Spectrum Control, Inc.

Catalina Coatings, Inc.

Other

3m Innovative Properties Company

Sandia Corporation

Delta V Technologies, Inc.

Presstek, Inc.

David G Shaw

Marc G Langlois

Daniel S Cline

Eric P Dawson

Angelo Yializis

Mooyoung Ham

Donald S Strycker

John Randolph Pollard

Robert Aubrey Brooks

Paul Le Gonidec

A thermoplastic container or packaging material is given low oxygen permeability by coating with a crosslinked acrylate layer and a layer of oxygen barrier material deposited over the acrylate layer. Another acrylate layer may be deposited over the oxygen barrier. The oxygen barrier is selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and metal. The acrylate layer may be formed from a photopolymerizable polyfunctional acrylate that is sufficiently low viscosity to be sprayed on the substrate or applied by dipping. Alternatively, the acrylate layer is a polymerization product of an acrylate monomer which is evaporated in a vacuum, condensed on the substrate and polymerized by irradiation by ultraviolet or an electron beam. The surface of the thermoplastic substrate is prepared for deposition of the acrylate by either flame treating the surface of the substrate to heat it above its melting point without deforming the substrate to thereby smooth the surface, or by plasma treating the surface for enhancing adhesion of the acrylate. Chilling the substrate enhances deposition efficiency.

Acrylate composite barrier coating

An improved capacitor roll with alternating film and foil layers is impregnated with an adhesive, elastomeric gel composition. The gel composition is a blend of a plasticizer, a polyol, a maleic anhydride that reacts with the polyol to form a polyester, and a catalyst for the reaction. The impregnant composition is introduced to the film and foil layers while still in a liquid form and then pressure is applied to aid with impregnation. The impregnant composition is cured to form the adhesive, elastomeric gel. Pressure is maintained during curing.

Adhesive, elastomeric gel impregnating composition

Several techniques may be used for forming a colored interference filter coating on a substrate such as polyester film. The interference filter has two metal reflective films, at least one of which is semi-transparent. A layer of transparent acrylate polymer dielectric between the metal layers completes the interference filter, which may be sandwiched between protective layers. The dielectric is formed by evaporating an acrylate monomer having a molecular weight in the range of from 150 to 600. Preferably the acrylate monomer has a molecular weight to acrylate group ratio in the range of from 150 to 400. The acrylate condenses on the substrate and is polymerized in situ for forming a monolithic film with a sufficient thickness to produce an interference color. In several embodiments different areas of the film have different thicknesses for producing different interference colors. The thickness of the dielectric can be controlled by the amount of monomer condensed, by either controlling the temperature of the condensation surface or controlling the amount of monomer evaporated adjacent a predetermined area of the substrate. Thickness may also be controlled by condensing a uniform layer of monomer and polymerizing the monomer to different degrees for varying the shrinkage of the film and hence the thickness of the film and color.

Apparatus for forming multicolor interference coating

A thermoplastic container or packaging material is given low oxygen permeability by coating with a cross-linked acrylate layer and a layer of oxygen barrier material deposited over the acrylate layer. Another acrylate layer may be deposited over the oxygen barrier. The oxygen barrier is selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and metal. The acrylate layer may be formed from a photopolymerizable polyfunctional acrylate that is sufficiently low viscosity to be sprayed on the substrate or applied by dipping. Alternatively, the acrylate layer is a polymerization product of an acrylate monomer which is evaporated in a vacuum, condensed on the substrate and polymerized by irradiation by ultraviolet or an electron beam. The surface of the thermoplastic substrate is prepared for deposition of the acrylate by either flame treating the surface of the substrate to heat it above its melting point without deforming the substrate to thereby smooth the surface, or by plasma treating the surface for enhancing adhesion of the acrylate. Chilling the substrate enhances deposition efficiency.

Sheet materials according to the present invention comprise a sheet material substrate, such as for example a film or paper sheet, with a polymer base coating overlying and adhered to a surface of the sheet material substrate. The base coating comprises a radiation cured crosslinked polymer derived from at least one vapor deposited acrylate prepolymer composition having a molecular weight in the range of from about 150 to 600. A metal layer is deposited on and overlies a surface of the base coating, and a polymer top coating overlies and is adhered to a surface of the metal layer. The top coating comprises a radiation cured crosslinked polymer derived from a vapor deposited acrylate prepolymer composition having a molecular weight in the range of from about 150 to 600 and a ratio of its molecular weight to its number of acrylate groups (MW/Ac) in the range of from about 150 to 600. According to one embodiment of the invention, metallized paper sheet materials are produced with superior appearance and performance characteristics which can be tailored to specific end use applications. For example, the metallized paper can be produced with a very shiny, high gloss surface appearance, and/or a high quality metallized layer free of defects or pinholes, and/or an outer surface which is highly receptive to printing.

