Abrasion-resistant optical element

• US 4,079,160 A
• Filed: 02/07/1977
• Issued: 03/14/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph Philipson
• Original Assignee: Joseph Philipson
• Inventors: Philipson, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Herbert, Jr., Thomas J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Varndell, Jr., R. Eugene
• Application Number:
  US05/765,941
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 2/434, 2/435, 350/321, 351/41, 351/44, 351/159, 351/166, 428/68, 428/76, 428/412, 428/413, 428/425, 428/446, 428/447, 428/480, 428/483, 428/501, 428/515, 428/522, 428/523, 428/516
• US Class Current: 428/217
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00865 Applying coatings; tinting; colouring printing, marking or copying processes B41M; identification in general G09F3/00; producing decorative effects in general B44C; positioning or marking of lenses B24B13/0055
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/0427 with only one layer of a composition containing a polymer binder with more layers C08J7/042
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/046 Forming abrasion-resistant coatings; Forming surface-hardening coatings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/912 Puncture healing layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24983 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 Of polycarbonate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31511 Of epoxy ether
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31565 Next to polyester [polyethylene terephthalate, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31573 Next to addition polymer of ethylenically unsaturated monomer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31587 Hydrocarbon polymer [polyethylene, polybutadiene, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31591 Next to cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31601 Quartz or glass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31663 As siloxane, silicone or silane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31859 Next to an aldehyde or ketone condensation product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31909 Next to second addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31913 Monoolefin polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31938 Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon

Abstract

A coated abrasion-resistant optical element, such as an eyeglass lens, formed of a typical rigid polymeric substrate of relatively low scratch resistance coated on at least one surface with a relatively soft, resilient, and tough transparent polymeric material. The essential characteristics of the coating material resulting in an abrasion-resistant protective film for the optical element are disclosed.

Claims

1. An abrasion-resistant optical element comprising a transparent and relatively rigid polymeric substrate having a pair of smooth optical surfaces;

and a transparent coating of a relatively soft polymeric material bonded to at least one of said surfaces;

said optical element having a light transmission value of at least 70 percent when tested in accordance with ASTM Standard D1003 and having a haze value no greater than 5 percent when tested in accordance with ASTM Standard D1003;

said polymeric coating material having a durometer value within the range of 10 Shore A to 95 Shore D and a flexural modulus less than 0.2 ×

10⁵ psi as measured by ASTM Standard D790;

said coating, when tested in accordance with ASTM Standards D673 and D1003 at a thickness of about 1/2 mil on a flat transparent test sample of poly(diethylene glycol bis allyl carbonate) and subjected to 2 kilograms of abrasive grit, producing a loss of light transmission no greater than 2.3 percent and an increase in haze no greater than 8.1 percent.

2. The optical element of claim 1 in which said relatively rigid polymeric substrate has a durometer value above substantially 95 Shore D and a flexural modulus of no less than 0.2 ×

10⁵ psi as measured by ASTM Standard D790.

3. The optical element of claim 2 in which said substrate is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyacrylics, cellulose acetate, polystyrene, polysulfones, cellulose acetate butyrate, polyester, poly(4-methyl pentene-1), and selected polymers and copolymers thereof.

4. The optical element of claim 1 in which said coating has a thickness within the range of 0.1 to 20.0 mils.

5. The optical element of claim 4 in which said coating has a thickness within the range of 0.2 to 5 mils.

6. The optical element of claim 5 in which said coating has a thickness of about 1 mil.

7. The optical element of claim 1 in which said coating material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polybutadiene, silicone, polysulfide, epoxy, polyacrylic, and selected copolymers thereof.

8. The optical element of claim 7 in which said coating material is a polyurethane reaction product of an aliphatic diisocyanate and aliphatic polyols.

9. The optical element of claim 8 in which said diisocyanate is a cycloaliphatic diisocyanate.

10. The optical element of claim 9 in which said polyols comprises a mixture of diol and polyol with more than two hydroxyl groups.

11. An abrasion-resistant optical element comprising a transparent and relatively rigid polymeric substrate having a pair of smooth optical surfaces;

and a transparent coating of relatively soft polymeric material bonded to at least one of said surfaces;

said optical element having a light transmission value of at least 70 percent when tested in accordance with ASTM Standard D1003 and having a haze value no greater than 5 percent when tested in accordance with ASTM Standard D1003;

said polymeric coating material having a durometer value within the range 10 Shore A to 95 Shore D and a flexural modulus of less than 0.2 ×

10⁵ psi as measured by ASTM Standard D790;

said coating, when tested in accordance with ASTM Standard D673 at a thickness of about 1/2 mil on a flat transparent test sample of poly(diethylene glycol bis allyl carbonate) and subjected to 2 kilograms of abrasive grit, producing a loss of light transmission no greater than 2.3 percent and an increase in haze no greater than 8.1 percent;

said coating, when further tested in accordance with ASTM F32 at a thickness of about 1/2 mil on a flat transparent test sample of poly(diethylene glycol bis allyl carbonate), producing no permanent score visible to the naked eye following engagement by a moving stylus at a loading of up to 20 grams.

12. The optical element of claim 11 in which said relatively rigid polymeric substrate has a durometer value above substantially 95 Shore D and a flexural modulus no less than 0.2 ×

10⁵ psi as measured by ASTM Standard D790.

13. The optical element of claim 12 in which said substrate is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyacrylics, cellulose acetate, polystyrene, polysulfones, cellulose acetate butyrate, polyester, poly(4-methyl pentene-1), and selected copolymers thereof.

14. The optical element of claim 11 in which said coating has a thickness within the range of 0.1 to 20.0 mils.

15. The optical element of claim 14 in which said coating has a thickness within the range of 0.2 to 5 mils.

16. The optical element of claim 15 in which said coating has a thickness of about 1 mil.

17. The optical element of claim 11 in which said coating material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polybutadiene, silicone, polysulfide, epoxy, polyacrylic, and selected copolymers thereof.

18. The optical element of claim 17 in which said coating material is a polyurethane reaction product of an aliphatic diisocyanate and aliphatic polyols.

19. The optical element of claim 18 in which said diisocyanate is a cycloaliphatic diisocyanate.

20. The optical element of claim 19 in which said polyols comprises a mixture of diol and polyol having more than two hydroxyl groups.