Method of making reflecting film reflector
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorJames G. Cottingham
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Abstract
A reflector of the reflecting film type is disclosed and which may be used in a heliostatic system for concentrating solar energy and comprising a reflecting film bonded to an appropriate rigid substrate in such a way that specularity of a very high order is achieved. A method of bonding the reflecting film to the substrate is also disclosed and comprises the steps of initially adhering the film to a smooth, clean flat rigid surface with a non-bonding liquid between the rigid surface and film, and then bonding the substrate and film. The non-bonding liquid has a molecular adhesion greater than any stresses due to handling or curing of the bonding agent which is applied between the film and the opposing surface of the rigid substrate.
Claims3
A method of bonding a reflecting film to a rigid substrate comprising:
- (a) sandwiching a nonbonding adhesive medium between a smooth, simply curved receptor surface and a reflecting film, said surface having a radius of curvature great enough that said film may conform to said surface without wrinkling;
- (b) bonding said substrate to the opposite side of said film with a bonding adhesive medium while said film is held in smooth contact with said surface by said nonbonding medium, said nonbonding medium further comprising a liquid soap having a temporary adhesion greater than the stresses upon said film generated by the application and curing of said bonding adhesive medium;
- and,
- (c) removing said film and said bonded substrate from said surface after curing of said bonding adhesive medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.