Polymerizable compositions comprising nanoparticles

• US 7,547,476 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• 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., Brady, John T., Olson, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, SHEAN CHIU
• Application Number:
  US11/871,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 428/411.1, 428/500, 428/688, 428/913, 977/773, 977/778, 977/840, 977/932, 977/939, 522/179, 524/409, 524/413, 524/430, 524/437, 524/497, 524/558, 524/559, 526/318.43, 526/321
• US Class Current: 428/500
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2/44 Polymerisation in the presence of compounding ingredients, e.g. plasticisers, dyestuffs, fillers
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 222/1025 of aromatic dialcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 222/103 of trialcohols, e.g. trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate
• 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 2323/031 Polarizer or dye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• 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 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/773 Nanoparticle, i.e. structure having three dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/778 within specified host or matrix material, e.g. nanocomposite films
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/84 Manufacture, treatment, or detection of nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/932 for electronic or optoelectronic application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/939 Electron emitter, e.g. spindt emitter tip coated with nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24372 : Particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 : Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 : Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

Polymerizable compositions comprising nanopartilces particularly useful for brightness enhancing films.

Claims

1. A brightness enhancing film having a microstructured optical layer comprising the reaction product of a polymerizable resin composition comprising:

a) one or more first monomers selected from the group consisting of;

i) a monomer comprising a major portion having the structure

2. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the amount of inorganic particles is 30 wt-% to 60 wt-%.

3. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise zirconia, titania, antimony oxides, alumina, tin oxides, mixed metal oxides thereof, or mixtures thereof.

4. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the primary particle ranges in size from 5 nm to 75 nm.

5. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise zirconia.

6. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise zirconia nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles.

7. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprises a surface treatment agent selected from the group consisting of alcohols, amines, carboxylic acid, sulfonic acids, phosphonic acids, silanes, titanates, and mixtures thereof.

8. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise silica nanoparticles comprising a silane surface treatment.

9. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise zirconia nanoparticles having a carboxylic acid surface treatment.

10. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of hexanediol diacrylate, pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate, ditrimethylolpropane tetra(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol penta(meth)acrylate, hexanediol diacrylate, and mixtures thereof.

11. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the reactive diluent is a mono functional ethylenically unsaturated diluent.

12. The brightness enhancing film of claim 11 wherein the diluent is a liquid at room temperature.

13. The brightness enhancing film of claim 11 wherein the diluent is non-halogenated.

14. The brightness enhancing film of claim 11 wherein the diluent has a refractive index of greater than 1.50.

15. The brightness enhancing film of claim 11 wherein the diluent has a refractive index of greater than 1.55.

16. The brightness enhancing film of claim 11 wherein the diluent comprises phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, 2-phenylphenoxy ethyl acrylate, 4-phenylphenoxy ethyl acrylate

17. The brightness enhancing film of claim 11 wherein the diluent is present in an amount up to about 35 wt-% of the polymerizable resin composition.

18. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the film further comprises a base layer comprising polyester optically coupled to the microstructured optical layer.

19. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the film further comprises a base layer comprising polycarbonate optically coupled to the polymerized structure.

20. The brightness enhancing film of claim 19 wherein the polymerizable resin composition comprises a reactive diluent comprising N-substituted or N,N-disubstituted (meth)acrylamides, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, and N-vinyl caprolactam.

21. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the polymerizable resin composition comprises at least 15 wt-% of the first monomer.

27. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 wherein the optical layer comprises a linear array of regular right prisms having apexes that are sharp, rounded, flattened, or truncated.

30. The brightness enhancing film of claim 1 further comprising a diffuser is contact with the brightness enhancing film.

22. A substantially solvent free polymerizable resin composition comprising

a) at least about 15 wt-% of one or more first monomers selected from the group consisting of:

i) a monomer comprising a major portion having the structure

25. The polymerizable resin composition of claim 22 wherein the reactive diluent is non-halogenated.

23. A brightness enhancing film comprising:

a brightness enhancing microstructured optical layer comprising the reaction product of a substantially solvent free polymerizable composition comprising an organic component comprising at least one monofunctional and at least one difunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomers wherein the organic component has a viscosity of less than 1000 cps at 180°

F.; and

at least 10 wt-% of surface modified inorganic nanoparticles.

28. The brightness enhancing film of claim 23 wherein the optical layer comprises a linear array of regular right prisms having apexes that are sharp, rounded, flattened, or truncated.

31. The brightness enhancing film of claim 23 further comprising a diffuser is contact with the brightness enhancing film.

24. A brightness enhancing film comprising:

a brightness enhancing microstructured optical layer comprising the reaction product of a substantially solvent free polymerizable composition comprises an organic component comprising at least one difunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomers and a non-brominated reactive diluent wherein the organic component has a refractive index of at least 1.54; and

at least 10 wt-% surface modified inorganic nanoparticles.

26. The brightness enhancing film of claim 24 wherein the reactive diluent is non-halogenated.

29. The brightness enhancing film of claim 24 wherein the optical layer comprises a linear array of regular right prisms having apexes that are sharp, rounded, flattened, or truncated.

32. The brightness enhancing film of claim 24 further comprising a diffuser is contact with the brightness enhancing film.

33. A brightness enhancing film comprising:

a brightness enhancing microstructured optical layer comprising the reaction product of a substantially solvent free polymerizable composition having a refractive index of at least 1.54 comprising a reactive diluent and at least 10 wt-% of surface modified inorganic nanoparticles.