 to 430 nm. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the laminating adhesive is cured using UV radiation at a wavelength of from about 350 to 390 nm. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the photoinitiator has maximum UV absorption at from about 350 to 390 nm. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the oligomers comprise aliphatic urethane acrylate resins, and wherein the monomers are mono-functional acrylates. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the laminating adhesive comprises from about 80 to 99.5% total oligomer, from about 1 to 5% adhesion promoter, and from about 0.1 to 1% photoinitiator. 
     
     
         29 . A coated article, comprising:
 a first low-iron glass substrate having a thickness of 0.5-3 mm;   a reflective coating comprising a plurality of thin film layers disposed on a major surface of the first substrate; and   a second substrate that is substantially parallel to the first high transmission substrate, the second substrate having a higher iron content than the first substrate and being at least twice as thick as the first substrate,   wherein the first and second substrates are laminated together with a radiation cured polymer interlayer, the polymer interlayer hermetically sealing the reflective coating between the first and second substrates,   wherein the reflective article has a reflectivity above 90 percent.