Color stable pigmented polymeric films

• US 6,811,867 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Brott, Robert L., McGurran, Daniel J., Olson, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Vivian
• Application Number:
  US09/633,911
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 428/323, 428/328, 428/329, 428/330, 428/480, 428/141, 428/910, 428/331, 359/885
• US Class Current: 428/323
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/108 Carbon, e.g. graphite particles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/4026 within the layer by addition of a colorant, e.g. pigments, dyes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/20 using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/18 Manufacture of films or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 9/10 Encapsulated ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/223 containing organic substances, e.g. dyes, inks or pigments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/91 Product with molecular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 Thickness [relative or absolute]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24967 Absolute thicknesses specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/256 Heavy metal or aluminum or compound thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/257 Iron oxide or aluminum oxide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/258 Alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or compound thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/259 Silicic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/263 Coating layer not in excess of 5 mils thick or equivalent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/266 of base or substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/269 : including synthetic resin or polymer layer or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 : Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]

Abstract

Color-stable, pigmented optical bodies comprising a single or multiple layer core having at least one layer of a thermoplastic polymer material. The thermoplastic polymer material has dispersed within it a particulate pigment. The optical bodies generally possess high clarity and low haze and exhibit a transmission of light within a wavelength band of interest within the visible spectrum of from about 10 to about 90 percent.

Claims

1. An optical body, comprising:

a single or multiple layer core comprising at least one layer of an oriented thermoplastic polymer material; and

a particulate pigment dispersed in the at least one layer;

wherein the particulate pigment is present in an amount sufficient to provide the optical body with;

(a) a transmission of light within a wavelength band of interest within the visible spectrum of from about 10 to about 80 percent, and (b) an internal haze of less than or equal to about five percent; and

wherein the optical body is a tinted film suitable for application to a base substrate.

2. The optical body of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional layer that is substantially free of particulate pigmentation.

3. The optical body of claim 2 wherein said additional layer is a transparent coating, laminate or film.

4. The optical body of claim 2 wherein said additional layer comprises an oriented film.

5. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said optical body exhibits less than about three percent internal haze.

6. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said optical body exhibits less than about two percent internal haze.

7. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said optical body has a total haze of less than about ten percent.

8. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said optical body has a surface roughness, Ra, of less than or equal to about 60 nm.

9. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said particulate pigment comprises carbon black.

10. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said particulate pigment comprises a material selected from the group consisting of oxides, salts and compounds of iron, titanium, antimony, zirconium, zinc, barium, calcium, cadmium, lead, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, silicon, aluminum, sodium, cobalt, copper, iron oxides, ammonium ferrocyanides, titanium dioxides, antimony oxides, zirconium oxides, zirconium silicates, zinc oxides, zinc sulfides, barium sulfates, calcium carbonates, calcium sulfates, cadmium sulfides, cadmium selenides, lead sulfates, chromium oxides, chromates, molybdates, manganates, silica, silicates, aluminosilicates, sodium alumino sulphosilicates, simple and complex inorganic compounds and inorganic complexes, phthalocyanines, copper phthalocyanines, quinacridones, anthraquinones, perylenes, perinones, dioxazines, diketo-pyrrolo-pyrrols (DPPs), indanthrones, benzidines, isoindolines and isoindolinones, benzimidazolones, azo, disazo, or polyazo pigments, and blends or mixtures thereof.

11. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer material has dispersed within it two or more particulate pigments.

12. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer material has dispersed within it carbon black and at least one blue pigment or dye.

13. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer material comprises a condensation polymer.

14. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer material comprises a polyester.

15. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer material comprises a polyester comprising terephthalate monomer units.

16. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer material comprises a polyester comprising naphthalate monomer units.

17. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer material comprises a polyester selected from the group consisting of polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonates, polyarylates, polybutylene naphthalate, polypropylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, and blends and copolymers of any of the above with each other or with other polymers.

18. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said single or multiple layer core comprises a multilayer optical film.

19. The optical body of claim 1 wherein said additional layer comprises a multilayer optical film.

20. An article comprising the pigmented optical body of claim 1.

21. An infrared mirror comprising the pigmented optical body of claim 1.

22. A window glazing film comprising the pigmented optical body of claim 1.

23. A puncture resistant film comprising the pigmented optical body of claim 1.

24. A solar control film comprising the pigmented optical body of claim 1.

25. A security film comprising the pigmented optical body of claim 1.

26. A contrast enhancement film comprising the pigmented optical body of claim 1.

27. A display device comprising the optical body of claim 1.

28. A traffic sign comprising the optical body of claim 1.

29. The optical body of claim 1, wherein the particulate pigment is dispersed within the polymer material at a concentration between 0.01 and about 1.0 percent by weight, and wherein the particulate pigment has a mean diameter of between about 10 nm and 500 nm.