Method of making transparent composite articles

A method for providing a composite article comprising an electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern, the method comprising, in order:

• A-1) providing a pattern of catalytic ink directly on the surface of a first substrate using flexographic printing, the catalytic ink comprising silver nanoparticles or reducible silver ions or reducible copper ions, and a curable polymer precursor, the first substrate being a film comprising polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, or a mixture of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, or the film being a laminate comprising a polyethylene terephthalate film and a polyethylene naphthalate film;
• A-2) curing the catalytic ink pattern when the curable polymer precursor is present, sufficient to form a cured catalytic ink pattern;
• A-3) electrolessly plating copper metal onto either the catalytic ink pattern comprising the silver nanoparticles or on the cured catalytic ink pattern, to form an electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern directly on the surface of the first substrate;
• applying a first darkening agent to the electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern provided on the surface of the first substate;
• B′) transferring substantially all of the electrically-conductive copper 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 copper 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 transferred electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern on the surface of the second substrate;
• and
• applying a second darkening agent to the transferred electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern;
• and
• C) laminating the second substrate with the transferred electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern between two panes of glass to provide the composite article that has an optical transparency of at least 70%.

A method for providing a composite article comprising an electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern, the method comprising, in order:

• A-1) providing a pattern of catalytic ink on the surface of a first substrate using flexographic printing;
• and
• A-3) electrolessly plating copper metal onto the catalytic ink pattern to form an electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern of the surface of the substrate;
• applying a first darkening agent to the electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern provided on the surface of the first substate;
• B′) transferring the electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern to a surface of a second substrate, by providing the first substrate comprising the electrically-conductive copper 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 copper metal-containing pattern on the surface of the second substrate, wherein the second substrate is a transparent laminating film comprising poly(vinyl butyral);
• applying a second darkening agent to the transferred electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern;
• and
• C) laminating the second substrate with the transferred electrically-conductive copper metal-containing pattern between two panes of glass to provide the composite article that has an optical transparency of at least 70%,
• wherein the catalytic ink comprises reducible silver ions, a silver (I) reducing agent, a silver nanoparticle dispersing aid, a poly(vinyl butyral) or poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) binder, and one or more organic solvents.