WO2007143480A2 - Method of lamination using radio frequency heating and pressure - Google Patents

Method of lamination using radio frequency heating and pressure Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007143480A2
WO2007143480A2 PCT/US2007/070018 US2007070018W WO2007143480A2 WO 2007143480 A2 WO2007143480 A2 WO 2007143480A2 US 2007070018 W US2007070018 W US 2007070018W WO 2007143480 A2 WO2007143480 A2 WO 2007143480A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
glass
interlayer
carbide
group
materials
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2007/070018
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2007143480A3 (en
Inventor
Morgana Lynn Fall
Shawn Michael Allan
Holly Sue Shulman
Original Assignee
Ceralink, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ceralink, Inc. filed Critical Ceralink, Inc.
Publication of WO2007143480A2 publication Critical patent/WO2007143480A2/en
Publication of WO2007143480A3 publication Critical patent/WO2007143480A3/en

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B37/00Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
    • B32B37/06Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the heating method
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B17/00Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
    • B32B17/06Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
    • B32B17/10Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
    • B32B17/10005Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
    • B32B17/10009Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets
    • B32B17/10018Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets comprising only one glass sheet
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B17/00Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
    • B32B17/06Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
    • B32B17/10Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
    • B32B17/10005Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
    • B32B17/10009Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets
    • B32B17/10036Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets comprising two outer glass sheets
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B17/00Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
    • B32B17/06Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
    • B32B17/10Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
    • B32B17/10005Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
    • B32B17/10009Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets
    • B32B17/10036Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets comprising two outer glass sheets
    • B32B17/10045Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets comprising two outer glass sheets with at least one intermediate layer consisting of a glass sheet
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B17/00Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
    • B32B17/06Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
    • B32B17/10Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
    • B32B17/10005Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
    • B32B17/10009Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets
    • B32B17/10082Properties of the bulk of a glass sheet
    • B32B17/10119Properties of the bulk of a glass sheet having a composition deviating from the basic composition of soda-lime glass, e.g. borosilicate
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B17/00Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
    • B32B17/06Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
    • B32B17/10Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
    • B32B17/10005Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
    • B32B17/10165Functional features of the laminated safety glass or glazing
    • B32B17/10247Laminated safety glass or glazing containing decorations or patterns for aesthetic reasons
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B17/00Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
    • B32B17/06Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
    • B32B17/10Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
    • B32B17/10005Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
    • B32B17/1055Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the resin layer, i.e. interlayer
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B17/00Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
    • B32B17/06Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
    • B32B17/10Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
    • B32B17/10005Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
    • B32B17/1055Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the resin layer, i.e. interlayer
    • B32B17/1077Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the resin layer, i.e. interlayer containing polyurethane
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B17/00Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
    • B32B17/06Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
    • B32B17/10Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
    • B32B17/10005Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
    • B32B17/10807Making laminated safety glass or glazing; Apparatus therefor
    • B32B17/10816Making laminated safety glass or glazing; Apparatus therefor by pressing
    • B32B17/10871Making laminated safety glass or glazing; Apparatus therefor by pressing in combination with particular heat treatment
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2310/00Treatment by energy or chemical effects
    • B32B2310/08Treatment by energy or chemical effects by wave energy or particle radiation
    • B32B2310/0806Treatment by energy or chemical effects by wave energy or particle radiation using electromagnetic radiation
    • B32B2310/0868Treatment by energy or chemical effects by wave energy or particle radiation using electromagnetic radiation using radio frequency
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2369/00Polycarbonates
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B37/00Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
    • B32B37/12Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by using adhesives
    • B32B37/1207Heat-activated adhesive

Definitions

  • PPG Industries has provided research and commercialization support, although they do not participate in the invention.
  • Thermex Thermatron has provided insight into equipment manufacture for the process, although they do not participate in the invention. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention lies in the field of lamination heating materials and methods, specifically in the use of RF heating methods for laminates.
  • the standard commercial lamination process requires heat sources such as electric heating or heat lamps and a plurality of heating ovens.
  • Two layers of structural material to be laminated are inserted into an oven with an interlayer, such as vinyls, glues, plastics, resins, polymer adhesives, inorganic polymer adhesives, and filled polymers, placed between the two layers.
  • the oven is heated, heating the materials being laminated and melting the interlayer, and rollers within the oven press the materials together to form a tight, secure bond.
  • the heating-and-pressing process may occur more than once and may occur at different temperatures, depending on the material being laminated. Cooling may occur, either intentionally or unintentionally, between heating cycles.
  • the material Once the material has been heated and rolled, it is autoclaved and perhaps rolled for a period of time based on the material being laminated. Cooling may occur, intentionally or unintentionally, before the material is placed in the autoclave. When the material is removed from the autoclave, it is cooled and is then ready for use.
