RESIN COMPOSITIONS FOR OPTICAL FILMS

Abstract

Compositions, laminates, films and/or composites made from thermoplastic polymers, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) are described. The films have one or more optical layers made from materials that allow the transmission of visible light and reflect or absorb UV light. An optical film is made from one or more TPU resins including a first UV absorber of the benzotriazole family or the triazin family, a light stabilizer, and a second UV absorber selected from a group consisting of benzotriazoles, benzophenones, triazin or benzylidene malonate. The second UV absorber may be present in a base resin combined with the TPU resin. The optical film is capable of blocking at least 99% of light having a wavelength

Claims

1.-38. (canceled)

39. An optical film comprising: a resin composition comprising: one or more thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) resins; a first UV absorber selected from the group consisting of the benzotriazole family or the triazin family; a light stabilizer; and a second UV absorber selected from a group consisting of benzotriazoles, benzophenones, triazin or benzylidene malonate.

40. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein at least one of the TPU resins comprises an aliphatic TPU resin in an amount from about 95% to about 99.99% by weight.

41. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein at least one of the TPU resins comprises an aliphatic polyether based TPU.

42. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the first UV absorber is present in the TPU resin in an amount from about 0.1 to about 1% by weight.

43. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the light stabilizer is an amine light stabilizer (HALS).

44. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the light stabilizer is produced by a reaction mass of bis (1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate and methyl 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl sebacate.

45. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein a thickness of the film is from about 5 mils to about 50 mils.

46. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein a combination of the first and second UV absorber is present in an amount from about 0.1 to about 3% by weight.

47. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the second UV absorber is present in an amount from about 0.01 to about 2% by weight.

48. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the film is capable of blocking at least about 95% of light having a wavelength ranging from about 380 nm to about 410 nm.

49. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein a YI value of the film is no greater than about 4.5.

50. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the film is capable of blocking no less than about 99.5% of light having a wavelength ranging from about 380 nm to about-400 nm, and wherein a YI value of the film is less than about 2.0.

51. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the film is capable of blocking no less than about 99.5% of light having a wavelength of about 400 nm.

52. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the second UV absorber is combined with the one or more TPU resins as a concentrate in a base resin, and the ratio of the one or more TPU resins to the base resin ranges from about 20:1 to about 3:1.

53. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the second UV absorber is combined with the one or more TPU resins as a concentrate in a base resin, and wherein a loading percentage of concentrate in the base resin ranges from about 0.5% to about 10%.

54. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the second UV absorber is combined with the one or more TPU resins as a concentrate in a base resin, and a loading percentage of the second UV absorber as a concentrate is about 0.5% by weight in a base resin, and a thickness of the film is no greater than 30 mils.

55. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein a concentration loading of the second UV absorber is about 8.5 PPH and a thickness of the film is no greater than 15 mils.

56. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the film exhibits adhesion to a glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, or cellulose acetate surface in the absence of an adhesive.

57. The optical film according to claim 39, wherein the resin composition comprises a combination of: a first component comprising the one or more first thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) resins, the first UV absorber, and the light stabilizer; and a second component comprising the second UV absorber and a base resin, wherein the base resin is the same or different than one or more of the first thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) resins.

58. The optical film according to claim 57, wherein one or both of the first thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) resin and the base resin is an aliphatic polyether based TPU.

59. A composite comprising: a first layer of glass; a second layer of glass; and an optical film positioned between the first layer and the second layer of glass, the optical film comprising a resin composition comprised of one or more thermoplastic (TPU) resins, a first UV absorber selected from the group consisting of the benzotriazole family or the triazin family, a light stabilizer, and a second UV absorber selected from a group consisting of benzotriazoles, benzophenones, triazin or benzylidene malonate.

60. The composite of claim 59, wherein at least one of the TPU resins comprises an aliphatic TPU resin in an amount from about 95% to about 99.99% by weight.

61. The composite of claim 59, wherein the first UV absorber is present in the TPU resin in an amount from about 0.1 to about 1% by weight.

62. The composite of claim 59, wherein the second UV absorber resides in a base resin, and wherein the base resin comprises a second TPU resin, which is the same or different as the one or more thermoplastic (TPU) resins.

