3m Innovative Properties Company

Other

Eugene H Carlson

Matthew D Wilding

Stephen L Lieder

Kenton D Budd

Scott A Boyd

Joseph D Engebretson

Alexander J Kugel

Rajdeep S Kalgutkar

James C Coderre

James E Lasch

Jennifer L Lee

David W Meitz

Colleen C Nagel

Lisa Flatt Nelson

Mark W Leverty

Christopher L Harvey

Mark J Pellerite

Caroline M Ylitalo

James M Jonza

David S Hays

Joseph Clark Carls

James P Endle

Jong-Min Kim

Lee A Pavelka

Gregg A Patnode

Christopher K Haas

Pamela A Percha

Robert F Watkins

David L Bergeson

Deana A Klein

Joseph A Severance

Susan T Chrysler

The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.

Durable retroreflective elements with a blend of beads

The disclosed retroreflective element includes a highly durable core with an ionic copolymer and a plurality of beads. These disclosed retroreflective properties remain intact even after continued application of external forces and stresses. Further, the ionic copolymer allows for beads to be loaded into the ionic copolymer of the core, securely disposed around the perimeter of the core, or both.

Durable retroreflective elements with an ionic copolymer core

The present disclosure generally relates to non-conformable thermoplastic pavement marking tapes comprising a backing and an adhesive layer adjacent to the backing. In some embodiments, the backing includes an ionic copolymer. In other embodiments, the non-conformable backing has an inelastic deformation of less than 10% at 25&#xb0; C. In some embodiments, the pavement marking tape is heat-moldable.

Thermoplastic pavement marking tapes

Copolymers of poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) and polydiorganosiloxanes, compositions comprising the same, and articles comprising the copolymers, compositions, or both.

Copolymers of poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) and polydiorganosiloxanes

The present application generally relates to a thermoplastic road marker having improved crack-resistance, to compositions of such road markers, and to methods of making and applying these road markers. Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a thermoplastic road marking composition, comprising: ethylene vinyl acetate ('EVA') and/or ethylene acrylic acid ('EAA') copolymers in an amount of between about 1.5 wt % to about 6.0 wt %; and core-shell particles in an amount of between about 0.5 wt % and about 3.0 wt %. In at least some embodiments, the EVA and/or EAA have a melt flow index equal to or less than 45 g/10 min at 190&#xb0; C.

Crack-resistant thermoplastic road marking

A composition comprises a blend comprising (a) a binder comprising (i) C5 hydrocarbon resin or (ii) a resin comprising rosin acids, rosin esters, modified rosin acids, modified rosin esters or mixtures thereof, and (b) polydimethylsiloxane polyamide copolymer.

Pavement marking compositions

An ink receptive article including a substrate having on at least a portion of a major surface thereof an antistatic layer, and wherein the antistatic layer has on at least a portion of a major surface thereof an ink receptive layer, wherein the ink receptive layer includes a crosslinked polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyethers, polyesters, polyacrlylics, polyureas, copolymers thereof, and blends thereof.

Ink receptive article

Retroreflective sheeting articles comprising a colorless thermal mass transferred image, methods of thermal mass transfer printing substrate such as polymeric films with a colorless thermal mass transferable composition, and thermal mass transfer ribbon articles comprising a colorless thermal mass transferable composition are described. The thermal mass transfer composition comprises a homogeneous unreactive thermoplastic composition comprising at least one acrylic resin and less than 3 wt-% of components that are opaque at ambient temperature.

Colorless thermal mass transfer compositions and articles

Retroreflective sheeting is described comprising a viewing surface and a non-viewing surface and a thermal mass transferred image disposed in the optical path of the viewing surface wherein the thermal mass transferred image comprises a homogeneous unreactive thermoplastic composition. In one embodiment, the unreactive thermoplastic composition comprises at least one acrylic resin and at least one colorant, wherein the composition has less than 3 wt-% of components that are opaque at ambient temperature. The percent maximum diffuse luminous transmittance to total luminous transmittance of the composition is less than 50%.

Thermal mass transfer imaged retroreflective sheeting

The present invention provides a new sheeting article that may suitably include: a carrier having a first major surface and a second major surface; and a plurality of discrete segments of a sheeting (e.g., a retroreflective sheeting), wherein the sheeting has a first major viewing surface and a second major opposing surface, and the first major viewing surface of the sheeting is preferably removably attached to the second major surface of the carrier. Preferably, the first major surface of the carrier comprises a release surface, the second major opposing surface of the sheeting comprises an adhesive, the article is provided in the form of a roll, and the adhesive surface of the sheeting is adjacent the release surface of an adjacent layer of the roll. In a presently preferred embodiment the present invention provides novel easy-to-use truck conspicuity sheeting.

Segmented sheeting and methods of making and using same

A fluorescent red composition providing a coating having chromaticity coordinates (x, y) within the area defined by (0.648, 0.351), (0.735, 0.265), (0.629, 0.281) and (0.565, 0.346) in terms of the CIE 1931 Standard Colorimetric System and measured using 0/45 geometry and evaluated with CIE Standard Illuminant D65 and a fluorescence luminance factor of at least about 8; articles comprising the composition or coating, and methods of making.

Fluorescent red composition and articles made therefrom

Growing community of inventors

Apple Valley, MN, United States of America

Eugene H Carlson