Method for curing and peeling a thermosetting polymer on a coated glass substrate.

Abstract

A method for curing a thermosetting polymer on a glass substrate is disclosed. A light-absorbing layer is deposited on the glass substrate, and a thermosetting polymer precursor is then deposited on the light-absorbing layer in liquid form. After preheating the thermosetting polymer precursor, it is then exposed to light pulses from a flash lamp while simultaneously cooling the thermosetting polymer precursor to maintain its average temperature below its maximum operating temperature. After exposure to the light pulses, gaseous byproducts are allowed to dissipate from the thermosetting polymer precursor. The light pulse exposure step and the byproduct dissipation step are repeated multiple times until a thermosetting polymer thin film is formed. Thereafter, the thermosetting polymer film is peeled off from the light-absorbing layer.

Claims

1. A method for curing a thermosetting polymer on a glass substrate, wherein the method is A step of depositing a light-absorbing layer on a glass substrate, The steps include depositing a thermosetting polymer precursor on the light-absorbing layer in liquid form, The steps include preheating the thermosetting polymer precursor, The steps include exposing the thermosetting polymer precursor to light pulses from a flash lamp while simultaneously cooling the thermosetting polymer precursor in order to maintain its average temperature below its maximum operating temperature, The following steps are taken after the exposure step, to release any gaseous by-products from the thermosetting polymer precursor: The steps of exposure and radiation are repeated until a thermosetting polymer thin film is formed. Methods that include...

2. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of removing a fluid from the thermosetting polymer precursor.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the removal step is performed by an oven.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the removal step is performed by a flash lamp.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of filtering light pulses from the flash lamp so as to remove light in a frequency band absorbed by the thermosetting polymer precursor.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thermosetting polymer precursor is a polyamic acid.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thermosetting polymer precursor is epoxy.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cooling is performed by a temperature-controlled heat sink.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cooling is performed by an air knife.

10. The above method includes the step of turning the glass substrate over, To peel the thermosetting polymer film from the light-absorbing layer, the glass substrate is exposed to a series of light pulses separate from the flash lamp. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light-absorbing layer is a metal.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light-absorbing layer is ceramic.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light-absorbing layer is a semiconductor.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light-absorbing layer is carbon.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light-absorbing layer has a thickness of less than 300 nm.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal expansion coefficient of the light-absorbing layer is within 50% of the thermal expansion coefficient of the glass substrate.

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