63. The composite of claim 59, wherein a ratio of the TPU resin to the base resin is from about 20:1 to about 3:1.

64. The composite of claim 59, wherein the second UV absorber is added to the base resin as a concentrate, wherein a loading percentage of concentrate in the base resin ranges from about 0.5% to about 10%.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a composite glass including one of the optical films in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] This description and the accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments and should not be taken as limiting, with the claims defining the scope of the present description, including equivalents. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, and operational changes may be made without departing from the scope of this description and the claims, including equivalents. In some instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown or described in detail so as not to obscure the description. Like numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements. Furthermore, elements and their associated aspects that are described in detail with reference to one embodiment may, whenever practical, be included in other embodiments in which they are not specifically shown or described. For example, if an element is described in detail with reference to one embodiment and is not described with reference to a second embodiment, the element may nevertheless be claimed as included in the second embodiment. Moreover, the depictions herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the actual shape, size, or dimensions of the system or illustrated components.

[0035] It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” and any singular use of any word, include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent. As used herein, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items.

[0036] The present optical films are made from a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) resin composition. The TPU resin composition includes a first UV absorber, a light stabilizer, and a second UV absorber. The films made from such TPU resin compositions have desirable optical characteristics provided by the combination of UV absorbers.

[0037] TPU resin compositions may include any aliphatic polyether-based TPU that provides sufficient transparency and may exhibit suitable adhesion to glass, polycarbonate, acrylyic, cellulose acetate butyrate, or other surfaces which the films may contact. In embodiments, suitable TPU resins may be polyether-based and made from methylene diphenyl diisocayanate (MDI), polyether polyol, and butanediol. In embodiments, the TPU resin may be Estane AG-8451 Resin sold by Lubrizol. In embodiments the TPU resin may be present in the resin composition in an amount from about 95 to about 99.99% by weight; in certain embodiments, from about 98 to about 99.99% by weight, in other embodiments from about 99.5% to about 99.99%.

[0038] TPU resin compositions also include a first UV absorber. In embodiments the first UV absorber may be present in the TPU resin composition in an amount from about 0.1 to about 1% by weight; in embodiments, from about 0.3 to about 0.5% by weight.

[0039] In certain embodiments, the first UV absorber may be any suitable UV absorber made from compounds in the benzotriazole family. Non-limiting examples of benzotriazole-type UV absorbers include compounds of the formula:

##STR00001##

[0040] wherein R.sub.9, R.sub.10, and R.sub.11 are individually selected from hydrogen, a group having a formula C.sub.aH.sub.bN.sub.cO.sub.dS.sub.e wherein a, b, c, d, and e are from 0 to 30, and halogen. Non-limiting examples of benzotriazole-type UV absorbers which may be used as the first UV absorber include 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-phenol; phenol, 2,2′-methylene-bis(6-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-butyl)); 2-(2′-Hydroxy-3′, 5′-di-t-amylphenyl) benzotriazole; 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; 2-[2-hydroxy-3,5-di(1,1-dimethylbenzyl)phenyl]; 2-(5-tert-Butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H benzotriazole; 2-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl) benzotriazole; 2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol; 2,4-Di-tert-butyl-6-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)phenol; 2-(2′-Hydroxy-3′,5′-di-tert-butylphenyl)benzotriazole; 3-(2H-Benzotriazolyl)-5-(1,1-di-methylethyl)-4-hydroxy-benzenepropanoic acid octyl esters; methyl 3-[3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)phenyl]propionate; 2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-6-(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol; reaction products of methyl 3-(3-(2H-benzotriazole-2-yl)-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate/PEG 300; 2-(2′-Hydroxy-5′-(2-hydroxyethyl))-benzotriazole; 2-(2′-Hydroxy-5′methacryloxyethylphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole; 2-[4,6-Bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-5-(octyloxy) phenol; or any combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the first UV absorber may be of the benzophenone family. Non-limiting examples of benzophenone-type UV absorbers which may be used as the first UV absorber include: 2, 4-dihydroxy benzophenone; 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; 2-hydroxy-4-n-(octyloxy) benzophenone; 2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone; 2,2′-dihydroxy-,4,4′-dimethoxy benzophenone; sulisobenzone; 2-hydroxy-4-n-octoxybenzophenone; 2,2′-dihydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone; 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; 2,2′-dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxy benzophenone; 2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone; and combinations thereof.

[0041] In other embodiments, the first UV absorber may be of the triazin family. Non-limiting examples of triazin-type UV absorbers which may be used as the first UV absorber include: 2-(4,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-5-[(hexyl)oxy]-phenol.

