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US 4,115,619 AGranted
Highly reflective multilayer metal/polymer composites
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorsVirgil B. Kurfman, Raymond E. Gransden, Jr.
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AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorsVirgil B. Kurfman, Raymond E. Gransden, Jr.
Estimating the term…
A multilayer, metal/organic polymer composite, exhibiting high specular reflectivity even after substantial elongation, is provided by metallizing a layer of thermoplastic organic polymers such as polystyrene or polycarbonate film with a normally solid soft metal such as indium or an alloy of tin and cadmium. Subsequently the multilayer composite or at least a portion thereof can be stretched or elongated by more than 10 percent in both the longitudinal and traverse directions without losing its initial specular reflectivity. Articles fabricated of the multilayer composite may be structurally reinforced by casting an elastomeric or rigid foam polymer such as polyurethane into a cavity defined by the deposit. The multilayer composites are useful in the manufacture of reflective and decorative parts for automobiles and other vehicles of transportation, as well as high barrier packages for foods and electroconductive elements.
A formed metal/organic polymer composite comprising a normally solid thermoplastic polymer layer and a normally solid, soft metal layer adhered to at least one surface of the polymer layer, at least a portion of said formed composite having been modified during forming such that the portion undergoes a cumulative surface dimensional change of at least 20 percent, said soft metal being indium or an alloy of at least two of cadmium, indium, tin, antimony, lead, bismuth, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, copper or silver which alloy melts at a temperature or over a range of temperatures that is from about 80 to about 135 percent of the temperature used in forming, said temperatures being .degree. K, said formed composite having a specular brightness essentially the same as that of the composite prior to forming.
A metal/organic polymer composite comprising a normally solid, formable thermoplastic polymer layer and a normally solid, soft metal layer intimately adhered to at least one surface of the polymer layer, said metal layer having a thickness from about 0.01 to about 1 micrometer, said soft metal being a metal alloy of at least two of cadmium, indium, tin, antimony, lead, bismuth, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, copper, or silver and comprising at least 50 weight percent of a first metal and at least 5 weight percent of a second metal, both of said metals having melting points below 450.degree. C, said alloy melting at a temperature or over a range of temperatures that is from about 80 to about 135 percent of the forming temperature of the thermoplastic polymer, said temperatures being in .degree. K, said composite capable of being formed to undergo a cumulative surface dimensional change of at least 20 percent with no more than minimal loss of specular brightness or electroconductivity.
An electroconductive formed metal/organic polymer composite comprising a normally solid thermoplastic polymer layer and a normally solid, soft metal layer adhered to at least one surface of the polymer layer, at least a portion of said formed composite having been modified during forming such that the portion undergoes a cumulative surface dimensional change of at least 20 percent, said soft metal being indium or an alloy of at least two of cadmium, indium, tin, antimony, lead, bismuth, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, copper or silver which alloy melts at a temperature or over a range of temperatures that is from about 80 to about 135 percent of the temperature used in forming, said temperatures being in .degree. K.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.