Laser marking of phosphorescent plastic articles
First Claim
1. A molded, extruded or formed phosphorescent plastic article having a laser marked indicia thereon and having a composition that comprises:
- (i) about 50% to about 99% by weight of a thermoplastic or a thermosetting resin;
(ii) about 1% to about 50% by weight of a phosphorescent phosphor pigment;
(iii) about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of a laser energy absorbing additive; and
(iv) optionally zero to about 10% by weight of a lubricating agent, zero to about 2% by weight of a whitening pigment and zero to about 20% by weight of an inert filler.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides molded, extruded or formed phosphorescent plastic articles having laser marked indicia and methods for preparing the articles. The indicia may be seen as a contrast against a phosphorescent background or, alternatively, the indicia may themselves be phosphorescent. An article of the invention has a composition comprising about 50% to about 99% by weight of a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, about 1% to about 50% by weight of a phosphorescent phosphor pigment and about 0.001% to about 1% by weight of a laser energy absorbing additive. Resin compositions which themselves are laser energy absorbing do not require the additive; however, the addition of small quantities of the laser energy additive enhances the quality and contrast of the laser mark. The composition may further comprise small quantities of one or more of a whitening pigment, a lubricating agent, or an inert filler without interfering with the phosphorescence of the article and/or the quality and contrast of the laser mark.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A molded, extruded or formed phosphorescent plastic article having a laser marked indicia thereon and having a composition that comprises:
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(i) about 50% to about 99% by weight of a thermoplastic or a thermosetting resin; (ii) about 1% to about 50% by weight of a phosphorescent phosphor pigment; (iii) about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of a laser energy absorbing additive; and (iv) optionally zero to about 10% by weight of a lubricating agent, zero to about 2% by weight of a whitening pigment and zero to about 20% by weight of an inert filler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A molded, extruded or formed phosphorescent plastic article having both light and dark laser indicia laser marked thereon, the article having a composition that comprises (i) about 50% to about 99% by weight of a thermoplastic resin that foams when heated, (ii) about 1% to about 50% by weight of a phosphorescent phosphor pigment resin, (iii) about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of a laser energy absorbing additive, and (iv) optionally zero to about 10% by weight of a lubricating agent, zero to about 2% by weight of a whitening pigment and zero to about 20% by weight of an inert filler.
Specification