Infrared reflecting films for solar control and other uses

1. A solar control film comprising in sequence at least a visible light-transmissive flexible support, a first discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands, a first metal layer, an organic spacing layer, a second nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands, a second metal layer and a polymeric protective layer, wherein the seed layers each have a physical thickness greater than 0 and less than 5 nm, the metal layers each have a physical thickness of 5 to 12 nm, and the organic spacing layer has a refractive index of 1.3 to 1.7 and an optical thickness of 75 to 275 nm, further wherein the film is visible light-transmissive and infrared-reflective.

2. The film of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a multilayer optical film.

3. The film of claim 1 further comprising an organic base coat layer between the support and the first seed layer.

4. The film of claim 3 wherein the organic base coat layer comprises an acrylate polymer.

5. The film of claim 1 wherein a seed layer comprises gallium oxide, indium oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide or mixture thereof.

6. The film of claim 1 wherein the first and second seed layers comprise zinc oxide.

7. The film of claim 1 wherein the first and second seed layers comprise zinc oxide doped with aluminum or aluminum oxide.

8. The film of claim 1 wherein the first and second metal layers comprise silver.

9. The film of claim 1 wherein the organic spacing layer comprises an acrylate polymer.

10. The film of claim 1 wherein a laminated safety glazing article incorporating the solar control film, exhibits at least about 70% visible light transmittance measured at a 0° angle of incidence corresponding to the normal axis to the film.

11. The film of claim 1 wherein a laminated safety glazing article incorporating the solar control film, exhibits at least about 75% visible light transmittance measured at a 0° angle of incidence corresponding to the normal axis to the film.

12. A laminated glazing article comprising in sequence at least a first glazing material layer, a first mechanical energy-absorbing layer, a solar control film according to claim 1 , a second mechanical energy-absorbing layer and a second glazing material layer.

13. The article of claim 12 wherein the article has at least about 70% visible light transmittance, Total Solar Heat Transmission less than about 60%, and Reflected Energy of at least about 20%.

14. The article of claim 12 wherein the article has at least about 75% visible light transmittance, Total Solar Heat Transmission less than about 60%, and Reflected Energy of at least about 25%.

15. A method for forming a solar control film, which method comprises:

a) providing a visible light-transmissive flexible support,

b) forming a first discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands atop the support,

c) forming a first metal layer atop the first seed layer,

d) forming an organic spacing layer atop the first metal layer,

e) forming a second discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layer formed as a series of small islands atop the spacing layer,

f) forming a second metal layer atop the second seed layer, and

g) forming a visible light-transmissive polymeric protective layer atop the second metal layer,

wherein each of the discontinuous nucleating oxide seed layers has a physical thickness greater than 0 and less than 5 nm, each of the metal layers has a physical thickness of 5 to 12 nm, and the organic spacing layer has a refractive index of 1.3 to 1.7 and an optical thickness of 75 to 275 nm, further wherein the film is visible light-transmissive and infrared-reflective.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the support comprises a multilayer optical film.

17. A method according to claim 15 further comprising forming an organic base coat layer between the support and the first seed layer.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein a laminated safety glazing article incorporating the solar control film, exhibits at least about 70% visible light transmittance measured at a 0° angle of incidence corresponding to the normal axis to the film.