Imation Corporation

3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Bruce H Edwards

Shri Niwas

Richard G Hansen

Ian R Owen

Ashok Sengupta

Kurt C Frisch, Jr

Lowell W Holland

Brian D Brong

Wayne P Schaefer

Cheryl S Elsbernd

Thu D DePuydt

Gregory W Visich

Nang T Tran

Ying Xia

David C Lowery

David J Owen

Chih-Chung Hsu

Douglas G Pedrotty

Adam A Brodd

Ruby Chakraborty

Roger J Mandt

Methods for preparing retroreflective articles include providing a thermoplastic polymeric carrier layer, partially embedding transparent microspheres into the surface of the carrier layer so that the beads partially protrude from the surface of the carrier layer, depositing a metal reflective layer on the microspheres, applying a treatment solution to the metal layer, and applying a bead bond layer to the treated metal layer, to form an intermediate article. Upon removal of the carrier layer, the deposited metal layer not in contact with the surface of the microspheres remains present on the carrier layer, to form retroreflective articles with a discontinuous layer of reflective metal disposed only on the surface of the transparent microspheres.

Retroreflective articles with anti-staining properties

Retroreflective article and precursor articles formed during the preparation of the retroreflective articles are provided. Also, methods of making both the precursor articles and the retroreflective articles are provided. The retroreflective articles and the precursor articles contain a reflective layer that includes both a reflective metal and a polymeric blend. The polymeric blend includes both a fluorinated polymer and a (meth)acrylate polymer. The retroreflective articles typically have anti-staining properties, anti-corrosion properties, or both.

Stain resistant retroreflective articles

Retroreflective articles include a layer of optical elements, and a polyurethane bead bond layer. The optical elements include transparent microspheres, and at least one reflective layer. The polyurethane bead bond layer is the reaction product of a reaction mixture of at least one aliphatic polycarbonate polyol and at least one polyisocyanate, and the reaction mixture is free of polyols containing unsaturated groups. The retroreflective articles have improved wash durability.

Retroreflective articles with wash durable bead bond layers

The disclosure is directed to a method for creating a remnant magnetization on a magnetic tape medium. The magnetic tape is first substantially demagnetized, e.g., erased, by an erasure unit having multiple magnetic elements of alternating polarity. The erased magnetic tape is then passed by a bias magnet that creates a remnant magnetization on the magnetic tape. The remnant magnetized magnetic tape is then passed through a servo write head that writes servo patterns to the remnant magnetized magnetic tape. The bias magnet may be housed within the erasure unit or within a bias unit, and the distance between the bias magnet and the tape path of the magnetic tape may be adjustable to create the desired remnant magnetization on the magnetic tape. The remnant magnetization created on the magnetic tape may be greater than 20 percent to reduce defects in the servo pattern written to the magnetic tape.

Bias techniques for magnetic tape media

The disclosure is directed to a method for creating a remanence magnetization on a magnetic tape medium. The magnetic tape is first substantially demagnetized, e.g., erased, by an erasure unit having multiple magnetic elements of alternating polarity. The erased magnetic tape is then passed by a bias magnet that creates a remanence magnetization on the magnetic tape. The remanence magnetized magnetic tape is then passed through a servo write head that writes servo patterns to the remanence magnetized magnetic tape. The bias magnet may be housed within the erasure unit or within a bias unit, and the distance between the bias magnet and the tape path of the magnetic tape may be adjustable to create the desired remanence magnetization on the magnetic tape. The remanence magnetization created on the magnetic tape may be greater than 20 percent to reduce defects in the servo pattern written to the magnetic tape.

A magnetic recording tape includes an elongated substrate and a magnetic side. The magnetic side includes a support layer formed over the substrate and a magnetic recording layer formed over the support layer to define a magnetic recording surface opposite the substrate. The magnetic recording layer includes magnetic particles and a lubricant and supports a net uncompressed density of at least 30 MB/in. The magnetic side has an extracted BET surface area of greater than 1.0 m/g.

Magnetic recording medium having improved durability for high density applications

A method for producing a magnetic recording medium includes heat-curing a coated substrate to cure a non-magnetic back coat on the substrate and to cure a magnetic front coat on the substrate, and calendering the heat-cured coated substrate to produce the magnetic recording medium. The calendering optionally is off-line calendering during which the substrate passes between opposed, generally non-compliant rolls. Other methods, and magnetic recording media produced by the disclosed methods, also are disclosed.

Heat curing and subsequent calendering to produce magnetic recording media

A dual-layer magnetic recording medium including a non-magnetic substrate having a front side and a back side, a lower support layer formed over the front side and a magnetic upper recording layer formed over the lower layer, wherein the magnetic layer contains a volume concentration of at least about 35% of a magnetic metallic particulate pigment having a coercivity of at least about 2000 Oersteds (Oe), and a binder system for the pigment. The magnetic recording medium exhibits an orientation ratio greater than 2.0, a pulsewidth (PW50) value of less than about 500 nm, and a remanence-thickness product, Mr*t, of less than about 5.0 memu/cm.

Magnetic recording medium having narrow pulse width characteristics

This invention provides aqueous dispersions of externally chain extended polyurethane compositions terminated by hydrolyzable and/or hydrolyzed silyl groups and containing anionic solubilizing or emulsifying groups, particularly carboxyl groups. The invention also provides methods of making both anionically and cationically stabilized polyurethane dispersions. This invention further provides polyurethane dispersions which are substantially organic solvent free, (e.g. less than about 7 weight percent organic solvent) which cure to water and solvent resistant, tough, scratch resistant, preferably light stable (non-yellowing) polyurethane films. Such films are particularly useful as coatings for wood substrates, including wood floorings, furniture, and marine surfaces.

Room temperature curable silane-terminated polyurethane dispersions

This invention provides aqueous dispersions of externally chain extended polyurethane compositions terminated by hydrolyzable and/or hydrolyzed silyl groups and containing anionic solubilizing or emulsifying groups, particularly carboxyl groups. The invention also provides methods of making both anionically and cationically stabilized polyurethane dispersions. This invention further provides polyurethane dispersions which are substantially organic solvent free (e.g. less than about 7 weight percent organic solvent) which cure to water and solvent resistant, tough, scratch resistant, preferably light stable (non-yellowing) polyurethane films. Such films are particularly useful as coatings for wood substrates, including wood floorings, furniture, and marine surfaces.

Growing community of inventors

White Bear Lake, MN, United States of America

Bruce H Edwards