Corrosion resistant flexible reflective film for solar energy applications

Abstract

Highly weather and corrosion resistant flexible reflective films for solar energy applications and lighting reflectors are formed by vapor-depositing silver onto a flexible support sheet, e.g., biaxially oriented polyester film and adherently bonding a protective fluorocarbon film, e.g., poly(vinyl fluoride), poly(vinylidine fluoride), or poly(tetrafluoroethylene), to the surface of the silver distal to the flexible support sheet with a layer of adhesive. Fluorocarbon film is highly optically transmissive to visible, ultraviolet, and/or near infra-red light between about 300-2,500 nanometers, stable to ultraviolet light, impervious to moisture, non-hygroscopic, scratch resistant, and easy to keep clean. The adhesive is highly optically transmissive to light between about 300-2,500 nanometers and stable to ultraviolet light. Chemical corrosion inhibitors and UV absorbers incorporated into the flexible reflective film can increase its resistance to corrosion and degradation by ultraviolet light.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.