RF Processing for Low Energy Glass, Armor and Solar Panel Lamination

MS&T 2008 Presentation

Abstract

Materials Science and Technology Conference
Pittsbug, PA
Authors: Shawn Allan, Morgana Fall, Holly Shulman
Presenter: Shawn Allan

Radio frequency lamination was developed for rapid processing of transparent ceramic armor and solar panels. The process uses an RF press, which combines RF heating and uniaxial pressure, to quickly produce laminates. The RF energy penetrates glass and ceramic substrates, and produces heat in the vinyl interlayers. Pressure was simultaneously applied. Lamination time was less than 1 minute for several variations of single and multilayer laminates (glass-vinyl-glass, or glass-vinyl-insert-vinyl-glass). As a result of fast processing, 95% less energy was consumed compared to autoclaving. Glass, ceramics, and plastics were laminated using the RF process. Functional and decorative inserts of solar cells, fabrics, and printed films were inserted into the laminates using RF lamination.