Polymerizable oligomeric urethane compositions comprising nanoparticles

• US 7,427,438 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Goenner, Emily S., Jones, Clinton L., Kolb, Brant U., Olson, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, SHEAN CHIU
• Application Number:
  US11/950,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20080075925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 428/1.1, 428/1.3, 428/1.52, 428/1.55, 428/167, 428/331, 428/424.2, 428/425.2, 428/423.1, 428/500, 428/913, 977/778, 977/932
• US Class Current: 428/331
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/42 Polycondensates having carboxylic or carbonic ester groups in the main chain
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/672 Esters of acrylic or alkyl acrylic acid having only one group containing active hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/22 of metals
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 9/06 with silicon-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/16 having terminal carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• 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 2323/053 Organic silicon compound, e.g. organosilicon
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/059 Unsaturated aliphatic polymer, e.g. vinyl
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2207/101 Nanooptics
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/124 plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/778 within specified host or matrix material, e.g. nanocomposite films
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/932 for electronic or optoelectronic application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/259 Silicic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 : Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31573 : Next to addition polymer of ethylenically unsaturated monomer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31598 : Next to silicon-containing [silicone, cement, etc.] layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 : Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

Presently described are microstructured articles such as a brightness enhancing film or optical turning film. The microstructured articles comprise a brightness enhancing polymerized structure comprising the reaction product of a composition comprising an organic component having at least one oligomeric urethane (meth)acrylate and surface modified silica nanoparticles.

Claims

1. A microstructured article comprising a polymerized structure comprising the reaction product of a composition comprising an organic component having at least one aliphatic oligomeric urethane (meth)acrylate and surface modified silica nanoparticles having a primary particle size greater than 1 nm and less than 100 nm.

2. The microstructured article according to claim 1 wherein the silica nanoparticles have a primary particle size is from 5 to 75 nm.

3. The microstructured article according to claim 1 wherein the silica nanoparticles have a primary particle size ranging from 10 to 30 nm.

4. The microstructured article according to claim 1 wherein the silica comprises 10 to 60 wt-% of the polymerized structure.

5. The microstructured article according to claim 1 wherein the silica comprises 10 to 40 wt-% of the polymerized structure.

6. The microstructured article according to claim 1 wherein the composition further comprise nanoparticles selected from zirconia, titania, antimony oxides, alumina, tin oxides, mixed metal oxides thereof, or mixtures thereof.

7. The microstructured article according to claim 1 wherein the surface modified nanoparticles are polymerizable with the organic component.

8. The microstructured article according to claim 1 wherein the composition comprises a photoinitiator.

9. The microstructured article of claim 1 wherein the article is retroreflective sheeting.

10. The microstructured article of claim 1 wherein the article is a flexible mold suitable for making baffler ribs for a plasma display panel.

11. The microstructured article of claim 1 wherein the article is an optical film comprising a microstructured optical layer in contact with a base layer.

12. The microstructured article of claim 11 wherein the article microstructured optical layer comprises a plurality of ridges having apexes.

13. The microstructured article of claim 12 wherein the apexes are rounded having a radius ranging from 4 to 15 micrometers.

14. The microstructured article of claim 13 wherein the article is a turning film.

15. A device comprising:

(a) a lighting device having a light-emitting surface; and

(b) the microstructured film of claim 11 placed substantially parallel to said light-emitting surface.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein the lighting device is a back-lit display device or a liquid crystal display device.

17. The device according to claim 15 wherein the device is selected from a handheld device, a computer display and a television.

18. The microstructure article of claim 8 wherein the composition is polymerized by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.