Multi-layer articles capable of forming color images and methods of forming color images

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8975012-B2
Application number	US-201113805928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2011
Priority date	Jun 30, 2010
Publication date	Mar 10, 2015
Grant date	Mar 10, 2015

Abstract

Multi-layer articles are described that are capable of forming color images. The articles include at least six layers, four thermally activatable layers (layers 1-4) and two blocking layers (layer 5 and 6). The layers are arranged such that layer 5 is disposed between layers 1 and 2 and layer 6 is disposed between layers 3 and 4. Thermally activatable layers 1 and 2 are activatable upon exposure to light of a first write wavelength, and blocking layer 5 is adapted to at least partially block light of the first write wavelength. Thermally activatable layers 3 and 4 are activatable upon exposure to light of a second write wavelength, and blocking layer 6 is adapted to at least partially block light of the second write wavelength. At least one, and possibly all of the thermally activatable layers include a light to heat convertor composition and a color changing compound. Some of the thermally activatable layers may be a group of layers arranged to selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference to provide a first reflective characteristic, the group of layers also having a first absorption characteristic suitable to, upon exposure to light comprising a write wavelength, absorptively heat the first group of layers by an amount sufficient to change the first reflective characteristic to a second reflective characteristic while maintaining the structural integrity of the group of layers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-layer article comprising:
a first, interior, thermally activatable layer, wherein the first thermally activatable layer comprises a first light to heat convertor composition and a first color changing compound, and wherein the light to heat convertor composition absorbs light of a first write wavelength and the first activatable layer has a first absorption threshold for activation;
a second, interior, thermally activatable layer, wherein the secon…

Assignees

• Dunn Douglas S
• Merrill William Ward
• Markowicz Przemyslaw P
• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Dunn Douglas S
• Merrill William Ward
• Markowicz Przemyslaw P

Classifications

• B32B27/18

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B41M5/46

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B32B2307/30

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B32B27/36

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B32B27/08

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic