Polymer interlayers having improved gradient bands and laminates comprising these interlayers are disclosed. The polymer interlayers and laminates comprising polymer interlayers have a gradient band that has a high level of gradient beauty from the perspective of visible light transmittance spectra.

The present invention relates to an ionomer resin, comprising: a (meth)acrylic acid unit (A); a neutralized (meth)acrylic acid unit (B); and an ethylene unit (C), wherein the total amount of the unit (A) and the unit (B) is from 6 to 10 mol % based on the entire monomeric units constituting the ionomer resin, and wherein the amount of a salt composed of a strong acid and a strong base in the ionomer resin is from 1 to 400 mg/kg.

A method for producing a laminated pane with a functional element with electrically switchable optical properties, includes creating a first stack of layers including a first pane, a first thermoplastic laminating film, a separating film, a second thermoplastic laminating film, a second pane, laminating the first stack of layers while being heated, taking the first pane with the first thermoplastic laminating film off the second pane with the second thermoplastic laminating film, and the at least one separating film is removed from the stack of layers, providing a functional element having an active layer, placing the functional element into the stack of layers, whereby a second stack of layers is formed, laminating the second stack of layers to form a laminated pane, wherein the separating film is detachable residue-free from the first thermoplastic laminating film and the second thermoplastic laminating film.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an ionomer resin, comprising the steps of: (i) adding a poor solvent to a crude ionomer resin solution comprising a (meth)acrylic acid unit (A), a neutralized (meth)acrylic acid unit (B) and an ethylene unit (C) to allow a granular resin with a peak top particle size of from 50 to 700 μm to be precipitated; and (ii) washing the precipitated granular resin with a washing solution; wherein the total amount of the unit (A) and the unit (B) is from 6 to 10 mol % based on the entire monomeric units constituting the crude ionomer resin.

A method for laminating an assembled sandwich structure consisting of a functional part (4) and one glass article (5) separated from an outer surface of the functional part by a laminating film (6) by heating with electromagnetic radiation in a vacuum is described. In the method equal temperatures of all sandwich components are provided by selection of the optimal radiation frequencies. The optimal vacuum level is provided following the laminating film temperature.

A laminated glass assembly, an electrical assembly for a laminated glass assembly and a method of forming a laminated glass assembly. The laminated glass assembly includes at least an outer glass plate having a first major surface and a second major surface, an inner ultra-thin glass plate having a first major surface and a second major surface and an intermediate film layer situated between the outer glass plate and the inner ultra-thin glass plate. The electrical assembly is positioned between the outer glass plate and the inner ultra-thin glass plate along with a conductive medium to provide a signal path between the laminated glass assembly and vehicular electrical circuitry.

Due to the increased glazed area of modern vehicles, especially the large panoramic glass roofs, we have seen a substantial growth in the use of anti-reflective coatings. Unfortunately, these types of coatings accentuate fingerprints and smudges. The invention provides an automotive glazing which is substantially resistant to fingerprints, and a method of manufacture thereof through the application of an anti-fingerprint coating based on low surface energy silanes.

Apparatuses and methods for glass laminates having a controlled coefficient of thermal expansion are disclosed. In C one embodiment, a glass laminate includes a glass core having a core thickness (T.sub.core) and a core coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE.sub.core), a first glass cladding layer and a second glass cladding layer. The first glass cladding layer and the second glass cladding layer are arranged such that the glass core is disposed between the first glass cladding layer and the second glass cladding layer. The first glass cladding layer has a first cladding thickness (T.sub.clad1) and a first clad coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE.sub.clad1), and the second glass cladding layer has a second cladding thickness (T.sub.clad2) and a second clad coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE.sub.clad2). The glass laminate has a laminate coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE.sub.L) within a range of about 35×10.sup.−7/° C. to about 90×10.sup.−7/° C., the laminate coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE.sub.L) defined by: CTE.sub.L=((CTE.sub.core×T.sub.core)+(CTE.sub.clad1×T.sub.clad1)+(CTE.sub.clad2× T.sub.clad2))/(T.sub.core+T.sub.clad1+T.sub.clad2).

A method for making a layered structure without any defects, including a first support layer, a second support layer, and an adhesive intermediate layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer which is adapted to fix the layers on each other. The intermediate layer embeds operatively at least a three-dimensional macroscopic element being made of crystal glass or precious stones, and the intermediate layer is made of a thermoplastic resin having a melting temperature.

An automotive laminated glazing is provided, comprising an outer glass layer and an inner glass layer, said outer glass layer having a first surface and a second surface and said inner glass layer having a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the inner glass layer has a thickness of not more than 1.0 mm and is chemically strengthened, and wherein the fourth surface features a low-e coating, obtainable by chemically strengthening a flat glass pane having a thickness of not more than 1.0 mm, then applying the low-e coating, and finally laminating the flat glass pane to a curved glass pane forming the outer layer, thereby cold bending said flat glass pane.