WEDGE-SHAPED MULTILAYER INTERLAYER AND GLASS LAMINATE

1 . A multilayer interlayer comprising:

(1) an integrated multilayer sheet having a length, a width and a total thickness, comprising:

(a) a first skin layer A which is a layer of a first thermoplastic resin optionally containing one or more additives, the first skin layer having an exterior side, an interior side and a first thickness,

(b) a second skin layer C which is a layer of a second thermoplastic resin optionally containing one or more additives, the second skin layer having an exterior side, an interior side and a second thickness, and

(c) an interior layer B which is a layer of a third thermoplastic resin optionally containing one or more additives, the interior layer B being disposed between the interior side of first skin layer A and the interior side of second skin layer C and having a third thickness,

wherein each of the third thickness and the total thickness is individually substantially consistent throughout the length and width of the integrated multilayer sheet; and

(2) a wedge-shaped film of a fourth thermoplastic resin optionally containing one or more additives, the wedge-shaped film having an exterior side and an interior side, wherein the interior side of the wedge-shaped film is adhered directly or indirectly to the exterior side of first skin layer A,

wherein the multilayer interlayer is wedge-shaped having a thicker first edge and a thinner second edge, wherein the thicker first edge has a thickness of about 1850 μm or less, wherein the thinner second edge has a thickness of about 600 μm or more, and wherein the integrated multilayer sheet forms the predominant portion of the thickness at the thinner second edge.

2 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , wherein the integrated multilayer sheet is a co-extruded integrated multilayer sheet.

3 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , wherein the first thermoplastic resin, the second thermoplastic resin and the fourth thermoplastic are each individually a polyvinyl acetal or an ionomer.

4 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 3 , wherein the polyvinyl acetal is a polyvinyl butyral.

5 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first thermoplastic resin, the second thermoplastic resin and the fourth thermoplastic is an at least partially neutralized ethylene acid copolymer comprising copolymerized units of:

(i) ethylene,

(ii) from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % of at least one α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 10 carbon atoms,

(iii) optionally from about 2 wt % to about 15 wt % of at least one α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and

(iv) optionally a derivative of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid other than (iii) in an amount such that (iii)+(iv) if present is about 15 wt % or less.

6 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , wherein first thermoplastic resin and the second thermoplastic resin are the same resin.

7 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 6 , wherein the fourth thermoplastic resin is a different resin.

8 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , wherein the third thermoplastic resin is a polyvinyl acetal or a thermoplastic elastomer.

9 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , wherein the first thickness and the second thickness are substantially the same, and the third thickness is less.

10 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , wherein the interior side of the wedge-shaped film is adhered directly to the exterior side of first skin layer A.

11 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , wherein interior layer B is a functional layer.

12 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 10 , wherein interior layer B is an acoustic damping layer.

13 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , wherein the co-extruded integrated multilayer sheet forms the predominant portion of the thickness at both the thicker first edge and thinner second edge.

14 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , wherein the thicker first edge has a thickness of about 1600 μm or less.

15 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 1 , comprising greater than 4 layers.

16 . The multilayer interlayer of claim 15 , wherein the integrated multilayer sheet is an at least 4-layer system containing a color layer.

17 . A process for preparing a wedge-shaped multilayer interlayer having a thicker first edge and a thinner second edge opposite the thinner first edge, wherein the thicker first edge has a thickness of about 1850 μm or less, and the thinner second edge has a thickness of about 600 μm or more, the process comprising the steps of:

(1) providing an integrated multilayer sheet having a length, a width and a total thickness, comprising:

(a) a first skin layer A which is a layer of a first thermoplastic resin optionally containing one or more additives, the first skin layer having an exterior side, an interior side and a first thickness,

(b) a second skin layer C which is a layer of a second thermoplastic resin optionally containing one or more additives, the second skin layer having an exterior side, an interior side and a second thickness, and

(c) an interior layer B which is a layer of a third thermoplastic resin optionally containing one or more additives, the interior layer B being disposed between the interior side of first skin layer A and the interior side of second skin layer C and having a third thickness,

wherein each of the third thickness and the total thickness is individually substantially consistent throughout the length and width of the integrated multilayer sheet;

(2) providing a wedge-shaped film of a fourth thermoplastic resin optionally containing one or more additives, the wedge-shaped film having an exterior side and an interior side, and

(3) adhering the interior side of the wedge-shaped film directly or indirectly to the exterior side of first skin layer A,

wherein the integrated multilayer sheet forms the predominant portion of the thickness at the thinner second edge.

18 . A laminate comprising a first exterior sheet and second exterior sheet having interposed therebetween a multilayer interlayer, wherein the multilayer interlayer is as set forth in claim 1 .

19 . The laminate of claim 16 , wherein both of the first exterior sheet and second exterior sheet are a sheet of glass.

20 . The laminate of claim 17 , wherein the first sheet of glass and the second sheet of glass are different thicknesses.