Reflective silvered polyimide films via in situ thermal reduction silver (I) complexes

US6019926A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration · US

Inventors

• Robin E. Southward · Stanwood, US
• David W. Thompson · New Albany, US
• Anne K. St. Clair · Poquoson, US
• Diane M. Stoakley · Yorktown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 20, 1998
• Grant date: Feb 1, 2000
• Expiry date: Feb 20, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/24909
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Self-metallizing, flexible polyimide films with highly reflective surfaces are prepared by an in situ self-metallization procedure involving thermally initiated reduction of polymer-soluble silver(I) complexes. Polyamic acid solutions are doped with silver(I) acetate and solubilizing agents. Thermally curing the silver(I)-doped resins leads to flexible, metallized films which have reflectivities as high as 100%, abrasion-resistant surfaces, thermal stability and, in some cases, electrical conductivity, rendering them useful for space applications.