HIGH REFRACTIVE INDEX INORGANIC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES COMPRISING SURFACE TREATMENT, POLYMERIZABLE RESIN, AND ARTICLES

• US 20110227008A1
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Naismith, Nathan K., McKenzie, Taun L., Jones, Clinton L., Kolb, Brant U., Olson, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/585
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/64 Nanometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 nanometer
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/11 of acyclic polycarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/00 Treatment of specific inorganic materials other than fibrous fillers tenebrescent materials C09K9/00; luminescent materials C09K11/00; Preparation of carbon black
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/3676 Treatment with macro-molecular organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 3/10 Treatment with macromolecular organic compounds C09C3/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/00 Functional layers of liquid crystal optical display excluding electroactive liquid crystal layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/03 Viewing layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/051 Inorganic, e.g. glass or silicon oxide
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/057 Ester polymer, e.g. polycarbonate, polyacrylate or polyester
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/059 Unsaturated aliphatic polymer, e.g. vinyl
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/04 made of organic materials, e.g. plastics G02B1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/08 made of polarising materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24405 Polymer or resin [e.g., natural or synthetic rubber, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24413 Metal or metal compound
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

Microstructured films comprising surface modified inorganic oxide particles, surface modified inorganic nanoparticles having a high refractive index, and polymerizable resins are described.

Claims

1. A microstructured film having a microstructured surface, wherein the microstructures comprise the reaction product of a polymerizable resin composition comprising an organic component and at least 10 wt-% of inorganic nanoparticles surface modified with a surface treatment comprising a compound comprising a carboxylic acid end group and a C₃-C₈ ester repeat unit or at least one C₆-C₁₆ ester unit.

2. The microstructured film of claim 1 wherein the compound has the general formula:

3. The microstructured film of claim 2 wherein L2 is a C₆-C₈ alkyl group.

4. The microstructured film of claim 2 wherein n averages 1.5 to 2.5.

5. The microstructured film of claim 2 wherein Z comprises a C₂-C₈ alkyl group.

6. The microstructured film of claim 2 wherein Z comprises a (meth)acrylate end group.

7. The microstructured film of claim 1 wherein the surface treatment comprises the reaction product of

i) at least one aliphatic anhydride, and

ii) at least one hydroxy polycaprolactone (meth)acrylate.

8. The microstructured film of claim 1 wherein the surface treatment further comprises a second compound comprising a (meth)acrylate end group.

9. The microstructured film of claim 8 wherein the second compound is prepared by the reaction of an aliphatic anhydride and a hydroxyl C₂-C₈ alkyl(meth)acrylate.

12. The microstructured film of claim 1 wherein the film has a mandrel size to failure of less than 6 mm.

13. The microstructured film of claim 1 wherein the polymerizable resin composition has a refractive index of at least 1.61.

14. The microstructured film of claim 1 wherein the polymerizable resin composition has a refractive index of at least 1.650.

15. The microstructured film of claim 1 wherein the organic component comprises at least one biphenyl monomer.

16. The microstructured film of claim 15 wherein the organic component further comprises at least one difunctional ethylenically unsaturated aromatic monomer.

17. The microstructured film of claim 15 wherein the organic component further comprises one or more monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomers having a refractive index lower than the biphenyl monomer.

18. The microstructured film of claim 1 wherein the amount of inorganic nanoparticles ranges from 40 wt-% to 60 wt-%.

21. The microstructured film of claim 18 wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise zirconia.

22. The microstructured film of claim 1 wherein the film is a brightness enhancing film.

23. The microstructured film of claim 1 wherein the film is a polarizing film.

10-11. -11. (canceled)

19-20. -20. (canceled)

24. Inorganic nanoparticles having a refractive index of at least 1.60 wherein the nanoparticles are surface modified with a surface treatment comprising a compound comprising a carboxylic acid end group and a C₃-C₈ ester repeat unit or at least one C₆-C₁₆ ester unit.

25-37. -37. (canceled)