  • RF heating technology is used in the wood, paper, and plastic packaging industries, and provides significant time and energy savings in those industries. The need is felt outside of the wood, paper, and plastic packaging industries for a lamination process that provides significant savings of energy and time over the current art.
  • FIGURE 1 an overall diagrammatic view of RF lamination of structural material layers is shown.
  • FIGURE 2 an experimental setup for vinyl heating in an RF applicator is shown.
  • FIGURE 3 a press used for vinyl lamination is shown.
  • FIGURE 1 an overall diagrammatic view of RF lamination of structural material layers is shown.
  • a vinyl interlayeror other polymer interlayer is placed between two or more layers of structural layer material such as glass producing a layered material, and the layered prelaminate material is then placed in an RF press. By applying RF heat and pressure to the layered prelaminate material, a laminate is produced.
  • a structural layer material other than glass, or a composite of materials may be used in this method.
  • Such materials include, but are not limited to, glass, flat glass, curved glass, coated glass, tinted glass, fused silica (quartz) glass, soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, lead silicate glass, aluminosilicates glass, non-silica based oxide glass, halide glass, chalcogenide glasses, tempered glass, ion-exchange strengthed glass, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyimides, polyamides, all oxide, carbide, nitride, and boride ceramics and glasses, including but not limited to aluminum oxide (AI2O3, alumina, sapphire), spinel (MgAI 2 O 4 ), silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAION), silicon nitride (SisN 4 ), and aluminum
  • Structural-and-interlayehnterlayer layers as shown in Figure 1 are loaded into an RF press. RF then heats the interlayer to the point of melting and flow. See Table 1.
  • RF energy is generally specified as the range of electromagnetic frequencies from substantially 0.1 to 500 MHz. In the current invention, the preferred frequency range for processing laminates is substantially from 10 to 40 MHz,, more specifically 27.12 MHz.
  • ISM frequencies are allowed for industrial, scientific, and medical use, and are commonly referred to as the ISM frequencies, as currently designated by the International Telecommunication Union, Radiocommunication Sector, ITU-R 5.138, 5.150, and 5.280, and as currently designated in the United States by Part 18 and Part 15 Subpart B of the FCC Rules.
  • the structural layer materials do not heat because a large portion of the RF energy passes through the structural glass, ceramic, and/or plastic layers.
  • the dielectric properties (permittivity and loss) of the structural glass, ceramics, and/or plastic layers being laminated cause them to be relatively transparent to the RF energy.
  • the dielectric properties of the interlayer cause the interlayer to absorb RF energy, producing heat, more so than the structural glass, ceramic, and/or polymer structural layers. Therefore in the laminate, the interlayer will preferentially heat.
  • one or more of the structural layers heat in the RF field more than does the interlayer.
  • the assembled layers shown in Figure 1 may be pressed together until the laminate is substantially bonded. In a preferred embodiment, this bonding requires substantially 1 second to 30 minutes. A preferred embodiment requires substantially 0-300 psi to create a substantially bonded laminate. Note that the energy required for the RF process for glass lamination is significantly less than the energy required for the traditional autoclave process for glass lamination.
  • the resulting product may be optically transparent, translucent or opaque.
  • FIGURE 2 an experimental setup for interlayer heating in an RF applicator is shown.
  • the setup comprises an RF applicator or an RF press.
  • the RF applicator or RF press comprises two electrodes inside a shielded chamber that operate at substantially 0.1 -100 MHz, between 20-40 MHz in a preferred embodiment, or specifically 27.12 MHz.
  • 27.12 MHz is designated for Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) use by international treaties.
  • ISM Industrial, Scientific, and Medical
  • Other ISM allowed frequencies specifically covered by this patent are 6.78 MHz, 13.56 MHz, and 40.68 MHz.
  • One electrode may be movable, while the other electrode may be fixed, or both electrodes may be fixed, or both electrodes may be moveable.
  • the top electrode is movable while the bottom electrode is fixed. Space between the two electrodes changes the RF field intensity; the intensity is increased by moving the electrodes closer together, decreased by moving the electrodes further apart.
  • the RF press is designed to deliver pressure to the structural and interlayer materials as the RF field is delivered.
  • the top electrode is movable; in a second embodiment, the bottom electrode is movable; in a third embodiment, both electrodes are movable.
  • the RF applicator is not designed to deliver pressure, though some pressure may be exerted by lowering an upper electrode onto a flat piece of buffer material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, mylar, fish paper, or other insulating material resting on top of the material being processed.
  • the buffer provides thermal insulation and protection against surface abrasions and scratches on the product.
