Article with electrically-conductive pattern
An article is provided to have a transparent substrate; and an electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed on a surface the transparent substrate. The electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern has, in order outwardly from a surface of the transparent substrate: a first darkening agent; a metallic pattern; and a second darkening agent. The first darkening agent substantially conforms to a first surface of the metallic pattern, forming a first darkened surface on the metallic pattern. In addition, the second darkening agent is disposed over at least a portion of a second surface of the metallic pattern, forming a second darkened surface on the metallic pattern.
1 . An article comprising:
a transparent substrate that is comprised of poly(vinyl butyral); and
an electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed on a surface the transparent substrate,
wherein the electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern comprises, in order outwardly from the surface of the transparent substrate:
a first darkening agent;
a metallic pattern; and
a second darkening agent,
wherein the first darkening agent substantially conforms to a first surface of the metallic pattern, forming a first darkened surface on the metallic pattern, and
wherein the second darkening agent is disposed over at least a portion of a second surface of the metallic pattern, forming a second darkened surface on the metallic pattern.
2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first darkened surface and the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern, independently have an L* value that is reduced by at least 1 unit compared to an L* value of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively.
3 . The article of claim 2 , wherein the L* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the L* value of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern are the same values, ±5 L* units.
4 . The article of claim 3 , wherein the C* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the C* value of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern are the same values to within ±25%.
5 . The article of claim 1 , wherein C* values of the first darkened surface and of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern are, independently closer to zero than C* values of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively.
6 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the C* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the C* value of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern are the same values to within ±25%.
7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the metallic pattern comprises one or more of copper, gold, aluminum, silver, and er platinum.
8 . The article of claim 7 , wherein each of the first darkening agent and the second darkening agent comprises palladium metal.
9 . The article of claim 1 , comprising two or more of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns disposed on the surface of the transparent substrate.
10 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern further comprises a pattern of a catalytic ink disposed over at least a portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern.
11 . The article of claim 10 , wherein the portion of the second surface of the metallic portion covered by the second darkening agent is substantially non-overlapping with the at least portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern covered by the pattern of the catalytic ink.
12 . An article comprising:
a continuous web of transparent polymeric film that is comprised of poly(vinyl butyral); and
a plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns spaced apart from each other and disposed on a surface of the continuous web of the transparent polymeric film,
wherein each of the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns includes, in order outwardly from the surface of the continuous web of the transparent polymeric film:
a first darkening agent;
a metallic pattern; and
a second darkening agent;
wherein the first darkening agent substantially conforms to a first surface of the metallic pattern, forming a first darkened surface on the metallic pattern; and
wherein the second darkening agent is disposed over at least a portion of a second surface of the metallic pattern, forming a second darkened surface.
13 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns comprise two or more of the same electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns.
14 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the first darkened surface and the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern of each of the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, independently have an L* value that is reduced by at least 1 unit compared to an L* value of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively.
15 . The article of claim 12 , wherein C* values of the first darkened surface and of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern of each of the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns are, independently closer to zero than C* values of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively.
16 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the L* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the L* value of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern, of each of the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, are the same values, ±5 L* units.
17 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the C* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the C* value of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern, of each of the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, are the same values to within ±25%.
18 . The article of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns further comprises a catalytic ink disposed over at least a portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern.
19 . The article of claim 18 , wherein the portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern covered by the second darkening agent, of each of the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, is substantially non-overlapping with the at least portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern covered by the catalytic ink.
20 . The article of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns comprises one or more of copper, gold, aluminum, silver, and platinum, and each of the first darkening agent and the second darkening agent comprises palladium metal.