Acrylate polymer coated sheet materials and method of production thereof

Several techniques for forming a colored interference filter coating on a substrate such as polyester film. The interference filter has two metal reflective films, at least one of which is semi-transparent. A layer of transparent acrylate polymer dielectric between the metal layers completes the interference filter, which may be sandwiched between protective layers. The dielectric is formed by evaporating an acrylate monomer having a molecular weight in the range of from 150 to 600. Preferably the acrylate monomer has a molecular weight to acrylate group ratio in the range of from 150 to 400. The acrylate condenses on the substrate and is polymerized in situ for forming a monolithic film with a sufficient thickness to produce an interference color. In several embodiments different areas of the film have different thicknesses for producing different interference colors. The thickness of the dielectric can be controlled by the amount of monomer condensed, by either controlling the temperature of the condensation surface or controlling the amount of monomer evaporated adjacent a predetermined area of the substrate. Thickness may also be controlled by condensing a uniform layer of monomer and polymerizing the monomer to different degrees for varying the shrinkage of the film and hence the thickness of the film and color.

Method for forming a multicolor interference coating

Sheet materials according to the present invention comprise a sheet material substrate, such as for example a film or paper sheet, with a polymer release coating overlying and adhered to a surface of the sheet material substrate. Single and multilayer release coatings can be formed on the substrate by vapor deposition of silicone acrylates and/or fluorinated acrylates. These coatings can be applied in thickness of 0.05 micron to 1.0 micron to achieve a range of release properties. These coatings can be applied in a very thin single layer on relatively smooth substrates or in a multilayer form on rough substrates such as paper. The new coating process described here has lower process and materials costs, improved adhesion, low slip, and excellent release characteristics.

Acrylate polymer release coated sheet materials and method of production

Multicolor interference coating

Sheet capacitive materials for use in forming a thin-film capacitor comprise an electrically nonconductive substrate, a layer of electrically conductive material disposed a surface of the substrate, and a layer of electrically nonconductive material disposed onto a surface of the conductive material layer. The conductive material layer includes a contact area along a first lengthwise edge of the substrate that is thicker than remaining portions of the material layer. A portion of the substrate adjacent a second lengthwise edge remains exposed. The electrically nonconductive material includes an anti-stick component, and covers the exposed substrate surface and a major portion of the material layer except for the contact area. A first and second sheet is constructed having contact areas along opposite lengthwise edges. The sheets are placed together so that the contact areas are oriented at opposite lengthwise edges, and are staggered so that the contact areas remain exposed. The sheets are wound together in a spiral to form a roll having a contact area at each respective end. Metal is sprayed onto the exposed contact areas to form capacitor electrodes. A thin-film capacitor formed from such sheet capacitive materials have improved properties of corrosion resistance and self healing when compared to conventionally constructed thin-film capacitors.

Metallized film capacitor

Acrylate composite barrier coating process

Material for winding high voltage capacitors is prepared by evaporating polyfunctional acrylate monomer having a molecular rate in the range of from 150 to 600 and condensing the acrylate as a monomer film on a dielectric substrate. The acrylate is polymerized by irradiation by ultraviolet or electrons. Sometimes both faces of the dielectric are coated to protect the thermoplastic dielectric from swelling when exposed to dielectric liquid. The metallized layer provides an electrode of the capacitor. A polymerized acrylate layer may be applied over the metal layer. Electrical contact can be made to the metal layer by Schooping even though the metallized layer is covered by a layer of acrylate. Low oxygen permeability polypropylene, polyester or nylon sheet has a layer of crosslinked acrylate and an oxygen barrier layer formed of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide or metal. Adhesion is enhanced by plasma or corona treatment of a surface immediately before deposition. Condensation efficiency is also enhanced by chilling the substrate on which the acrylate is condensed.

Acrylate coating material

A monolithic multi-layer capacitor having a central capacitively active area and two electrode joining section separated from the active area by sloped sections has dielectric layers about 1 micron thick in the active area which taper gradually to zero thickness in the sloped sections. Electrode layers in the active area have a thickness in the range from 200 to 500 Angstroms and sufficient thickness throughout the sloped sections for adequate current carrying capacity. Various acrylates are used for the dielectric layers, the number of layers ranging from a few to many thousands. Apparatus and methods for the fabrication of such capacitors on a high speed, production scale basis employ techniques for the flash evaporation of highly reactive monomers of acrylate dielectric materials. The vapor is controllably directed to a deposition surface for condensation and subsequent curing by a field enhanced gas discharge electron beam source. The control of the dielectric vapor is accomplished by adjacent gas streams of an inert gas directed to areas of the deposition surface where deposition of the electrode material is unwanted. Monomers of the dielectric material are ultrasonically atomized in preparation for flash evaporation.

Miniaturized monolithic multi-layer capacitor and apparatus and method

A high speed apparatus for forming capacitors includes a vacuum chamber in which is located a carrier defining a continuous surface configured to move at a rate of from about 150 feet per minute to about 600 feet per minute during the forming operation, a metal depositing device, a dielectric depositing device, and a radiation source. The metal depositing device is configured to deposit layers of metal onto the moving surface, and the dielectric depositing device includes (a) a device for atomizing a radiation-curable polyfunctional acrylic monomer to form liquid droplets of the monomer, (b) a heated surface on which the atomized monomer droplets impinge and are flash vaporized, and (c) device for thereafter condensing the flash-vaporized monomer on the metal layers to form a monomer coating on successive layers. The radiation source is positioned for curing successive monomer coatings after each such coating has been deposited, to thereby form a polymer dielectric layer. Apparatus are provided for controlling each of the devices so that metal is deposited, a monomer coating is deposited, and the monomer coating is cured to form the polymer dielectric layer before the continuous surface passes the devices again for successive metal layers, monomer coatings, and curings.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

David G Shaw