  • the RF applicator may be designed to deliver pressure and remain within the scope of the invention. Referring now to FIGURE 3, a press used for RF lamination is shown. An RF press is designed to deliver an RF field along with pressure on the material being processed.
  • the RF press contains two electrodes, either or both of which may be movable, although in a preferred embodiment a top electrode is movable and a bottom electrode is fixed.
  • the movable electrode may, in a preferred embodiment, be moved with a hydraulic, pneumatic, or manual lever system.
  • a hydraulic system is generally required to provide adequate pressure of substantially 0 to 350 psi on the product.
  • the hydraulic mechanism may be moved automatically, or manually by a lever external to the RF field.
  • the upper electrode in this preferred embodiment provides pressure against the material being processed.
  • the two electrodes are not confined in a chamber; shielding is applied around the outside of the electrode to prevent RF leakage.
  • the pressure exerted on the material being laminated is, in a preferred embodiment, adjustable using the RF press. In other embodiments, the pressure may be constant. The pressure may be raised prior to raising the temperature with RF energy, after temperature is raised, or simulataneously as temperature is raised.
  • other types of glass, ceramics, and polymers may comprise the structural laminate layers.
  • Structural polymer materials that may be used include but are not limited to polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic) and polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is currently used in safety and security glass, and on the inside of an armored vehicle window to shield the occupant(s) of that vehicle from glass fragments that would be created by the impact of a projectile such as a bullet.
  • Yet other embodiments of the invention may use transparent and/or opaque ceramics to create layers. Some visibly opaque ceramics are transparent to infrared light and are used in applications such as aerospace optics.
  • Ceramics that may be used include but are not limited to aluminum oxide (AI2O3, alumina, sapphire), spinel (MgAI 2 O 4 ), silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAION), silicon nitride (SisN 4 ), aluminum nitride (AIN), aluminum oxynitride (AION), boron nitride (BN), boron carbide (B 4 C), titanium diboride (TiB 2 ), magnesium oxide (MgO), and magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ),.
  • a sacrificial interlayer is used to provide heat for applying a coating to a glass, ceramic, or polymer substrate.
  • the interlayer may be adhesive or non-adhesive.
  • the interlayer may be removed mechanically or chemically after processing, or left in place. Coatingsare generally too thin to preferentially heat in RF to the point of curing.
  • the absorbing interlayer placed between two plates of transparent substrate, provides the preferential heat required for applying the coating.
  • Table 1 Experimental parameters for laminating using an RF press.
  • glass laminates created in the RF press may be pressed to clarity in substantially 7-20 seconds.
  • the process of constructing them uses very little power.
  • the glass surface is heated to a maximum of substantially 35- 45°C using three different PVB interlayers when pressing in under substantially 20 seconds.
  • the glass or plastic surface temperature achieves substantially 75 to 115 0 C.
  • the PVB interlayer exceeded 140 0 C in all cases, which is substantially the temperature required to form the laminate bond.
  • laminates containing structural polymers in the RF press are pressed to clarity in 30 to 180 seconds.
  • the process of constructing them uses very little power.
  • the polymer surface is heated to substantially 76 to 115 0 C using TPU interlayers.
  • the RF press also yields better clarity results than does RF alone, with most of the laminates being characterized as mostly clear.
  • Other materials that do not participate in the bonding of the layers can be inserted within the interlayer, including but not limited to cloth, silk, paper, polymers, solar cells, circuits, ceramics, and light emitting diodes (LEDs). These can be used for decorative or technical applications.
  • a sheer piece of silk is placed between two sheets of interlayer film, which is then placed between two sheets of glass.
  • a cellulose acetate film printed with images and words is included in the laminate between two sheets of interlayer film placed between two sheets of glass.
  • the interlayer film can be smaller, or larger than the structural layers being bonded. This can be used for design purposes.
  • An EVA or TPU interlayer may be used to bond a structural glass plate to a sheet of polycarbonate.
  • RF energy and/or pressure may be applied in pulses to the material being laminated. It is conceivable and within the scope of the invention that other types of glass can be laminated utilizing the RF methods described herein.
  • individual layers of the finished laminated material may be made of the same material as other layers or layers may be made of different materials; for example, polycarbonate and tempered glass may be laminated using the RF methodology described herein, or any other combination of layers may be made within the scope of the invention.
  • composite materials other than glass can be laminated utilizing the RF methods described herein.
  • Such materials may include any materials that are laminated together, specifically excluding wood, plastic packaging, and paper.
  • interlayers that may be the same material between all layers or may differ between layers.
  • a laminate containing the layering of borosilicate, vinyl, tempered glass, glue, soda lime glass, resin, transparent ceramic is within the scope of the invention, as is a laminate containg the layering of glass, vinyl, glass, vinyl, glass.
