Fluoropolymer containing laminates

Abstract

The multilayer film serves as a laminate. The film is a multilayered structure that, in its base form, encompasses an intermediate layer with first and second outer layer affixed to opposing sides of the intermediate layer. The first outer layer is a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer. The intermediate layer includes a polyester and the second outer layer is an olefinic polymer. The layers are bonded together in the noted order to provide the multilayer film.

1 . A method of forming a non-transparent multilayer film, comprising:
 forming a first outer layer including a fluoropolymer;   forming an intermediate layer including a polyester;   forming a second outer layer including a thermoplastic polyolefin;   forming an extruded thermoplastic layer between at least one of (a) the first outer layer and the intermediate layer and (b) the intermediate layer and the second outer layer;   wherein the intermediate layer is between the first outer layer and the second outer layer; and   wherein the non-transparent multilayer film is capable of use as a backing in a solar cell.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first outer layer, the intermediate layer, the second outer layer, and the extruded thermoplastic layer includes a silane. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the silane is an amino substituted organosilane. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the silane is blended with a functionalized polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming a first extruded thermoplastic layer between the first outer layer and the intermediate layer, the first extruded thermoplastic layer including a silane; and   forming a second extruded thermoplastic layer between the second outer layer and the intermediate layer, the second extruded thermoplastic layer including a silane.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the silane is an amino substituted organosilane. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has surface polar functionality. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polyester includes at least one of a homopolymer of polyester, a copolymer of polyester, and liquid crystalline polyesters. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polyester is polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second outer layer includes between about 1 wt % and about 10 wt % comonomer based on the total weight of the polyolefin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second outer layer is multilayered. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second outer layer includes a polymer blend. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second outer layer includes interpolymerized units of ethylene vinyl actetate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer layer includes at least one of a homopolymer of vinylidene fluoride, a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride, a copolymer of vinyl fluoride, a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, a copolymer of chlorotrifluoroethylene, and a homopolymer of vinyl fluoride. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer layer includes at least one of interpolymerized units of fluorinated monomers and non-fluorinated monomers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming a first outer layer including a fluoropolymer involves coating at least one of an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion and a solvent-based fluoropolymer solution onto a substrate.