Retroreflective sheeting including a solvent-based topcoat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016370514-A1
Application number	US-201414901969-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2013
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to retroreflective sheeting including a topcoat and to methods of making such sheeting. In some embodiments, the retroreflective sheeting includes (1) a first major surface that is a structured surface having a structure imparted by a plurality of prismatic cube corner elements; (2) a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the second major surface being substantially planar and including a polycarbonate; and (3) a topcoat adjacent to at least a portion of the second major surface and the topcoat including a solvent-based composition.

First claim

1 - 42 . (canceled)

43 . Retroreflective sheeting, comprising:
a first major surface that is a structured surface having a structure imparted by a plurality of prismatic cube corner elements; a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the second major surface being substantially planar and including a polycarbonate; and a topcoat adjacent to at least a portion of the second major surface, wherein the topcoat is a solvent-based composition; wherein the topcoat includes between 3% by weight and about 10% by weight of a UV absorber.

44 . The retroreflective sheeting of claim 43 , wherein the topcoat has a thickness of less than 0.5 mil when dry.

45 . The retroreflective sheeting of claim 43 , wherein the plurality of prismatic cube corner elements include at least one of truncated cube corner elements, full cube corner elements, or preferred geometry cube corner elements.

46 . The retroreflective sheeting of claim 43 , wherein the second major surface is part of at least one of (1) a land layer or (2) a body layer.

47 . The retroreflective sheeting of claim 43 , wherein the plurality of prismatic cube corner elements includes a thermoplastic polymer.

48 . The retroreflective sheeting of claim 43 , wherein the topcoat includes multiple layers and the layers are the same as one another.

49 . The retroreflective sheeting of claim 43 , wherein the topcoat includes multiple layers and the layers differ from one another.

50 . The retroreflective sheeting of claim 43 , wherein the topcoat includes at least one of methyl methacrylate resin, acrylic resin, alkyd resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, polyvinyl butyral, cellulose acetatebutyrate, or vinyl chloride copolymer.

51 . The retroreflective sheeting of any of the preceding claims, further comprising:
a seal film.

52 . The retroreflective sheeting of any of the preceding claims, wherein the amount of one or more of crazing or haze reduces retroreflective brightness by less than 90%.

53 . The retroreflective sheeting of any of the preceding claims, further including a specular reflective coating.

54 . A method of making retroreflective sheeting, comprising:
providing a sheeting having (1) a first major surface that is a structured surface having a structure imparted by a plurality of prismatic cube corner elements; and (2) a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the second major surface being substantially planar and including a polycarbonate; and placing a topcoat composition adjacent to at least a portion of the second major surface, wherein the topcoat is solvent-based.

55 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the topcoat is less than 0.5 mil thick (when dry).

56 . The method of any of claim 54 , further comprising:
removing a solvent from the topcoat composition.

57 . The method of claim 54 , further comprising:
removing substantially all of the solvent from the topcoat composition within 15 seconds of placing the topcoat composition adjacent to the second major surface.

58 . The method of any of claim 54 , wherein the topcoat includes multiple layers and the layers are the same as one another.

59 . The method of any of claim 54 , wherein the topcoat includes multiple layers and the layers differ from one another.

60 . The method of any of claim 54 , wherein the topcoat includes at least one of methyl methacrylate resin, acrylic resin, alkyd resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, polyvinyl butyral, cellulose acetatebutyrate, or vinyl chloride copolymer.

61 . The method of any of claim 54 , further comprising:
placing a seal film adjacent to the structured surface.

62 . The method of any of claim 54 , wherein the topcoat includes at least one of vinyl or acrylic.

63 . The retroreflective sheeting of claim 54 , wherein the retroreflective sheeting further includes a specular reflective coating.

64 . The method of any of claim 54 , wherein the topcoat includes at least 10% by weight UV absorber.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Pavelka Lee A
• Meitz David W
• Richie Joseph A
• Kusilek Thomas V
• Leverty Mark W

Classifications

• B05D5/063

  Reflective effect (B05D5/067 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05D3/007

  After-treatment · CPC title

• G02B5/208

  for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation · CPC title

• G02B1/04

  made of organic materials, e.g. plastics (G02B1/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C23C16/06

  characterised by the deposition of metallic material · CPC title