  • other interlayer materials can be used to create a bond between the materials being laminated.
  • interlayer materials may include, but are not limited to, polyvinylbutyral (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylene vinyl acetates (PEVA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyvinylchloride (PVC), glues, plastics, resins, polymer adhesives, inorganic polymer adhesives, polyurethanes, aliphatic polymers, vinyls, epoxies, and filled polymers that can be pressed substantially free of defects, and may be pressed to clarity where intended, while maintaining a bond between the structural material layers. It is also conceivable and within the scope of the invention that the materials used need not be optically clear. Materials that are opaque or translucent to visible light and transparent or translucent to other wavelengths of light are also of use in industrial, scientific and medical applications and their use is within the scope of the present invention.
  • an advantage of the invention is that RF energy is shown to preferentially heat the interlayer over the structural glass material being laminated, at a savings of up to 95% (ninety-five percent) over the traditional autoclave process.

Abstract

A method for producing laminated materials is taught, wherein materials are bonded by heating using radio frequency (RF) energy while simultaneously applying pressure. The process for laminating a single piece is generally completed in a matter of seconds, as opposed to the hour(s) required to produce a glass laminate using the current state-of-the-art technology.

Description

METHOD OF LAMINATION USING RADIO FREQUENCY
HEATING AND PRESSURE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This Application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/803,632, filed in the US Patent and Trademark Office on 01 June 2006.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Part of the commercialization effort for this invention is made under a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Industrial Technologies Program with support from the Inventions and Innovations Program, Contract No. DE-PS36- 06GO96001. No part of the invention itself was made under the above- referenced grant or other federally sponsored research and development.
PARTIES TO JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
PPG Industries has provided research and commercialization support, although they do not participate in the invention. Thermex Thermatron has provided insight into equipment manufacture for the process, although they do not participate in the invention. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention lies in the field of lamination heating materials and methods, specifically in the use of RF heating methods for laminates.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Currently, the standard commercial lamination process requires heat sources such as electric heating or heat lamps and a plurality of heating ovens. Two layers of structural material to be laminated are inserted into an oven with an interlayer, such as vinyls, glues, plastics, resins, polymer adhesives, inorganic polymer adhesives, and filled polymers, placed between the two layers. The oven is heated, heating the materials being laminated and melting the interlayer, and rollers within the oven press the materials together to form a tight, secure bond. The heating-and-pressing process may occur more than once and may occur at different temperatures, depending on the material being laminated. Cooling may occur, either intentionally or unintentionally, between heating cycles.
Once the material has been heated and rolled, it is autoclaved and perhaps rolled for a period of time based on the material being laminated. Cooling may occur, intentionally or unintentionally, before the material is placed in the autoclave. When the material is removed from the autoclave, it is cooled and is then ready for use.
RF heating technology is used in the wood, paper, and plastic packaging industries, and provides significant time and energy savings in those industries. The need is felt outside of the wood, paper, and plastic packaging industries for a lamination process that provides significant savings of energy and time over the current art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to FIGURE 1, an overall diagrammatic view of RF lamination of structural material layers is shown.
Referring now to FIGURE 2, an experimental setup for vinyl heating in an RF applicator is shown.
Referring now to FIGURE 3, a press used for vinyl lamination is shown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIGURE 1, an overall diagrammatic view of RF lamination of structural material layers is shown. A vinyl interlayeror other polymer interlayer is placed between two or more layers of structural layer material such as glass producing a layered material, and the layered prelaminate material is then placed in an RF press. By applying RF heat and pressure to the layered prelaminate material, a laminate is produced. In another embodiment a structural layer material other than glass, or a composite of materials may be used in this method. Such materials include, but are not limited to, glass, flat glass, curved glass, coated glass, tinted glass, fused silica (quartz) glass, soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, lead silicate glass, aluminosilicates glass, non-silica based oxide glass, halide glass, chalcogenide glasses, tempered glass, ion-exchange strengthed glass, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyimides, polyamides, all oxide, carbide, nitride, and boride ceramics and glasses, including but not limited to aluminum oxide (AI2O3, alumina, sapphire), spinel (MgAI2O4), silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAION), silicon nitride (SisN4), and aluminum nitride (AIN), magnesium oxide (MgO), magnesium fluoride (MgF2), boron nitride (BN), boron carbide (B4C), titanium diboride (TiB2), and aluminum oxynitride (AION), titanium carbide (TiC), silicon carbide (SiC), tungsten carbide (WC), hafnium carbide (HfC), zirconium carbide (ZrC).
