3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

John L Ethen

Kanta Kumar

Gregory Edward Gilligan

Thomas W Rambosek

Sithya S Khieu

Soonkun Kang

Christopher J Gustafson

Larry K Stump

Mark D Zender

Dale H Haunschild

Timothy D Bredahl

Robert A Haenggi

Tzu Li Huang

Tzu Li Joseph Huang

Stanley J Jordan

Asok Sengupta

A retroreflective article that exhibits suitable retroreflective luminance under dry and dynamic wet conditions. The article includes an enclosed-lens retroreflective sheeting that, under dry conditions, exhibits a coefficient of retroreflective luminance of about 40 (millicandela/m )/lux as measured by ASTM D 4061-94 and, under dynamic wet conditions the sheeting increases in coefficient of retroreflective luminance. The article further includes a plurality of retroreflective elements partially embedded in a light transmissible bonding layer on the front, reflective surface of the retroreflective sheeting.

Retroreflective article

A retroreflective article comprising a substrate and a cured ceramer coating provided on at least a portion of a surface of the substrate. The coated portion of the surface is retroreflective and can be dew-resistant. The ceramer is derived from a free-radically-curable binder, colloidal inorganic oxide and fluoro/silane component comprising a hydrolyzable silane moiety and a fluorinated moiety.

Retroflective articles including a cured ceramer composite coating having abrasion and stain resistant characteristics

A retroreflective article comprising a substrate and a cured ceramer coating provided on at least a portion of a surface of the substrate. The coated portion of the surface is retroreflective. The coating comprises a cured ceramer composite derived from ingredients comprising a free radically curable binder precursor and a plurality of surface treated, colloidal inorganic oxide components. The colloidal inorganic oxide components are surface treated with a surface treatment agent comprising a fluoro/silane component comprising a hydrolyzable silane moiety and a fluorinated moiety, and a crosslinkable silane component comprising a hydrolyzable silane moiety and a free radically crosslinkable moiety. The weight ratio of the crosslinkable silane component to the fluoro/silane component is from about 4:1 to 20:1, and the weight ratio of the free radically curable binder precursor to the colloidal inorganic oxide components is from about 1:10 to 8:10. A method of making a retroreflective article by coating a substrate with a ceramer composite coating is also described. A method of making a dew-resistant retroreflective article by coating a substrate with a ceramer composite coating and then surface treating the coating is also described.

Retroreflective articles including a cured ceramer composite coating

Pavement-marking sheet materials of increased durability comprise a tough, abrasion-resistant top layer, preferably a polyurethane film having substantial flexibility but including trifunctional hydroxyl-terminated components of short molecular weight so as to obtain a significant degree of crosslinking, and a conformable underlying layer. A preferred underlying layer comprises unvulcanized elastomer precursor.

Intersection markings

Pavement-marking sheet material having protuberances on its upper surface which carry partially exposed microspheres by which the protuberances are made retroreflective and which are separated by recessed areas in which microspheres are fully embedded and not exposed, so as to improve the daytime appearance of the sheet material.

Embossed pavement-marking sheet material

Longer-lived pavement markings are provided by adhering to the pavement a sheet material about one-fourth millimeter or more thick that comprises a carboxyl-modified acrylonitrile-butadiene polymer and particulate fillers dispersed in the polymer.

Long-lived heavy-duty pavement marking

Growing community of inventors

Oakdale, MN, United States of America

John L Ethen