3M Innovative Properties Company

David A Kowitz

Audrey A Sherman

Thomas P Klun

Lan Hong Liu

Jianhui Xia

William Ward Merrill

Robert L Brott

Rolf W Biernath

The present invention is an optically clear, curable adhesive including a polyvinylbutyral, a polyurethane (meth)acrylate, a (meth)acrylate monomer, and a photoinitiator. The polyvinylbutyral has a dynamic viscosity of between about 9 and about 13 mPa&#xb7;s and a polyvinyl alcohol weight percent of less than about 18%. The polyurethane (meth)acrylate includes the reaction product of a diol, at least one diisocyanate, and a hydroxyfunctional (meth)acrylate or an isocyanatofunctional (meth)acrylate. When the optically clear, curable adhesive is placed between two transparent substrates and made into a laminate, the laminate has a haze of less than about 6%, a transmission of greater than about 88%, and an optical clarity of greater than about 98% when cured. The optically clear, curable adhesive also has a peel adhesion of at least about 100 g/cm based on ASTM 3330 when cured.

High performance photocurable optically clear adhesive

The present invention is an optically clear, curable adhesive including a polyvinylbutyral, a polyurethane (meth)acrylate, and a photoinitiator. The polyvinylbutyral has a dynamic viscosity of between about 9 and about 13 mPa&#xb7;s and a polyvinyl alcohol weight percent of less than about 18%. The polyurethane (meth)acrylate includes the reaction product of a diol, at least one diisocyanate, and a hydroxyfunctional (meth)acrylate or an isocyanatofunctional (meth)acrylate. When the optically clear, curable adhesive is placed between two transparent substrates and made into a laminate, the laminate has a haze of less than about 6%, a transmission of greater than about 88% and an optical clarity of greater than about 98% when cured. The optically clear, curable adhesive also has a peel adhesion of at least about 100 g/cm based on ASTM 3330 when cured.

An article for use in light spreading includes a body having first and second surfaces, and first and second in-plane axes that are orthogonal with respect to each other and a third axis that is mutually orthogonal to the first and second in-plane axes in a thickness direction of the body. A portion of the first surface is a birefringent structured surface. The portion is structured such that, when the article receives a light signal within a particular range of wavelengths, the structured surface causes splitting the light signal into a plurality of divergent light signals. The article can be used for color mixing such as in a cavity providing a backlight for LCD devices or other display devices requiring a backlight.

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

David A Kowitz