Structural-and-interlayehnterlayer layers as shown in Figure 1 are loaded into an RF press. RF then heats the interlayer to the point of melting and flow. See Table 1. RF energy is generally specified as the range of electromagnetic frequencies from substantially 0.1 to 500 MHz. In the current invention, the preferred frequency range for processing laminates is substantially from 10 to 40 MHz,, more specifically 27.12 MHz. 27.12 MHz, along with 6.78, 13.56, and 40.68 MHz, are allowed for industrial, scientific, and medical use, and are commonly referred to as the ISM frequencies, as currently designated by the International Telecommunication Union, Radiocommunication Sector, ITU-R 5.138, 5.150, and 5.280, and as currently designated in the United States by Part 18 and Part 15 Subpart B of the FCC Rules.
In one embodiment, the structural layer materials do not heat because a large portion of the RF energy passes through the structural glass, ceramic, and/or plastic layers. The dielectric properties (permittivity and loss) of the structural glass, ceramics, and/or plastic layers being laminated cause them to be relatively transparent to the RF energy. The dielectric properties of the interlayer cause the interlayer to absorb RF energy, producing heat, more so than the structural glass, ceramic, and/or polymer structural layers. Therefore in the laminate, the interlayer will preferentially heat.
In another embodiment, one or more of the structural layers heat in the RF field more than does the interlayer.
The assembled layers shown in Figure 1 may be pressed together until the laminate is substantially bonded. In a preferred embodiment, this bonding requires substantially 1 second to 30 minutes. A preferred embodiment requires substantially 0-300 psi to create a substantially bonded laminate. Note that the energy required for the RF process for glass lamination is significantly less than the energy required for the traditional autoclave process for glass lamination.
The resulting product may be optically transparent, translucent or opaque. Referring now to FIGURE 2, an experimental setup for interlayer heating in an RF applicator is shown. The setup comprises an RF applicator or an RF press. The RF applicator or RF press comprises two electrodes inside a shielded chamber that operate at substantially 0.1 -100 MHz, between 20-40 MHz in a preferred embodiment, or specifically 27.12 MHz. 27.12 MHz is designated for Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) use by international treaties. Other ISM allowed frequencies specifically covered by this patent are 6.78 MHz, 13.56 MHz, and 40.68 MHz.
One electrode may be movable, while the other electrode may be fixed, or both electrodes may be fixed, or both electrodes may be moveable. In a preferred embodiment for the RF press, the top electrode is movable while the bottom electrode is fixed. Space between the two electrodes changes the RF field intensity; the intensity is increased by moving the electrodes closer together, decreased by moving the electrodes further apart.
In a preferred embodiment, the RF press is designed to deliver pressure to the structural and interlayer materials as the RF field is delivered. In one embodiment, only the top electrode is movable; in a second embodiment, the bottom electrode is movable; in a third embodiment, both electrodes are movable.
In an alternate embodiment, the RF applicator is not designed to deliver pressure, though some pressure may be exerted by lowering an upper electrode onto a flat piece of buffer material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, mylar, fish paper, or other insulating material resting on top of the material being processed. The buffer provides thermal insulation and protection against surface abrasions and scratches on the product. The RF applicator may be designed to deliver pressure and remain within the scope of the invention. Referring now to FIGURE 3, a press used for RF lamination is shown. An RF press is designed to deliver an RF field along with pressure on the material being processed. Similar to the RF applicator described in Figure 4, the RF press contains two electrodes, either or both of which may be movable, although in a preferred embodiment a top electrode is movable and a bottom electrode is fixed. The movable electrode may, in a preferred embodiment, be moved with a hydraulic, pneumatic, or manual lever system. A hydraulic system is generally required to provide adequate pressure of substantially 0 to 350 psi on the product. The hydraulic mechanism may be moved automatically, or manually by a lever external to the RF field. The upper electrode in this preferred embodiment provides pressure against the material being processed. In a preferred embodiment, the two electrodes are not confined in a chamber; shielding is applied around the outside of the electrode to prevent RF leakage. The pressure exerted on the material being laminated is, in a preferred embodiment, adjustable using the RF press. In other embodiments, the pressure may be constant. The pressure may be raised prior to raising the temperature with RF energy, after temperature is raised, or simulataneously as temperature is raised.
Clear and tinted autoglass, window glass, borosilicate glass, transparent ceramics, acrylic, and polycarbonate — do not increase substantially in temperature on experimental exposure to a field of RF energy at substantially 27.12 MHz. For a moderate-to-good RF heating material, a temperature increase of 50-2000C is expected; the lack of heating indicates that the glass is relatively non-absorptive of RF energy at substantially 27.12 MHz. See Table 1.
