HIGH-INTENSITY, PERSISTENT PHOTOLUMINESCENT FORMULATIONS AND OBJECTS, AND METHODS FOR CREATING THE SAME

• US 20120021251A1
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Indicator, LLC
• Original Assignee: Performance Indicator, LLC
• Inventors: Agrawal, Satish, Kingsley, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,293,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/690
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/76 with means enabling use in the dark, other than powered illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/06 to obtain multicolour or other optical effects B05D5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 7/542 the two layers being cured or baked together
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 7/546 each layer being cured, at least partially, separately
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/02 Use of particular materials as binders, particle coatings or suspension media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/06 containing organic luminescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1007 Non-condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1088 containing oxygen as the only heteroatom
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31663 As siloxane, silicone or silane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31935 Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer

Abstract

Disclosed are photoluminescent formulations, comprising an effective amount of photoluminescent phosphorescent materials, which exhibit high luminous intensity and persistence. Also disclosed are photoluminescent objects formed by applying at least one photoluminescent layer, formed from photoluminescent formulations, to preformed articles. Further disclosed are methods for creating photoluminescent objects.

Claims

1. A photoluminescent object comprising:

a preformed article; and

at least one photoluminescent layer that results from a formulation that comprises an effective amount of at least one phosphorescent material;

a liquid carrier medium;

a polymeric resin;

a formulation stabilizing additive comprising a rheology modifier;

the formulation also comprising an effective amount of at least one fluorescent material;

wherein the phosphorescent material is substantially uniformly distributed within the formulation;

an emission spectrum of the photoluminescent formulation prior to the addition of the fluorescent material constituting a primary emission;

the primary emission resulting in a perceived daytime color and a perceived nighttime color.

2. The photoluminescent object of claim 1, wherein at least some of the fluorescent material is primary emission altering material that alters at least one of perceived daytime color and perceived nighttime color of said photoluminescent object and wherein, spectral absorption of at least some of the fluorescent material overlaps spectral emission of at least some of the phosphorescent material, the spectral absorption of at least some of the fluorescent material being lower in a spectral region where the phosphorescent material charges.

3. The photoluminescent object of claim 1, further comprising:

a reflective layer resulting from a reflective formulation disposed beneath the photoluminescent layer, the reflective layer exhibiting a reflectance such that emission from the object is greater than 80% relative to that of a white reflectance layer.

4. The photoluminescent object of claim 3, wherein at least some of the fluorescent material in the layer is a primary emission altering fluorescent material that alters at least one of perceived daytime color and nighttime color of the photoluminescent object;

wherein spectral absorption of at least some of the fluorescent material overlaps spectral emission of at least some of the phosphorescent material, the spectral absorption of said at least some of the fluorescent material being lower in a spectral region where the phosphorescent material charges.

5. The photoluminescent object of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent material is in solution in the liquid carrier medium.

6. The photoluminescent object of claim 1, wherein at least some of the fluorescent material in the photoluminescent layer is excitation-altering material that increases a luminous intensity of the formulation;

an emission spectrum of at least some of the fluorescent material at least partially overlapping an absorption spectrum of at least some of the phosphorescent material.

7. The photoluminescent object of claim 6, wherein at least some other of the fluorescent material in the layer is a primary emission altering material that alters at least one of perceived daytime color and perceived nighttime color of the object and wherein spectral absorption of at least some other of the fluorescent material overlaps spectral emission of at least some of the phosphorescent material, the spectral absorption of the fluorescent material being lower in a spectral region where the phosphorescent material charges.

8. The photoluminescent object of claim 6, further comprising:

at least one reflective layer that results from a reflective formulation disposed beneath the photoluminescent layer, wherein the reflective layer exhibits a reflectance such that the total emission from the object is greater than 80% relative to that of a white reflectance layer.

9. The photoluminescent object of claim 1, wherein the phosphorescent material is selected from a group comprising of alkaline-earth aluminates, alkaline-earth silicates and alkaline-earth aluminosilicates.

10. The photoluminescent object of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent material is provided in solution in the liquid carrier medium.

11. The photoluminescent object of claim 1 wherein the phosphorescent material comprises a metal sulfide.