TRANSPARENT COMPOSITE ARTICLE WITH ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE PATTERN
A composite article has a transparent polymeric film and an electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed on a surface of the transparent polymeric film. The electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern has, in order outwardly from a surface of the transparent polymeric film: a metallic pattern having a first surface facing the transparent polymeric film and an opposing second surface; and a pattern of a catalytic ink disposed over at least a portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern. The transparent polymeric film with the electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed thereon is sandwiched between two panes of transparent rigid substrates and serves as a transparent laminating film to form the composite article.
1 . A composite article comprising:
a transparent polymeric film;
an electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed on a surface of the transparent polymeric film, wherein the electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern comprises, in order outwardly from a surface of the transparent polymeric film:
a metallic pattern having a first surface facing the transparent polymeric film and an opposing second surface; and
a pattern of a catalytic ink disposed over at least a portion of the opposing second surface of the metallic pattern;
wherein the transparent polymeric film with the electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed thereon is sandwiched between two panes of transparent rigid substrates and serves as a transparent laminating film to form the composite article.
2 . The composite article of claim 1 , wherein the transparent polymeric film comprises poly(vinyl butyral), poly(ethylene vinyl acetate), or an ionomeric polymer.
3 . The composite article of claim 1 , further comprising a second transparent polymeric film that is sandwiched between one of the two panes of transparent rigid substrates and a third pane of a transparent rigid substrate to serve as a second transparent laminating film.
4 . The composite article of claim 1 , wherein the two panes of transparent rigid substrates are two panes of the same or different glasses or polycarbonates.
5 . The composite article of claim 3 , wherein the second transparent laminating film comprises poly(vinyl butyral) film, poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) film, or an ionomeric polymer.
6 . The composite article of claim 1 , wherein the catalytic ink pattern is non-conductive.
7 . The composite article of claim 1 , wherein the catalytic pattern comprises silver nanoparticles.
8 . The composite article of claim 1 , wherein the metallic pattern comprises copper, gold, aluminum, silver, or platinum, or a combination of two or more of these metals.
9 . The composite article of claim 1 , wherein the metallic pattern comprises a plurality of features that can be spaced apart or connected.
10 . The composite article of claim 1 , comprising two or more of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, each sandwiched between the two panes of transparent rigid substrates.
11 . The composite article of claim 1 , wherein the transparent polymeric film comprises poly(vinyl butyral).
12 . The composite article of claim 1 , that is a vehicle windshield and the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern is an antenna pattern.
13 . The composite article of claim 1 , having an optical transparency of at least 50%.
14 . The composite article of claim 1 , further comprising a first agent that is disposed on and substantially conforming to the first surface of the metallic pattern, forming a darkened surface on the metallic pattern.
15 . The composite article of claim 14 , further comprising a second darkening agent being disposed over at least a portion of the opposing second surface of the metallic pattern, forming a second darkened surface on the metallic pattern.
16 . The composite article of claim 15 , wherein the transparent rigid substrates are composed of the same or different glass.
17 . The composite article of claim 1 , wherein the transparent rigid substrates are composed of the same or different glass.