Solutia Inc.

Methods of converting polyvinyl butyral (PVB) to its raw constituents (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and butyraldehyde) via hydrolysis. The methods facilitate hydrolyzing a PVB feed composition, which may be derived from recycle content material, into its raw constituents. The regenerated PVOH, PVB with a higher residual PVOH content, and/or butyraldehyde recovered from this process may then be used to produce purified and/or regenerated PVB.

Multiple layer panels comprising a first rigid substrate, a polymer interlayer, and a second rigid substrate, a first rigid substrate, a first polymer interlayer, and a second rigid substrate, wherein the multiple layer panel has a sensor area for at least a first sensor and a second sensor, and wherein the first polymer interlayer has a solar absorbing capability having a first visible light transmission, wherein the first sensor area comprises a second polymer interlayer selected to allow a first optically transparent area in the first sensor area, wherein the first optically transparent area has a second light transmission selected to allow a first sensor to operate, and wherein the second sensor area comprises a third polymer interlayer selected to allow a second optically transparent area in the second sensor area, wherein the second optically transparent area has a third light transmission selected to allow a second sensor to operate, wherein first polymer interlayer, the second polymer interlayer and the third polymer interlayer are different are disclosed. WO

Interlayers having improved lamination processability while also having excellent sound or acoustic properties are disclosed. The interlayers have a warm shrinkage of less than about 4%, a static coefficient of friction (COF) of less than 1.50 when measured according to ASTM D1894 with an interlayer to interlayer configuration, and wherein the laminated glazing has a damping loss factor (η) of at least 0.20 when measured at 20° C. according to ISO 16940.

Processes are disclosed for separating a first layer from a remainder of a tapered multilayer interlayer sheet, in which the tapered multilayer interlayer sheet is heated, and thereafter the first layer is separated from the remainder of the tapered multilayer interlayer sheet by pulling the first layer and the remainder of the tapered multilayer interlayer sheet in different directions, in a defined orientation, without the tapered multilayer interlayer sheet wrinkling or tearing.

Multilayered interlayers having improved acoustic properties comprising a stiff skin layer(s) and a soft core layer comprising EVA are disclosed. The multilayered interlayers comprise: a first polymer layer (skin layer); a second polymer layer (skin layer); and a third polymer layer (core layer) comprising ethylene vinyl acetate resin between the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer.

A process is disclosed for recovering soft poly(vinyl butyral) from a plasticized poly(vinyl butyral) multilayer sheet comprising stiff poly(vinyl butyral) and soft poly(vinyl butyral). The multilayer sheet. which may be scrap or recycled material. is first converted to a granulate form and then treated with plasticizer. This plasticizer treatment serves to remove the soft poly(vinyl butyral) component from the granulate. but thereby provides a varnish comprising the soft poly(vinyl butyral) mixed with excess plasticizer. This varnish is however highly viscous and thus difficult to handle or mechanically process. The present disclosure provides a solution to this handling problem by the addition of soft poly(vinyl butyral) having a lower concentration of plasticizer to the varnish. until a product is obtained having a sufficiently low concentration of plasticizer to render the product capable of mechanical processing. for example pelletizing. The resulting product can then be utilized to form soft poly(vinyl butyral) sheets, thereby improving the recyclability of scrap multilayer poly(vinyl butyral) materials.

The invention provides a PVB interlayer sheet having a surface topography on at least one surface which is characterized as having a relatively low profile and a controlled, collapsible surface roughness profile (upon exposure to heat) having a population of significantly more surface peaks than negative peaks (valleys) in certain embodiments and slightly more distant peak spacing than is generally found in embossed PVB interlayers. The PVB interlayer sheets of the invention thus provide very good initial contact and tack of PVB to a glass surface, while leaving very little residual air behind after a first nip in a traditional glass lamination process when compared to other surface designs. The PVB interlayer sheets of the invention also exhibit a wide deairing window which affords greater tolerance of temperature and process variations.

Tie layers and structures that exhibit superior properties and that provide desirable optical properties when incorporated into laminates, such as windshields, windows or other glazings containing a holographic optical element (HOE) are disclosed. The tie layers, when used in a laminate in conjunction with the HOE film, optionally with additional polymer layers, maintain and do not detract from the HOE film properties.

A method of recovering poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB). The process comprises mixing a PVB feed composition with a solvent, a catalyst, and, optionally, butyraldehyde to produce an equilibrated PVB-containing composition. The PVB feed composition comprises at least two different PVB-containing compositions. An additional step includes determining a residual polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) content of the equilibrated PVB-containing composition. A further step includes adjusting the amount of butyraldehyde used in the mixing step based on the determined residual PVOH content.

Interlayers that exhibit superior properties and that provide desirable optical properties when incorporated into laminates, such as windshields, windows or other glazings containing a holographic optical element (HOE) are disclosed. The interlayers, when used in a laminate in conjunction with the HOE film, maintain and do not detract from the HOE film properties.