IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,339,471
Granted Patent B2
US 12,339,471 · App. 17/609,690 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Composite cooling film and article including the same

Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink (Scandia, MN); Michelle M. Mok (St. Paul, MN); Derek J. Dehn (Maplewood, MN); Mary E. Johansen (Woodbury, MN); Lon R. Johnson (New Brighton, MN); Todd G. Pett (St. Paul, MN); Moses M. David (Woodbury, MN); James P. Burke (St. Paul, MN); Vivian W. Jones (Woodbury, MN); Haiyan Zhang (Lake Elmo, MN)
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
G02B5/0841B32B3/30F28F13/185G02B1/18G02B5/0891G02B2207/101
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,339,471
App. No.
17/609,690
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A composite cooling film comprises an ultraviolet-reflective multilayer optical film and a reflective microporous layer secured thereto. The ultraviolet-reflective multilayer optical film is at least 50 percent reflective of ultraviolet radiation over a majority of the wavelength range of at least 340 but less than 400 nanometers. The reflective microporous layer has a continuous phase comprising a nonfluorinated organic polymer and is diffusely reflective of solar radiation over a majority the wavelength range of 400 to 2500 nanometers, inclusive. The composite cooling film has an average absorbance over the wavelength range of 8 to 13 microns of at least 0.85. An article comprising the composite cooling film adhered to a substrate is also disclosed.

Claims (33)

1. A composite cooling film comprising:

an ultraviolet-reflective multilayer optical film that is at least 50 percent reflective of ultraviolet radiation over a majority of a first wavelength range of at least 340 but less than 400 nanometers; and

a reflective microporous layer secured to the ultraviolet-reflective multilayer optical film, wherein the reflective microporous layer has a continuous phase comprising a nonfluorinated organic polymer and is diffusely reflective of solar radiation over a majority of a second wavelength range of 400 to 2500 nanometers, inclusive,

wherein the composite cooling film has an average absorbance of solar radiation over a third wavelength range of 8 to 13 microns of at least 0.85.

2. The composite cooling film of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet-reflective multilayer optical film comprises a fluoropolymer skin layer comprising an outer antisoiling surface, wherein the outer antisoiling surface extends along an axis, and wherein a plane containing the axis defines a cross-section of the skin layer and intersects the surface to define a line describing the surface in two dimensions, the skin layer comprising:

a series of micro-structures at least partially defined by the line, the line defining a series of alternating micro-peaks and micro-spaces along the axis, wherein each micro-space comprises a maximum absolute slope defining an angle from the axis of at most 30 degrees, wherein each micro-peak comprises a first micro-segment defining a first average slope and a second micro-segment defining a second average slope, and wherein an angle formed between the first and second average slopes is at most 120 degrees; and

a plurality of nano-structures at least partially defined by the line, the line defining at least one series of nano-peaks disposed on at least the micro-spaces along the axis,

wherein each nano-peak has a height and each corresponding micro-peak has a height of at least 10 times the height of the nano-peak.

3. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein the micro-peak first average slope is positive, and the micro-peak second average slope is negative.

4. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein an absolute value of the micro-peak first average slope is equal to an absolute value of the micro-peak second average slope.

5. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein a width of each micro-space is at least one of: at least 10% of a corresponding micro-peak distance or at least 10 micrometers.

6. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein a micro-peak distance between micro-peaks is in a range from 1 micrometer to 1000 micrometers.

7. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein the micro-peaks have a height of at least 10 micrometers.

8. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein each nano-peak comprises a first nano-segment defining a first average slope and a second nano-segment defining a second average slope, wherein an angle formed between the nano-segment first average slope and the nano-segment second average slope is at most 120 degrees.

9. The composite cooling film of claim 8 , wherein an absolute value of the nano-segment first average slope is different than an absolute value of the nano-segment second average slope.

10. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of nano-structures is further disposed on the micro-peaks.

11. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein each nano-peak defines a nano-peak distance and the corresponding micro-peaks define a micro-peak distance of at least 10 times the nano-peak distance.

12. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein a maximum nano-peak distance between nano-peaks is in a range from 1 nanometer to 1 micrometer.

13. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein the nano-peaks comprise at least one masking element.

14. The composite cooling film of claim 13 , wherein the masking element has a diameter of at most 1 micrometer.

15. The composite cooling film of claim 2 , wherein the micro-peaks are non-uniform in at least one of height or shape.

16. The composite cooling film of claim 1 , further comprising an antisoiling layer secured to the ultraviolet-reflective multilayer optical film opposite the reflective microporous layer, wherein the antisoiling layer comprises an outer antisoiling surface, wherein the outer antisoiling surface extends along an axis, and wherein a plane containing the axis defines a cross section of the antisoiling layer and intersects the antisoiling surface to define a line describing the antisoiling surface in two dimensions, the antisoiling layer comprising:

a series of micro-structures at least partially defined by the line, the line defining a series of alternating micro-peaks and micro-spaces along the axis, wherein a boundary between each adjacent micro-peak and micro-space includes at least one of a bend or an inflection point of the line; and

a plurality of nano-structures at least partially defined by the line, the line defining at least one series of nano-peaks disposed on at least the micro-spaces along the axis,

wherein each nano-peak has a height and each corresponding micro-peak has a height at least 10 times the height of the nano-peak.

17. The composite cooling film of claim 16 , wherein the ultraviolet-reflective multilayer optical film comprises alternating layers of fluoropolymer and nonfluorinated polymer.

18. The composite cooling film of claim 16 , wherein the reflective microporous layer comprises at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, polysaccharide, or polyethylene terephthalate.

19. The composite cooling film of claim 16 , wherein the reflective microporous layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate or a modified polyethylene terephthalate.

20. The composite cooling film of claim 16 , wherein the reflective microporous layer comprises a micro-voided polymer film.

21. The composite cooling film of claim 20 , wherein the micro-voided polymer film further comprises white inorganic particles.

22. The composite cooling film of claim 16 , further comprising an infrared-reflective layer secured to the reflective microporous layer opposite the ultraviolet-reflective multilayer optical film, wherein the infrared-reflective layer has an average reflectance of at least 50 percent over a fourth wavelength range of 800 to 1300 nm.

23. An article comprising a composite cooling film of claim 16 secured to an exterior surface of a substrate, wherein the cooling film and the substrate are in thermal communication, and wherein the ultraviolet reflective multilayer optical film is disposed further from the substrate than the reflective microporous layer.

24. The article of claim 23 , wherein the reflective microporous layer comprises at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, polysaccharide, or polyethylene terephthalate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2021
From: HEBRINK, TIMOTHY J.; MOK, MICHELLE M.; DEHN, DEREK J.; JOHANSEN, MARY E.; JOHNSON, LON R.; PETT, TODD G.; DAVID, MOSES M.; BURKE, JAMES P.; JONES, VIVIAN W.; ZHANG, HAIYAN
To: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 058050/0774 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62855392 · May 31, 2019
Related Publication 20220221627A1 · Jul 14, 2022
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