Transparent article with electrically-conductive pattern
A transparent article has a transparent laminating film; and an electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed over a surface of the transparent laminating film. The electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern has a metallic pattern comprising a first surface facing the transparent laminating film and an opposing second surface. Such articles can be prepared using steps A) and B′), in order: A) providing a metallic pattern on a surface of a first substrate; and B′) transferring the metallic pattern to a surface of a second substrate, thereby providing an electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern on the surface of the second substrate, wherein the second substrate is a transparent laminating film.
1 . A method for providing an article comprising an electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern, the method comprising steps A) and B′), in order:
A) providing an electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern on a surface of a first substrate film that is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, a mixture of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, or a laminate comprising a polyethylene terephthalate film and a polyethylene naphthalate film; and
B′) transferring substantially all of the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern to a surface of a second substrate that is a transparent laminating film consisting essentially of poly(vinyl butyral), by providing the first substrate comprising the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern in direct contact with the surface of the second substrate, under heat, pressure, or heat and pressure, and removing the first substrate from the surface of the second substrate, thereby providing the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern on the surface of the second substrate.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern comprises a plurality of features that can be spaced apart or connected.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern comprises copper, gold, aluminum, silver, or platinum, or a combination of two or more of these metals.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transparent laminating film is in the form of a continuous poly(vinyl butyral) web.
5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising providing two or more electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns on the second substrate of the article, comprising:
providing two or more of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns on the surface of the first substrate; and
transferring substantially all of the two or more of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns in direct contact with and to the surface of the second substrate, under heat, pressure, or heat and pressure, and removing the first substrate from the surface of the second substrate, thereby providing two or more of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns on the surface of the second substrate, wherein the second substrate is in the form of a continuous poly(vinyl butyral) web.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the article comprising two ore more electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns directly on the surface of the second substrate, has an optical transparency of at least 80%.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the article further comprises a pattern of a catalytic ink disposed between each of the two or more electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns and the surface of the second substrate.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the pattern of catalytic ink disposed between each of the two or more electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns comprises silver nanoparticles, and each of the two more electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns comprises at least copper metal.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the article comprising the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern has an optical transparency of at least 80%.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the article comprising the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern further comprises a pattern of a catalytic ink disposed between the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern and the surface of the second substrate.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the catalytic ink pattern comprises silver nanoparticles and the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern comprises at least copper metal.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the catalytic ink pattern is disposed on the surface of the first substrate using flexographic printing before the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern is provided on the surface of the first substrate.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a first darkening agent on the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern on the surface of the first substrate, before the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern is transferred directly to the surface of the second substrate in step B′).
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first darkening agent comprises palladium metal or nickel metal.