Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Howard R Tolliver

Terry R Bailey

Roger R Kult

Arthur D Dickson

Suman K Patel

Thomas V Kusilek

David L Bergeson

Nagraj Koneripalli

Dennis J Chirhart

Douglas C Degler

Flame-spray transportation surface marking method employing a binder material selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymers and copolymers, olefin polymers and copolymers having a number average molecular weight greater than about 10,000, urethane polymers and copolymers, curable epoxy resins, ester polymers and copolymers, and blends thereof, together with a particulate topcoat or particulate filler selected from the group consisting of reflective elements, skid-resistant particles, magnetizable particles, and mixtures thereof, wherein the binder adheres directly to the transportation surface.

Wear-resistant transportation surface marking method and materials

A truck trailer cover 40 includes a multi-layered article 10 that is dimensioned and adapted to be fitted over and secured to a truck trailer 42. The multi-layered article, 10 includes a fabric 12 having a polymeric sheet 14, 16 secured to each side of the fabric 12. Each polymeric sheet 14, 16 secured to the fabric 12 has two non-chlorinated polymeric layers. The first non-chlorinated polymeric layer A, A' is disposed on the inner side of each sheet and contains an ethylene copolymer that has a Shore A hardness less than 85. The second non-chlorinated polymeric layer B, B' is disposed on the outer side of each sheet and contains a polymer having a Shore A hardness greater than 85. The multi-layered article 10 demonstrates good flex-crack resistance to make it suitable for use in a roll-up sign 30 or a truck trailer cover 40.

Truck trailer cover having a high strength non-chlorinated multi-layered

A multi-layered article 10 includes a fabric 12 having a polymeric sheet 14, 16 secured to each side of the fabric 12. Each polymeric sheet 14, 16 secured to the fabric 12 has two non-chlorinated polymeric layers. The first non-chlorinated polymeric layer A, A' is disposed on the inner side of each sheet and contains an ethylene copolymer that has a Shore A hardness less than 85. The second non-chlorinated polymeric layer B, B' is disposed on the outer side of each sheet and contains a polymer having a Shore A hardness greater than 85. The multi-layered article 10 demonstrates good flex-crack resistance to make it suitable for use in a roll-up sign 30 or a truck trailer cover 40.

High strength non-chlorinated multi-layered polymeric article

A retroreflective sheeting comprising a substantially transparent face member, an encapsulating member having a front and a back side, the front side of the encapsulating member being sealed by a network of interconnecting bonds to the face member, and retroreflective elements disposed between the face member and the encapsulating member in substantially a monolayer with an air-interface. The encapsulating member comprises a plasticizer-resistant barrier layer which prevents migration of plasticizer therethrough, thereby protecting the aforementioned elements of the sheeting therefrom.

Flexible, substrate-insular retroreflective sheeting

Cellular, encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting comprising: (1) a base sheet of a monolayer of retroreflective elements partially embedded in a binder layer which typically is white or comprises a whitening agent; (2) a cover sheet disposed in spaced relation from the layer of retroreflective elements; and (3) a network of narrow intersecting bonds or seal legs that extend between the cover sheet and the base sheet and comprise binder material thermoformed at the point of contact between the base sheet and cover sheet so as to adhere the base sheet and the cover sheet together and form a plurality of cells within which retroreflective elements are hermetically sealed; wherein the cover sheet comprises an inner layer and at least a structural layer, the structural layer being adhered to the outside surface of the inner layer. The inner layer of the cover sheet has a higher Vicat Softening Point and/or lower adhesion to the microlenses than at least the structural layer of the cover sheet so that when the cover sheet and base sheet are sealed together and the binder material is thermoformed into contact with the cover sheet to form the seal legs, the binder material is better able to flow around and flood the front surfaces of the retroreflective lenses, thereby hiding same and imparting greater whiteness to the resultant sheeting.

Cellular encapsulated-lens high whiteness retroreflective sheeting with

In encapsulated-lens reflective sheeting of the prior art, a monolayer of glass microspheres is embedded in a binder layer, a specularly reflective layer underlies the microspheres, and a cover film encapsulates the microspheres, within a plurality of hermetically sealed cells. In the invention, a HMW thermoplastic binder film, affords improved structural intregity, greater toughness, and better conformability to irregular surfaces without cracking. The cover film preferably is of the same polymer family as said binder film.

Encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting and method of making

A retroreflective sheeting having incorporated therein an optically-nonfunctional backing film. The backing film comprises at least a self-adherent layer which is adhered directly to the rear side of the specularly reflecting layer of the sheeting and, may further comprise one or more layers, such as a reinforcing layer, on the rear side of the self-adherent layer. The physical properties of the backing film, e.g., tensile strength, tear resistance, elongation, or adhesive compatibility are selected according to the properties desired of the resultant retroreflective sheeting. The self-adherent layer may comprise: polyethylene; or one or more copolymers comprising by weight a major portion of at least one of ethylene or propylene, and a minor portion of a polar comonomer; or a blend comprising (a) one or more other polymers and (b) one or more of such copolymers or polyethylene or combinations of such copolymers and polyethylene, the blend comprising a major portion by weight of ethylene and/or propylene.

Retroreflective sheeting with backing film

An encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting comprising a monolayer of lenses partially embedded in a binder layer, a specularly reflective layer underlying the lenses, and a cover film sealed to the binder layer along a network of interconnecting lines forming hermetically sealed cells within which the lenses are encapsulated and have an air interface, wherein the cover film comprises polyethylene, or polypropylene, or a copolymer comprising a major portion by weight of at least one of ethylene or propylene and a minor portion by weight of a comonomer. Such a cover film affords high flexibility, improved impact resistance, resistance to moisture absorption, and greater toughness to the retroreflective sheeting. In some embodiments the cover film is multi-layer.

Encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting having improved cover film

In encapsulated-lens reflective sheeting of the prior art, a monolayer of glass microspheres is embedded in a binder layer, a specularly reflective layer underlies the microspheres, and a cover film encapsulates the microspheres, within a plurality of hermetically sealed cells. In the invention, a HMW thermoplastic binder film, affords improved structural integrity, greater toughness, and better conformability to irregular surfaces without cracking. The cover film preferably is of the same polymer family as said binder film.

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Howard R Tolliver