3m Innovative Properties Company

Catalina Coatings, Inc.

Other

Delta V Technologies, Inc.

Presstek, Inc.

Marc G Langlois

David G Shaw

Daniel S Cline

Eric P Dawson

Charles Daniel Lemme

Liquid organic material is controllably delivered to a receptacle located in the center of a heated surface capable of horizontally rotating about its central axis. As the heated surface rotates, material deposited within the central receptacle is forced outwardly and across the rotating surface. As the material moves radially, it evaporates into a vapor which is then transported to one or more nozzles. From the nozzles, the vapor is applied to a substrate and condensed. The spinning disk evaporator enables the evaporation of a wider variety of organic liquids greater reliability in continuous operation, a decrease in maintenance, and a larger and more constant material flow rate.

Spinning disk evaporator

Liquid organic material is controllably delivered to a receptacle located in the center of a heated surface capable of horizontally rotating about its central axis. As the heated surface rotates, material deposited within the central receptacle is forced outwardly and across the rotating surface. As the material moves radially, it evaporates into a vapor which is then transported to one or more nozzles. From the nozzles, the vapor is applied to a substrate and condensed. Relative to existing devices and methods, the present invention enables the evaporation of a wider variety of organic liquids, greater reliability in continuous operation, a decrease in maintenance, and a larger and more constant material flow rate.

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

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

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.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Marc G Langlois