[0042] In other embodiments, the first UV absorber may be of the benzylidene malonate family. Non-limiting example of benzylidene malonate-type UV absorbers which may be used as the first UV absorber include: Propanedioic acid [(4-methoxyphenyl)-methylene]-dimethyl ester).

[0043] Other non-limiting examples of benzophenone-type UV absorbers which may be used as the first UV absorber include: 2, 4-dihydroxy benzophenone; 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; 2-hydroxy-4-n-(octyloxy) benzophenone; 2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone; 2,2′-dihydroxy-,4,4′-dimethoxy benzophenone; sulisobenzone; 2-hydroxy-4-n-octoxybenzophenone; 2,2′-dihydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone; 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; 2,2′-dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxy benzophenone; 2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone; and combinations thereof.

[0044] TPU resin compositions also include a light stabilizer. Suitable light stabilizers primarily protect the polymers of the optical film from the adverse effects of photo-oxidation caused by exposure to UV radiation. In embodiments, the light stabilizer may serve a secondary function of acting as a thermal stabilizer, for low to moderate levels of heat. In embodiments, the light stabilizer of a resin composition may be included in an amount from about 0.1 to about 1% by weight; in embodiments, from about 0.1 to about 0.2% by weight.

[0045] In certain embodiments, suitable light stabilizers may be derivatives of tetramethylpiperidine. In embodiments, the light stabilizer may be any suitable hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS or NOR-HALS). In certain embodiments, the light stabilizer may be made by combining bis (1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate with methyl 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl sebacate.

[0046] Non-limiting examples of light stabilizers useful in the illustrative resin compositions include bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)sebacate; bis-(I,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)-2-n-butyl-2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) malonate; propanedioic acid, [(4-methoxyphenyl)-methylene]-bis-(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl) ester; 10 wt % of dimethyl succinate polymer with 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6, -tetramethyl-I-piperidineethanol and 90 wt % of N,N′″-[1,2-ethanediylbis[[[4,6-bis[butyl(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)amino]-1,3,5-traizin-2-yl]imino]-3,l-propanediyl]] bis [N′N″-dibutyl-N′N″-bis(I,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)]-l; or combinations thereof. In embodiments, the light stabilizer is bis(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate combined with methyl 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl sebacate Chisorb 292 sold by Double Bond Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd., Eversorb 93, sold by Everlight Chemical, RIASORB UV-292 sold by Rianion Corp, Thasorb UV-292 sold by Rianlon Corp., Sabostab UV 65, sold by SABO, Westco UV-292 sold by Western Reserve Chemical, UV-292/UV-292HP sold by Performance Solutions, Inc., and FENTASTAB 292 sold by Jiangsu Forpi Chemicals Co., Ltd or any combination thereof.

[0047] TPU resin compositions also include a second UV absorber which, when combined with the TPU resin, light stabilizer and the first UV absorber, imparts a particular combination of optical characteristics to a film made from the resin composition; namely, the resulting film is capable of blocking about 95% of light having a wavelength ranging from about 10 to about 410 nm, preferably about 380 nm to about 410 nm. In certain embodiments, the film is capable of blocking greater than 99.9% of light having a wavelength ranging from about 380 nm to 400 nm and has a yellowness index (YI value) that is no greater than 3.0, preferably no greater than 2.5. In other embodiments, the film is capable of blocking no less than 99% of light having a wavelength of about 400 nm.

[0048] In embodiments, the second UV absorber is present in an amount from about 0.001% to about 2.0% by weight; in embodiments, the second UV absorber is present in the resin composition in an amount from about 0.5% to about 1.0% by weight.

[0049] In certain embodiments, the second UV absorber may be any suitable UV absorber of the benzotriazole family, the benzophenone family, the triazin family or the benzylidene malonate family that provides the foregoing combination of optical characteristics, such as the compounds lists above with respect to the first UV absorber. Non-limiting examples of benzotriazole-type UV absorbers suitable for use as the second UV absorber include compounds of the formula:

##STR00002##

wherein R.sub.9, R.sub.10, and R.sub.11 are individually selected from hydrogen, a group having a formula C.sub.aH.sub.bN.sub.cO.sub.dS.sub.e wherein a, b, c, d, and e are from 0 to 30, and halogen, where at least one of R.sub.9, R.sub.10, or R.sub.11 is halogen. In embodiments, the second UV absorber is phenol, 2-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl.

