Increasing thermal conductivity of host polymer used with laser engraving methods and compositions

• US 7,980,596 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2010
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L-1 Secure Credentialing, LLC (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: L-1 Secure Credentialing, LLC (Advent International Corporation)
• Inventors: Labrec, Brian C.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClendon; Sanza L
• Application Number:
  US12/687,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20100181754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 522/1, 522/2, 522/71, 522/81, 522/82, 156/23, 156/242, 156/243, 156/244.16, 156/244.17, 156/244.18, 156/244.27, 156/277, 156/60, 283/74, 283/75, 283/77, 283/78, 283/79, 283/82, 283/86, 401/240.1, 401/241.91, 428/29, 428/411.1, 428/412
• US Class Current: 283/75
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/60 Preliminary treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1616 Near infrared radiation [NIR], e.g. by YAG lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/16 Braille printing typewriters or selective printing mechanisms for Braille printing B41J3/32
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/24 Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 430/146 Laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 Of polycarbonate

Abstract

the invention provides a composition having laser engraving properties, comprising a host material and a laser enhancing additive. The host material comprises a material, such as a polymer, modified by a first process, whereby the host material as modified by the first process has increased thermal conductivity as compared to the host material before the first process. The laser enhancing additive comprises a first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI₃), Copper Iodide (CuI), potassium iodide (KI), sodium iodide (NaI), and aluminum iodide (AlI), and a second quantity of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester.

Claims

1. A multi-layered identification document comprising:

a core material layer;

a first laminate over the core material layer;

a second laminate over the first laminate;

a laser sensitizing additive to the first laminate including a first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI₃), Copper Iodide (CuI), potassium iodide (KI), sodium iodide (NaI) and aluminum iodide (AlI);

a laser sensitizing additive to the second laminate including a second quantity of at least one substance related from the group comprising of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester.

2. The identification document of claim 1, further comprising a layer of material between the first and second laminates, the layer of material being transparent to laser light radiation.

3. The identification document of claim 1, wherein the core material layer includes a titanium dioxide (TiO₂) filled polycarbonate film.

4. The identification document of claim 1, wherein the core material layer includes preprinted information thereon.

5. The identification document of claim 1, wherein the core material layer and the first and second laminate are fused together, such fused materials deterring delamination attempts.

6. The identification document of claim 1, wherein the identification document bears a first indicium thereon, the first indicium obtained by exposing the laser sensitizing additive to a laser beam.

7. The identification document of claim 6, wherein the indicium comprises at least one of:

a gray scale image, photograph, text, tactile text, graphic information, security pattern, security indicia, and digital watermark.

8. The identification document of claim 6, wherein the first indicium comprises variable information.

9. A process of making an identification document comprising:

providing a core layer material;

overlying a first laminate over the core material, wherein the first laminate includes a first laser sensitizing material having first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI), copper iodide (CuI), potassium iodide (KI), sodium iodide (NaI) and aluminum iodide (AlI);

overlying the first laminate with a second laminate, wherein the second laminate includes a second laser sensitizing material having a second quantity of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate and thioester; and

fusing together the core laser material, the first laminate and the second laminate using at least one of heat and pressure.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing preprinted information on the core material layer prior to overlying the core material layer with the first laminate.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification document bears a first indicium thereon, the first indicium obtained by exposing the laser sensitizing additive to a laser beam.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first indicium comprises variable information.