Light-stable colored transparent composite films

• US 6,953,618 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Performance Films, LLC (Eastman Chemical Company)
• Original Assignee: CPFilms Inc. (Eastman Chemical Company)
• Inventors: Enniss, James P., Barth, Steven A., Port, Anthony B., Packer, Elizabeth J., Lawless, Mary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Vivian
• Application Number:
  US10/624,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20040048059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 428/323, 428/329, 428/426, 428/457, 428/480, 428/458, 428/430, 428/432, 428/433, 427/585, 427/162, 427/163.1, 427/164, 427/294, 427/419.1
• US Class Current: 428/212
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10018 comprising only one glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10339 Specific parts of the laminated safety glass or glazing being colored or tinted tinted glass sheet B32B17/1011; tinted interlayer B32B17/10651
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10743 containing acrylate (co)polymers or salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/10 on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/20 using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/007 containing a dispersed phase, e.g. particles, fibres or flakes, in a continuous phase
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/485 Pigments
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2367/02 Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds; C08J2367/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/18 Manufacture of films or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/0423 with at least one layer of inorganic material and at least one layer of a composition containing a polymer binder
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/043 Improving the adhesiveness of the coatings per se, e.g. forming primers adhesives in the form of films or foils characterised by the primer layers between the polymer carriers and the adhesives C09J7/50
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/046 Forming abrasion-resistant coatings; Forming surface-hardening coatings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1089 of discrete laminae to single face of additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• 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 428/26 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/266 : of base or substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/268 : Monolayer with structurally defined element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/269 : including synthetic resin or polymer layer or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2891 : including addition polymer from alpha-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid [e.g., acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, etc.] Or derivative thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31616 : Next to polyester [e.g., alkyd]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 : Of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31681 : Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31725 : Of polyamide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31728 : Next to second layer of polyamide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 : Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31935 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer

Abstract

Composite film structures exhibit a predetermined finished color tone comprised of a transparent film layer which exhibits a color deficiency as compared to the finished color tone, and a pigment which is visually associated with, and satisfies the color deficiency of, the film layer. Most preferably, the pigment is provided as a homogenous dispersion in a transparent color-matching layer positioned adjacent to the film layer. Thus, when the film and color-matching layers are viewed collectively as a unit, the perceived color tone will be that of the finished predetermined color tone. That is, the color-matching layer provides visually an additive effect on the perceived color of the composite film structure.

Claims

1. A transparent film which exhibits a predetermined finished color tone comprising:

a transparent film layer which includes a metallized layer, wherein said transparent film layer exhibits a color deficiency in at least one of hue, chroma and value as compared to the predetermined finished color tone; and

at least one pigment visually associated with the film layer and exhibiting a matching color tone satisfying the color deficiency of said film layer to thereby impart to the composite film the predetermined finished color tone when the film and at least one pigment are viewed collectively as a unit, wherein said at least one pigment is dispersed throughout a transparent color-matching layer adjacent said film layer.

2. The transparent film of claim 1, wherein said film layer is a thermoplastic.

3. The transparent film of claim 2, wherein said thermoplastic film layer is polyethylene terephthalate.

4. The transparent film of claim 1, wherein the film layer has a yellow color deficiency, and wherein the color-matching layer includes a dispersion of a yellow-colored pigment.

5. The transparent film of claim 4, wherein the pigment is iron oxide.

6. The transparent film of claim 1, further comprising a protective coating layer on the film layer.

7. The transparent film of claim 1, wherein said film layer includes first and second film layers laminated to one another.

8. The transparent film of claim 7, further comprising a protective coating layer on the film layer.

9. The transparent film of claim 1, wherein said pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.50 μ

m.

10. The transparent film of claim 1, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.10 μ

m.

11. The transparent film of claim 1, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.05 μ

m.

12. The combination comprised of a glass substrate, and mixed thereto, a transparent film according to claim 1.

13. The transparent film of claim 1, wherein the transparent film layer is colored or uncolored.

14. The transparent film of claim 1 or 13, wherein said metallized layer is a coating of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel alloys, silver, and titanium.

15. The transparent film of claim 14, wherein the metallized layer has a thickness of between about 50 Å

to about 600 Å

.

16. A process for making a transparent composite film which exhibits a predetermined finished color tone comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a transparent film layer which exhibits a color deficiency in at least one of hue, chroma and value as compared to the predetermined finished color tone;

(b) providing a metallized layer on said transparent film layer; and

(c) visually associating with said film layer at least one pigment exhibiting a matching color tone satisfying the color deficiency of said film layer wherein step c includes dispersing the pigment homogeneously throughout an adhesive to form an adhesive pigment dispersion, and then forming a layer of the adhesive pigment dispersion adjacent to the film layer, thereby imparting to the composite film the predetermined finished color tone.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.50 μ

m.

18. The process of claim 16, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.10 μ

m.

19. The process of claim 16, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.05 μ

m.

20. The process of claim 16, wherein the transparent film layer is colored or uncolored.

21. The process of claim 16 or 20, wherein said metallized layer is a coating of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel alloys, silver, and titanium.

22. The process of claim 21, wherein step (b) is practiced by applying the metallized layer by vacuum deposition.

23. The process of claim 22 wherein the metallized layer has a thickness of between about 50 Å

to about 600 Å

.

24. A process for making a transparent composite film which exhibits a predetermined finished color tone comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a transparent film layer which exhibits a color deficiency in at least one of hue, chroma and value as compared to the predetermined finished color tone;

(b) providing a metallized layer on said transparent film layer; and

(c) visually associating with said film layer at least one pigment exhibiting a matching color tone satisfying the color deficiency of said film layer, wherein step (c) includes dispersing the pigment homogeneously throughout a curable polymeric coating material to form a coating pigment dispersion, forming a layer of the curable coating pigment dispersion adjacent to the film layer, and curing the coating pigment dispersion to form a protective hard coating thereon, thereby imparting to the composite film the predetermined finished color tone.