[0050] The resin composition may be prepared by preparing a composition including one or more TPU resins, the first UV absorber and a light stabilizer. The composition is combined with a concentrate containing the second UV absorber in a base resin including the same or a different TPU resin. In embodiments, the base resin and the concentrate are dry blended. In embodiments, the ratio of TPU resin to base resin is from about 20:1 to about 3:1, preferably from about 10:1 to about 7:1. The second UV absorber may be present in the concentrate by an amount of about 9.5% by weight.

[0051] The optical film preferably has a thickness of about 5 mils to 50 mils. In one embodiment, the concentration of the second UV absorber is about 0.8% by weight and the thickness of the film is no greater than 15 mils. In another embodiment, the concentration of the second UV absorber is about 0.5% by weight and the thickness of the film is no greater than 25 mils.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, illustrative optical films may have: a thickness in the range of from about 1 mil to about 50 mils, in embodiments from about 15 mils to about 30 mils; a UV cutoff of about 300 nm to 500 nm, preferably about 350 nm to 400 nm; a light transmission rate of no more than 0.5% to 10% at a wavelength of 400 nm, in embodiments a light transmission rate of no more than about 1%-5% at a wavelength of 400 nm; and a YI (ASTM E313) value that is no greater than 2.5, preferably no greater than about 2.0.

[0053] The present optical films may be prepared by a single screw cast film extrusion process, or any other suitable extrusion process within the purview of those of skill in the art. In embodiments, the process begins by dry blending a concentrate containing the second UV absorber with a base resin as described above to provide a mixture. The mixture of base resin and concentrate are then melted and mixed by an extruder. The melted resin composition is then filtered and fed to a die system. The resulting homogenous blend of molten polymer then travels through a flat die system to adopt a final flat film shape. Upon exiting the die, the molten web enters a cooling unit, where it is cooled using a water-cooled chill roll or any suitable cooling mechanism as is known by one of skill in the art. The film is then fed downstream where the edges may be trimmed and the film may be rolled up on a shaft to produce a roll of material.

EXAMPLES

[0054] An optical film is prepared by single screw extrusion from the following ingredients: a TPU resin (AG-8451 sold by Lubrizol) containing a light stabilizer produced by a reaction mass of bis (1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate and methyl 1, 2, 2, 6, 6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl sebacate (equivalent to Tinuvin 292 sold by BASF, CAS No. 1065336-91-5) and 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-phenol as a first UV absorber (equivalent to Tinuvin 328 sold by BASF, CAS No. 25973-55-1). This film is 30 mils thick and is identified as a control film in Table 1 below.

[0055] Five additional films (films 1-5) were prepared by compression molding from melt blended formulation prepared in a heated Brabender High Shear Mixer from a TPU resin (AG-8451 sold by Lubrizol) containing a light stabilizer produced by a reaction mass of bis (1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate and methyl 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl sebacate (equivalent to Tinuvin 292 sold by BASF, CAS No. 1065336-91-5) and 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-phenol as a first UV absorber (equivalent to Tinuvin 328 sold by BASF, CAS No. 25973-55-1), and 0.5% of a second UV absorber. The added UV absorber present for each of films 1-5 is identified in Table 1 below.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Added UV % Light UV Loading Cutoff Blocked Absorber Thickness (%) (nm) @400 nm AG8451 NONE  30 mils — 375.8 21.1 Control Film 1 2,4-Dihydroxy- ~30 mils 0.50% 382.3 39.4 benzophenone Film 2 Tinuvin 326 ~30 mils 0.50% 401.1 99.6 Film 3 Tinuvin 360 ~30 mils 0.50% 390.5 63.7 Film 4 Tinuvin 640 ~30 mils 0.50% 387.8 58.5 Film 5 Cyasorb UV- ~30 mils 0.50% 383.4 33.2 5411 Avg. % Avg. % Light Light YI Blocked Blocked Avg. % T ASTM (380-400 nm) (390-410 nm) (400-900 nm) E313 61.15 26.2 92.6 0.54 78.31 44.2 89.3 2.42 99.95 94.9 86 4.57 93.08 64.3 85 4.97 89.28 57.9 83.6 4.5 75.56 39.3 88.8 2.18

