3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Lisa Flatt Nelson

Eugene H Carlson

Jennifer L Lee

Scott A Boyd

Mark W Leverty

Hsin-hsin Chou

Thomas F Look

Bruce D Orensteen

Joseph R Zwack

Christopher E Kunze

Yoga pillow

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

Coatable thermal mass transfer precursor compositions, suitable for producing thermal mass transfer donor elements, are described, the coatable compositions comprising a polyalkylene binder precursor; an acrylic binder precursor; an effective amount of a pigment to provide the desired color to a thermal mass transfer composition using the coatable composition; and d) a diluent (preferably water) in which the polyalkylene binder precursor, acrylic binder precursor, and pigment are all dispersed therein. Signage articles produced using the donor elements are also described.

Compositions and thermal mass transfer donor elements for use in producing signage articles

Retroreflective signage articles comprise a colorant layer directly thermally transferred to a top layer of a reretroreflective sheeting, the top layer devoid of priming treatments and extraneous print-receptive layers. Systems or kits are also described comprising a retroreflective base sheeting in combination with a thermal mass transfer donor element, the donor elements comprising a carrier and a colorant layer adhered thereto, the colorant layer of the signage articles and the donor elements comprising a binder and a colorant. Methods of producing the signage articles employing the systems or kits are also presented.

Retroreflective signage articles, kits for producing same, and methods

Growing community of inventors

Inver Grove Heights, MN, United States of America

Lisa Flatt Nelson