Figure imgf000010_0001
In other embodiments of the invention, other types of glass, ceramics, and polymers may comprise the structural laminate layers. Structural polymer materials that may be used include but are not limited to polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic) and polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is currently used in safety and security glass, and on the inside of an armored vehicle window to shield the occupant(s) of that vehicle from glass fragments that would be created by the impact of a projectile such as a bullet. Yet other embodiments of the invention may use transparent and/or opaque ceramics to create layers. Some visibly opaque ceramics are transparent to infrared light and are used in applications such as aerospace optics. Ceramics that may be used include but are not limited to aluminum oxide (AI2O3, alumina, sapphire), spinel (MgAI2O4), silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAION), silicon nitride (SisN4), aluminum nitride (AIN), aluminum oxynitride (AION), boron nitride (BN), boron carbide (B4C), titanium diboride (TiB2), magnesium oxide (MgO), and magnesium fluoride (MgF2),.
In another embodiment, a sacrificial interlayer is used to provide heat for applying a coating to a glass, ceramic, or polymer substrate. The interlayer may be adhesive or non-adhesive. The interlayer may be removed mechanically or chemically after processing, or left in place. Coatingsare generally too thin to preferentially heat in RF to the point of curing. The absorbing interlayer placed between two plates of transparent substrate, provides the preferential heat required for applying the coating.
Experimental parameters and results for laminating using an RF press are shown in Table 2, below. Pressure and RF power were adjusted to produce laminates in 7 to 99 seconds, reaching outer glass temperatures of only 35 to 115 0C, using pressures from 40 to 240 psi.
Table 1 : Experimental parameters for laminating using an RF press.
Figure imgf000011_0001
Figure imgf000012_0001
As an example, glass laminates created in the RF press may be pressed to clarity in substantially 7-20 seconds. The process of constructing them uses very little power. The glass surface is heated to a maximum of substantially 35- 45°C using three different PVB interlayers when pressing in under substantially 20 seconds. For longer press times, the glass or plastic surface temperature achieves substantially 75 to 115 0C. The PVB interlayer exceeded 140 0C in all cases, which is substantially the temperature required to form the laminate bond.
As another example, laminates containing structural polymers in the RF press are pressed to clarity in 30 to 180 seconds. The process of constructing them uses very little power. The polymer surface is heated to substantially 76 to 115 0C using TPU interlayers.
The RF press also yields better clarity results than does RF alone, with most of the laminates being characterized as mostly clear. Other materials that do not participate in the bonding of the layers, can be inserted within the interlayer, including but not limited to cloth, silk, paper, polymers, solar cells, circuits, ceramics, and light emitting diodes (LEDs). These can be used for decorative or technical applications. In one example, a sheer piece of silk is placed between two sheets of interlayer film, which is then placed between two sheets of glass. In another example, a cellulose acetate film printed with images and words is included in the laminate between two sheets of interlayer film placed between two sheets of glass.
The interlayer film can be smaller, or larger than the structural layers being bonded. This can be used for design purposes.
An EVA or TPU interlayer, for example, may be used to bond a structural glass plate to a sheet of polycarbonate.
Experimentally, 4" x 4" sections of glass laminate can be processed to substantial optical clarity in 7 to 20 seconds. Experimental energy consumption is 6.6 BTU/ft2.
These results clearly demonstrate that an RF press is a useful and viable method for laminating an interlayer between clear laminates that retains the clarity of the structural material. This, coupled with the energy savings realized by using RF pressing makes this invention useful in industries that laminate glass and other composites.
In another embodiment, RF energy and/or pressure may be applied in pulses to the material being laminated. It is conceivable and within the scope of the invention that other types of glass can be laminated utilizing the RF methods described herein.
It is also conceivable and within the scope of the invention that individual layers of the finished laminated material may be made of the same material as other layers or layers may be made of different materials; for example, polycarbonate and tempered glass may be laminated using the RF methodology described herein, or any other combination of layers may be made within the scope of the invention.
It is also conceivable and within the scope of the invention that composite materials other than glass can be laminated utilizing the RF methods described herein. Such materials may include any materials that are laminated together, specifically excluding wood, plastic packaging, and paper.
It is also conceivable and within the scope of the invention that multiple layers of composite materials, of similar or different compositions, can be laminated together in RF using interlayers that may be the same material between all layers or may differ between layers. For example, a laminate containing the layering of borosilicate, vinyl, tempered glass, glue, soda lime glass, resin, transparent ceramic is within the scope of the invention, as is a laminate containg the layering of glass, vinyl, glass, vinyl, glass. It is also conceivable and within the scope of the invention that other interlayer materials can be used to create a bond between the materials being laminated. Examples of other interlayer materials may include, but are not limited to, polyvinylbutyral (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylene vinyl acetates (PEVA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyvinylchloride (PVC), glues, plastics, resins, polymer adhesives, inorganic polymer adhesives, polyurethanes, aliphatic polymers, vinyls, epoxies, and filled polymers that can be pressed substantially free of defects, and may be pressed to clarity where intended, while maintaining a bond between the structural material layers. It is also conceivable and within the scope of the invention that the materials used need not be optically clear. Materials that are opaque or translucent to visible light and transparent or translucent to other wavelengths of light are also of use in industrial, scientific and medical applications and their use is within the scope of the present invention.
