SOLAR CONTROL INTERLAYER FOR LAMINATES
A functional interlayer for incorporation into laminated structures is provided. The functional interlayer may provide solar control properties to the laminated structure. The laminated structure may be part of a window unit.
1 . An interlayer subcomponent, comprising:
a carrier layer and at least one thermoplastic polyurethane layer on a side thereof,
wherein the at least one thermoplastic polyurethane layer has adhesive properties when heated, and the carrier layer is a solar control layer.
2 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is an electrochromic assembly, an infrared absorbing layer, an infrared reflective layer, or a low-e layer.
3 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane layer is an optical interlayer formed by extrusion.
4 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 1 , wherein a first thermoplastic polyurethane layer is disposed on a first side of the carrier layer, and a second thermoplastic polyurethane layer is disposed on a second side of the carrier layer, the second side being opposite the first side, the first thermoplastic polyurethane layer and the second thermoplastic polyurethane layer having adhesive properties when heated.
5 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 4 , wherein the first thermoplastic polyurethane layer and the second thermoplastic polyurethane layer have the same thickness.
6 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 4 , wherein the first thermoplastic polyurethane layer and the second thermoplastic polyurethane layer have different thicknesses.
7 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 4 , wherein the first thermoplastic polyurethane layer, the second thermoplastic polyurethane layer, or both thermoplastic polyurethane layers are wedge-shaped.
8 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 7 , wherein the subcomponent forms part of a Head-Up-Display (HUD) window unit.
9 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 1 , wherein a first thermoplastic polyurethane layer is disposed on a first side of the carrier layer, and further comprising a second layer on a second side opposite the first side, the second layer being selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl butyral, polymethyl methacrylate, poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid), alkali metal salts of poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid), and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate).
10 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 9 , wherein a second thermoplastic polyurethane layer is disposed on the second layer.
11 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 1 , wherein a first thermoplastic polyurethane layer is disposed on a first side of the carrier layer, and further comprising a layer on a second side of the carrier layer that provides acoustic damping.
12 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 1 , wherein a first thermoplastic polyurethane layer is disposed on a first side of the carrier layer, and further comprising a layer on a second side of the carrier layer that provides impact resistance.
13 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 1 , wherein a first thermoplastic polyurethane layer is disposed on a second side of the carrier layer, and further comprising a photovoltaic assembly on a first side of the carrier layer.
14 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 13 , wherein the first side is an outwardly facing side of a window unit.
15 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 13 , wherein the photovoltaic assembly comprises a polymeric layer having photovoltaic cells.
16 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 13 , wherein the photovoltaic assembly comprises a polymeric layer having quantum dots.
17 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 16 , further comprising photovoltaic cells arranged along an edge of the carrier layer.
18 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 16 , further comprising photovoltaic cells arranged on a surface of the carrier layer not relied on for transparency.
19 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 1 , wherein a first thermoplastic polyurethane layer is disposed on a first side of the carrier layer, and further comprising an electrochromic assembly on a second side of the carrier layer.
20 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 19 , wherein the electrochromic assembly comprises a transparent ion-conductive polymer electrolyte film.
21 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 19 , wherein the electrochromic assembly includes transparent electrodes.
22 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 1 , wherein a first thermoplastic polyurethane layer is disposed on a first side of the carrier layer, and further comprising a layer of polyvinyl butyral on a second side of the carrier layer.
23 . The interlayer subcomponent according to claim 1 , wherein a first thermoplastic polyurethane layer is disposed on a first side of the carrier layer, and further comprising a layer of poly(ethylene co-vinyl acetate) on a second side of the carrier layer.