Solar Control PVB Interlayer and Its Automotive Application

Terry Yoshioka

Solar control of automotive glazing has become a global trend because of the need to increase passenger comfort and lower fuel consumption due to the air conditioner (A/C). This could enable that smaller eco-cars can have installed smaller and lighter A/C units. Current technology provides metalcoated glass and a heat reflective PET film laminated with a PVB interlayer. However, with these technologies, a big investment is required and material handling in the glass laminating process is not easy. Therefore, manufacturing solar control glass system is costly with relatively low yield. New PVB interlayer film with an IR cutoff function can solve these problems. This special grade PVB interlayer effectively reduces incoming heat through laminated windows with some special features such as electromagnetic transparency. Since its introduction to the automotive market last year, some car manufactures have adopted this technology to achieve higher passenger comfort and fuel efficiency to their vehicles. And other OEMs are on the way to listing solar control windows on their vehicle catalogues. In this paper, functions of solar control PVB and its application to automobiles are described.

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The Authors

Mr. Tadahiko (Terry) Yoshioka Head, Technology & Development Center Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Engaged in PVB business for over total of 13 years. BS in Chemical Engineering in Osaka University in Japan, Technical Service Manager in North America (US based) for 5 years and now Head of Technolog... Read more