Laser engraving methods and compositions, and articles having laser engraving thereon
First Claim
1. A composition capable of being mixed into a predetermined polymer material to improve the laser engraving properties of the predetermined polymer material, the composition comprising:
- a first laser enhancing additive, the first laser enhancing additive comprising;
a first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) and 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; and
a host material into which the first laser enhancing additive is mixed, the host material comprising a material that is substantially the same type of material as the predetermined polymer material.
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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.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A composition capable of being mixed into a predetermined polymer material to improve the laser engraving properties of the predetermined polymer material, the composition comprising:
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a first laser enhancing additive, the first laser enhancing additive comprising;
a first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) and 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; and
a host material into which the first laser enhancing additive is mixed, the host material comprising a material that is substantially the same type of material as the predetermined polymer material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An article of manufacture capable of being laser engraved comprising:
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a base material having a first surface;
a layer applied to the first surface of the base material, the layer comprising;
a first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) and 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; and
a host material into which the first and second quantities are mixed, the host material comprising a material that is substantially the same type of material as the base material. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A composition capable of being mixed into a polymer material to improve the laser engraving properties of the polymer material, the composition comprising:
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a first quantity of a first additive, the first additive comprising at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) and Copper Iodide (CuI);
a first host material into which the first additive is mixed, the first host material comprising a material that is substantially the same type of material as the polymer material;
a second quantity of a second additive, the second additive comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester; and
a second host material into which the second additive is mixed, the second host material comprising a material that is substantially the same type of material as the polymer material. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method of improving the laser engraving properties of a polymer material, comprising:
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providing a host material comprising a material that is substantially the same as the polymer material;
preparing a mix comprising a blend of the host material and a laser enhancing additive, the laser enhancing additive comprising;
a first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) and 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;
extruding the mix into the polymer material. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A method of making an article of manufacture capable of being laser engraved, comprising:
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providing a core layer having a first surface;
applying to the core layer;
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. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. An identification document, comprising:
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a laser enhancing additive, the laser enhancing additive comprising;
a first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3) and 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; and
a polymeric layer into which the laser enhancing additive is mixed, the polymeric layer comprising at least one of polycarbonate, fused polycarbonate, whitish polycarbonate, substantially white polycarbonate, titanium dioxide filled polycarbonate, polyester, amorphous polyester, polyolefin, silicon-filled polyolefin, foamed polypropylene film, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyamide, expanded polypropylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), ABS/PC, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), PET-G, PET-F, polybutylene terephthalate PBT), acetal copolymer (POM), polyetherimide (PEI), polyacrylate, poly(4-vinylpyridine, poly(vinyl acetate), polyacrylonitrile, polymeric liquid crystal resin, polysulfone, and polyether nitride, polycaprolactone. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification