Fluoropolymer coated films useful for photovoltaic modules

1. A fluoropolymer coated film comprising:

a polymeric substrate film comprising thermoplastic polyester; and

a fluoropolymer coating on said polymeric substrate film, said fluoropolymer coating comprising fluoropolymer selected from homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl fluoride and homopolymers and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride polymer blended with compatible adhesive polymer comprising functional groups selected from carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, aziridine, anhydride, amine, isocyanate, melamine, epoxy, hydroxy, anhydride and mixtures thereof;

said polymeric substrate film comprising a primer layer on its surface providing functional groups that interact with said compatible adhesive polymer to promote bonding of said fluoropolymer coating to said substrate film, wherein said primer layer has a thickness of about 20 to about 100 nm.

2. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said functional groups on the surface of said polymeric substrate film are selected from carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, aziridine, amine, isocyanate, melamine, epoxy, hydroxy, anhydride and mixtures thereof.

3. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said compatible adhesive polymer is a functional acrylic polymer.

4. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said compatible adhesion-promoting polymer is an amine functional acrylic polymer.

5. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said fluoropolymer is selected from homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl fluoride comprising at least 60 mole % vinyl fluoride and homopolymers and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride comprising at least 60 mole % vinylidene fluoride.

6. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said fluoropolymer is selected from homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl fluoride comprising at least 80 mole % vinyl fluoride and homopolymers and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride comprising at least 80 mole % vinylidene fluoride.

7. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said fluoropolymer coating comprises about 1 to about 40 weight % of said compatible adhesive polymer based on fluoropolymer solids content.

8. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said fluoropolymer coating further comprises pigment.

9. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said fluoropolymer coating further comprises about 1 to about 35 weight % of pigment based on fluoropolymer solids content.

10. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said fluoropolymer coating is on both surfaces of said substrate film.

11. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said primer comprises a polymer selected from polyallylamine/melamine polymer, polyethylene imine polymer, ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, and acid modified polyolefin.

12. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said fluoropolymer coating has a thickness of about 0.1 to about 2.0 mils.

13. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said substrate film has a thickness of about 0.5 to about 10 mils.

14. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein the surface of said substrate film is activated.

15. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said substrate film comprises filler.

16. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polyester of said substrate film is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and a coextrudate of polyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene naphthalate.

17. The fluoropolymer coated film of claim 16 wherein said functional groups on the surface of said polymeric substrate film are selected from carboxylic acid, hydroxy, and mixtures thereof.

18. A photovoltaic module comprising the fluoropolymer coated film of claim 1 as backsheet.