25. The process of claim 24, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.50 μ

m.

26. The process of claim 24, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.10 μ

m.

27. The process of claim 24, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.05 μ

m.

28. The process of claim 24, wherein the transparent film layer is colored or uncolored.

29. The process of claim 28, wherein said metallized layer is a coating of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel alloys, silver, and titanium.

30. The process of claim 29, wherein step (b) is practiced by applying the metallized layer by vacuum deposition.

31. The process of claim 30, wherein the metallized layer has a thickness of between about 50 Å

to about 600 Å

.

32. A process for making a transparent composite film which exhibits a predetermined finished color tone comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a transparent film layer which exhibits a color deficiency in at least one of hue, chroma and value as compared to the predetermined finished color tone;

(b) providing a metallized layer on said transparent film layer; and

(c) visually associating with said film layer at least one pigment exhibiting a matching color tone satisfying the color deficiency of said film layer, wherein step (a) includes providing first and second film layers, and laminating said first and second film layers one another with a laminating adhesive, and wherein step (c) includes dispersing the pigment homogeneously throughout the laminating adhesive to form a laminating adhesive pigment dispersion, thereby imparting to the composite film the predetermined finished color tone.

33. The process of claim 32, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.50 μ

m.

34. The process of claim 32, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.10 μ

m.

35. The process of claim 32, wherein the pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.05 μ

m.

36. The process of claim 32, wherein the transparent film layer is colored or uncolored.

37. The process of claim 36, wherein said metallized layer is a coating of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel alloys, silver, and titanium.

38. The process of claim 37, wherein step (b) is practiced by applying the metallized layer by vacuum deposition.

39. The process of claim 38, wherein the metallized layer has a thickness of between about 50 Å

to about 600 Å

.

40. A process for making a transparent composite film which exhibits a predetermined finished color tone comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a transparent film layer;

(b) providing a metallized layer on said transparent film layer to form a metallized film, wherein said metallized film exhibits a color deficiency in at least one of hue, chroma and value as compared to said predetermined finished color tone; and

(c) visually associating with said metallized film at least one pigment exhibiting a matching color tone satisfying said color deficiency of said metallized film, wherein step (c) includes dispersing said pigment homogeneously throughout an adhesive to form an adhesive pigment dispersion, and then forming a layer of said adhesive pigment dispersion adjacent to said metallized film, thereby imparting to said composite film said predetermined finished color tone.

41. The process of claim 40, wherein said pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.50 μ

m.

42. The process of claim 40, wherein said pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.10 μ

m.

43. The process of claim 40, wherein said pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.05 μ

m.

44. The process of claim 40, wherein said transparent film layer is colored or uncolored.

45. The process of claim 44, wherein said metallized layer is a coating of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel alloys, silver, and titanium.

46. The process of claim 45, wherein step (b) is practiced by applying said metallized layer by vacuum deposition.

47. The process of claim 46, wherein said metallized layer has thickness of between about 50 Å

to about 600 Å

.

48. A process for making a transparent composite film which exhibits a predetermined finished color tone comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a transparent film layer;

(b) providing a metallized layer on said transparent film layer to form a metallized film, wherein said metallized film exhibits a color deficiency in at least one of hue, chroma and value as compared to said predetermined finished color tone; and

(c) visually associating with said metallized film at least one pigment exhibiting a matching color tone satisfying said color deficiency of said metallized film, wherein step (c) includes dispersing said pigment homogeneously throughout a curable polymeric coating material to form a coating pigment dispersion, forming a layer of said coating pigment dispersion adjacent to said metallized film, and curing said coating pigment dispersion to form a protective hard coating, thereby imparting to said composite film said predetermined finished color tone.

49. The process of claim 48, wherein said pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.50 μ

m.

50. The process of claim 48, wherein said pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.10 μ

m.

51. The process of claim 48, wherein said pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.05 μ

m.

52. The process of claim 48, wherein said transparent film layer is colored or uncolored.

53. The process of claim 52, wherein said metallized layer is a coating of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel alloys, silver, and titanium.

54. The process of claim 53, wherein step (b) is practiced by applying said metallized layer by vacuum deposition.

55. The process of claim 54, wherein said metallized layer has thickness of between about 50 Å

to about 600 Å

.

56. A process for making a transparent composite film which exhibits a predetermined finished color tone comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a transparent film layer;

(b) providing a metallized layer on said transparent film layer to form a metallized film, wherein said metallized film exhibits a color deficiency in at least one of hue, chroma and value as compared to said predetermined finished color tone; and

(c) visually associating with said metallized film at least one pigment exhibiting a matching color tone satisfying said color deficiency of said metallized film, wherein step (a) includes providing first and second film layers, and laminating said first and second film layers to one another with a laminating adhesive, and wherein step (c) includes dispersing said pigment homogeneously throughout said laminating adhesive to form a laminating adhesive pigment dispersion, thereby imparting to said composite film said predetermined finished color tone.

57. The process of claim 56, wherein said pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.50 μ

m.

58. The process of claim 56, wherein said pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.10 μ

m.

59. The process of claim 56, wherein said pigment has an average particle size of less than about 0.05 μ

m.

60. The process of claim 56, wherein said transparent film layer is colored or uncolored.

61. The process of claim 60, wherein said metallized layer is a coating of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel alloys, silver, and titanium.

62. The process of claim 61, wherein step (b) is practiced by applying said metallized layer by vacuum deposition.

63. The process of claim 62, wherein said metallized layer has thickness of between about 50 Å

to about 600 Å

.