In one embodiment, an advantage of the invention is that RF energy is shown to preferentially heat the interlayer over the structural glass material being laminated, at a savings of up to 95% (ninety-five percent) over the traditional autoclave process.
The embodiments provided here are examples only and are not intended to be a complete listing of possible embodiments, nor should they be construed as an exclusive listing of embodiments. Variations in the described invention and its uses are possible within the scope of this disclosure without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the claims herein, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which I regard as my invention.

Claims

We claim:
1. A method of laminating composite materials, said method comprising: placing interlayerbonding materials between two or more layers of structural material being laminated, said interlayer of bonding material being a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl butyrals (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetates (EVA), polyethylene vinyl acetates (PEVA), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), aliphatic polymers, vinyls, glues, plastics, resins, polymer adhesives, inorganic polymer adhesives, polyurethanes, epoxies, and filled polymers, and said structural material excluding wood, paper, and plastic packaging, the grouping of said interlayer of bonding material and said structural material producing a prelaminate wherein layers may be made of the same material or of different materials; placing said prelaminate material into an RF press; utilizing RF to heat said interlayered bonding material to its softening point; pressing said layered material, thus producing a bonded laminate; and cooling said interlayered bonding material.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising said RF press comprising an RF shield containing a pressing mechanism and two electrodes.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising said RF press electrodes comprising a movable top electrode and a stationary bottom electrode.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising said structural material being selected from the group consisting of glass, flat glass, curved glass, coated glass, tinted glass, fused silica (quartz) glass, soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, lead silicate glass, aluminosilicates glass, non-silica based oxide glass, halide glass, chalcogenide glasses, tempered glass, ion-exchange strengthed glass, polymethylmethacrylate
(PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyimides, polyamides, all oxide, carbide, nitride, and boride ceramics and glasses, including but not limited to aluminum oxide (AI2O3, alumina, sapphire), spinel (MgAI2O4), silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAION), silicon nitride (SisN4), and aluminum nitride (AIN), magnesium oxide (MgO), magnesium fluoride (MgF2), boron nitride (BN), boron carbide (B4C), titanium diboride (TiB2), and aluminum oxynitride (AION), titanium carbide (TiC), silicon carbide (SiC), tungsten carbide (WC), hafnium carbide (HfC), zirconium carbide (ZrC).
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising said interlayermaterial being selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl butyrals (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetates (EVA), polyethylene vinyl acetates (PEVA), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), aliphatic polymers, vinyls, glues, plastics, resins, polymer adhesives, inorganic polymer adhesives, polyurethanes, epoxies, and filled polymers.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising additional materials being added to said interlayer materials, such additional materials not contributing to laminate bonding.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising said additional materials being selected from the group consisting of cloth, silk, paper, polymers, solar cells, circuits, ceramics, and light emitting diodes (LEDs).
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising said laminate containing multiple layers of the same or differing materials.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the preferential heating of the interlayer being used to cure a coating on the adjoining surface of said structural substrate, wherein the interlayer may be removed chemically or mechanically.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the opacity of said laminate being selected from the group consisting of transparent to visible light, translucent to visible light, and opaque to visible light.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising said structural layer being heated preferentially.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising a pulsing application of one or more members selected from the group consisting of RF and pressure.
13. A method of laminating composite materials, said method comprising: placing an interlayer of bonding material between two layers of structural material being laminated, said interlayer being a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl butyrals (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetates (EVA), polyethylene vinyl acetates (PEVA), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), aliphatic polymers, vinyls, glues, plastics, resins, polymer adhesives, inorganic polymer adhesives, polyurethanes, epoxies, and filled polymers, and said structural material excluding wood, paper, and plastic packaging, a grouping of said interlayer material and said structural material producing a prelaminate wherein layers may be made of the same material or of different materials; placing said prelaminate into an RF press, said RF press comprising two RF electrodes within an RF chamber that prevents the escape of RF; utilizing RF to heat said interlayer to its softening point; and cooling said interlayer.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising said RF press comprising an RF shield containing a pressing mechanism and two electrodes.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising said RF press electrodes comprising a movable top electrode and a stationary bottom electrode.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising said RF press electrodes forming a pressing mechanism for said layered material by placing a bottom side of said layered material upon said stationary bottom RF electrode and pressing down upon a top side of said layered material with said moveable top electrode.