[0056] Table 1 shows that by adding a concentrate containing Tinuvin 326, an optical film having a UV cutoff of about 400 nm may be achieved. As used herein, UV cutoff generally refers to the wavelength at which substantially all of the UV light is blocked by the UV absorber, typically being absorbed by organic molecules and converted to heat. The percentage of light blocked at 400 nm with the added Tinuvin 326 is greater than the films having the alternative additives. Although the film treated with Tinuvin 360 has a UV cutoff that is closer to 400 than the other films, the YI value is surprisingly greater than Film 2's YI value, despite film 2 having a higher UV cutoff and light blockage percentage. The higher YI values for films 1-5 versus the control film are attributed to processing using the Brabender High Shear Mixer for laboratory preparation of films 1-5. Whereas the control film was produced by commercial single screw extrusion and evidenced less thermal oxidation impact attributed to the process.

[0057] In another exemplary embodiment, an optical film is prepared from the following ingredients: a base TPU resin (AG-8451 sold by Lubrizol) containing a light stabilizer produced by a reaction mass of bis (1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate and methyl 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl sebacate (equivalent to Tinuvin 292 sold by BASF, CAS No. 1065336-91-5) and 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-phenol as a first UV absorber (equivalent to Tinuvin 328 sold by BASF, CAS No. 25973-55-1), and a concentrate containing 9.5% of a second UV absorber, Phenol, 2-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl (equivalent to Tinuvin 326, sold by BASF CAS No. 3896-11-5, blended in a TPU resin of AG-8451 sold by Lubrizol.

[0058] Three different films (1-3) having a thickness of 15 mils were prepared with differing loadings of Tinuvin 326 concentrate. The properties of the three films are contained below in Table 2. It is shown that adding Tinuvin 326 concentrate to the resin composition still blocks a large portion of the UV light at 400 nm while maintaining desired transparency with a YI value that is below 2.0 even when making a thinner film.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 UV Film Conc Loading Cutoff % Transmission Thickness (PPH) (nm) @ 400 nm Film 1 15 mils 7.0 393.4 13.3 Film 2 15 mils 8.5 397.4 3.5 Film 3 15 mils 10.0 396.8 4.7 Avg. % Avg. % % Light Light Light YI Blocked @ Blocked Blocked Avg. % T ASTM 400 nm (380-400 nm) (390-410 nm) (400-900 nm) E313 86.7 98.1 78.8 90.5 1.39 96.5 99.6 88.0 90.8 1.93 95.3 99.5 86.6 90.4 1.79

[0059] Referring now to FIG. 1, a composite 10 comprises first and second layers of glass 12, 14 and a film 16 between the first layer and the second layer of glass. Film 16 may include any of the compositions described above. In certain embodiments, a window is provided that includes the composite. Film 16 may be laminated between at least two sheets of glass substrates facing each other in order to reflect light rays having particular wavelengths in the infrared region.

[0060] Glass layers 12, 14 may comprise any clear or ultraclear glass of a type that is suitable for use in for image sensors, electronic display screens for computers and mobile devices, food packaging, optical disk devices, appliances and the like. Examples include PPG Clear glass, Solarphire® glass or PPG Starphire® glass. Clear glass is preferred so that when the window is illuminated with sunlight, less energy from IR light will be absorbed in glass layer 12 and more energy will be reflected back out of the outside layer of glass and away from the window. Ultraclear glass is more preferred because it absorbs less energy from IR light than clear glass and because it's higher transmittance allows more light to be reflected.

[0061] There are of course, other substantially clear materials that can be used as layers 12, 14 to provide rigidity and strength to an optical sheet. These alternative materials include polymeric materials such as, for example, acrylic, polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) or polycarbonate. A glazing component can be substantially planar or have some curvature. It can be provided in various shapes, such as a dome, conical, or other configuration, and cross-sections, with a variety of surface topographies. The devices and methods described herein are not intended to necessarily be limited to the use of any particular glazing component material(s) or structure.

[0062] Persons skilled in the art will understand that the products and methods specifically described herein are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the description. Accordingly, the present description is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances. As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the devices and methods herein are not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.

[0063] Hereby, all issued patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications that are mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes, to the same extent as if each individual issued patent, published patent application, or non-patent publication were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0064] While several embodiments have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the description be limited thereto, as it is intended that the description be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of presently disclosed embodiments. Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

[0065] Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the description. Accordingly, the present description is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances. As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, devices and methods herein are not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.