Laser engraving methods and compositions, and articles having laser engraving thereon
First Claim
1. A composition having laser engraving properties, comprising:
- a host material; and
an effective amount of a laser enhancing additive, the laser enhancing additive comprising;
a first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) or Copper Iodide (CuI); and
a second quantity of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a composition having laser engraving properties, comprising a host material and an effective amount of a laser enhancing additive. The laser enhancing additive comprises a first quantity of least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) or Copper Iodide (CuI), and a second quantity at least one substance selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester. The composition can be engraved with grayscale images by an Nd:Yag laser and can be added to laminates or coatings. The composition can be used during the manufacture of many articles of manufacture, including identification documents.
74 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A composition having laser engraving properties, comprising:
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a host material; and
an effective amount of a laser enhancing additive, the laser enhancing additive comprising;
a first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) or Copper Iodide (CuI); and
a second quantity of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An article of manufacture capable of being laser engraved with a grayscale image, comprising:
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a core layer having a first surface;
a first layer comprising a first host material, the first host material comprising an effective amount of a first laser enhancing additive comprising at least one of one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) or Copper Iodide (CuI); and
a second layer comprising a second host material, the second layer oriented in relation to the first host material such that a single laser beam can penetrate both at least a portion of the first layer and at least a portion of the second layer, the second host material comprising an effective amount of a second laser enhancing additive, the second laser enhancing additive selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester;
wherein the first and second layers are operably coupled to each other and at least one of the first and second layers is operably coupled to the first surface of the core layer. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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9. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 9, further comprising a grayscale image laser engraved into at least one of the first and second layers.
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11. A method of engraving a material by exposing the material to laser radiation, comprising:
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adding to the material an effective amount of a laser enhancing additive, the laser enhancing additive comprising;
at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) or Copper Iodide (CuI); and
at least one substance selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester; and
exposing the material to laser radiation in a manner that causes the material to be engraved by the laser radiation.
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- 12. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the effective amount of the laser enhancing additive comprises 0.001% to 100% by weight of the material.
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15. An identification document, comprising:
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a core layer;
a first layer overlaying at least a portion of the core layer and affixed to the portion of the core layer, the first layer comprising an additive that comprises;
an effective amount of least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) or Copper Iodide (CuI); and
an effective amount of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. The identification document recited in 15 above, wherein the first layer further comprises:
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a first sub layer comprising an effective amount of least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) or Copper Iodide (CuI); and
a second sub layer comprising an effective amount of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester.
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Specification