17. The method of claim 13 further comprising said structural material being selected from the group consisting of glass, flat glass, curved glass, coated glass, tinted glass, fused silica (quartz) glass, soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, lead silicate glass, aluminosilicates glass, non-silica based oxide glass, halide glass, chalcogenide glasses, tempered glass, ion-exchange strengthed glass, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyimides, polyamides, all oxide, carbide, nitride, and boride ceramics and glasses, including but not limited to aluminum oxide (AI2O3, alumina, sapphire), spinel (MgAI2O4), silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAION), silicon nitride (SJsN4), and aluminum nitride (AIN), magnesium oxide (MgO), magnesium fluoride (MgF2), boron nitride (BN), boron carbide (B4C), titanium diboride (TiB2), and aluminum oxynithde (AION), titanium carbide (TiC), silicon carbide (SiC), tungsten carbide (WC), hafnium carbide (HfC), zirconium carbide
(ZrC).
18. The method of claim 13 further comprising additional materials being added to said interlayers, such additional materials not contributing to laminate bonding.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising said additional materials being selected from the group consisting of cloth, silk, paper, polymers, solar cells, circuits, ceramics, and light emitting diodes (LEDs).
20. The method of claim 13 further comprising the opacity of said laminate being selected from the group consisting of transparent to visible light, translucent to visible light, and opaque to visible light.
21. The method of claim 13 further comprising the preferential heating of the interlayer being used to cure a coating on the adjoining surface of said structural material, wherein the interlayer may be removed chemically or mechanically.
22. The method of claim 13 further comprising said structural material being heated preferentially.
23. The method of claim 1 further comprising a pulsing application of one or more members selected from the group consisting of RF and pressure.
24. A method of laminating structural materials, said method comprising: placing an interlayer of bonding material between two layers of structural material, said structural material being selected from the group consisting of glass, flat glass, curved glass, coated glass, tinted glass, fused silica (quartz) glass, soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, lead silicate glass, aluminosilicates glass, non-silica based oxide glass, halide glass, chalcogenide glasses, tempered glass, ion-exchange strengthed glass, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyimides, polyamides, all oxide, carbide, nitride, and boride ceramics and glasses, including but not limited to aluminum oxide (AI2O3, alumina, sapphire), spinel (MgAI2O4), silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAION), silicon nitride (SisN4), and aluminum nitride (AIN), magnesium oxide (MgO), magnesium fluoride (MgF2), boron nitride (BN), boron carbide (B4C), titanium diboride (TiB2), and aluminum oxynitride (AION), titanium carbide (TiC), silicon carbide (SiC), tungsten carbide (WC), hafnium carbide (HfC), zirconium carbide (ZrC). said interlayer being a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl butyrals (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetates (EVA), polyethylene vinyl acetates (PEVA), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), aliphatic polymers, vinyls, glues, plastics, resins, polymer adhesives, inorganic polymer adhesives, polyurethanes, epoxies, and filled polymers, said structural material excluding wood, paper, and plastic packaging, the grouping of said interlayer and said structural materials producing a prelaminate wherein layers may be made of the same material or of different materials; placing said prelaminate into an RF press, said RF press comprising two RF electrodes within an RF chamber that prevents the escape of RF energy and a pressing mechanism, said RF electrodes being one moveable top electrode and one stationary bottom electrode, said pressing mechanism functioning by placing a bottom side of said prelaminate material upon said stationary bottom electrode and pressing said moveable top electrode on a top side of said prelaminate material; utilizing RF to heat said interlayer to its softening point; pressing said prelaminate material to produce a bond between said structural material and said interlayer, thus producing a bond; and cooling said interlayer
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising additional materials being added to said interlayers, such additional materials not contributing to laminate bonding.
26. The method of claim 24 further comprising said additional materials being selected from the group consisting of cloth, silk, paper, polymers, solar cells, circuits, ceramics, and light emitting diodes (LEDs)..
27. The method of claim 24 further comprising the opacity of said laminate being selected from the group consisting of transparent to visible light, translucent to visible light, and opaque to visible light.
28. The method of claim 24 further comprising the preferential heating of the interlayer being used to cure a coating on the adjoining surface of the glass/ceramic/plastic substrate, wherein the interlayer may be removed chemically or mechanically.
29. The method of claim 24 further comprising said structural material being heated preferentially.
0. The method of claim 24 further comprising a pulsing application of one or more members selected from the group consisting of RF and pressure.
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