Avery Dennison Corporation

Michael E Hannington

Pradeep S Iyer

Bruce Newell

Prakash Mallya

Sriram Venkatasanthanam

Ghanshyam H Popat

Kevin O Henderson

Jesse C Ercillo

Guang-Xue Wei

John F Hughen

Bernard S Mientus

Peter J Heederik

Nikhil R Agashe

Paul R Klich

Osei Owusu

Ying Hu

Mark Alessandro

Emre Unsal

Evgueni Rozenbaoum

Luigi V DiCarlo

Nipa Joshi

Anita Juby

Provided herein is a retroreflective film comprising one or more layers (or coating layers) including a small quantity of fluorescent dye that shifts color readings (e.g., chromaticity coordinates) in specific regions located within a color space to comply with industry standards (e.g., United States, Europe, China and Brazil) while improving luminance factor and maintaining retroreflectivity. The one or more layers (or coating layers) of the retroreflective film includes a fluorescent dye from 0.0001 wt. % to 0.05 wt. %, based on the total weight of the layer, and exhibits a color reading that is situated in the color space defined by CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.305, 0.315), (0.335, 0.345), (0.325, 0.355) and (0.295, 0.325). The retroreflective film also achieves a good balance of high luminance and retroreflectivity.

Retroreflective films comprising fluorescent dyes

Polyvinyl chloride compositions and films formed therefrom are described which exhibit improved printability and resistance to weathering. The compositions generally comprise polyvinyl chloride, at least one plasticizer, at least one heat stabilizer, certain UV stabilizer(s), and print additives and/or other agents. In particular versions, the compositions utilize a combination of polyvinyl chloride resins. Also described are various vinyl-based laminates using the films which can be for example reflective products. Also described are methods of producing the noted laminates.

PVC compositions, films, laminates and related methods

A three dimensional retroreflective article having an outer surface with a reflectivity of at least about 200 lux, and method for making such an article from a thermoformable laminate is provided. The laminate includes a base layer of thermoformable plastic sheet material; and a layer of microbeads configured in a high-density arrangement and silvered on their bottom sides to enhance retroreflectivity. The microbeads are adhered to an outer surface of the base layer by a thermoformable cushion coat which may include a phosphorescent pigment to further enhance reflectivity. A protective sheet of transparent thermoformable sheet material overlies and may be in contact with the layer of microbeads. The laminate is heated and thermoformed into a self supporting three dimensional article having a pre-selected shape and an encapsulated bead retroreflective surface having a reflectivity of at least about 200 lux. The thermoforming step imparts sufficient non-planarity in the resulting retroreflective surface so that retroreflective dead spots created by contact between the microbeads and the protective sheet of transparent sheet material are effectively optically cancelled by overlapping zones of retroreflectivity generated by the microbeads.

Thermoformable three dimensional retroreflective article and method of manufacture

Methods of making retroreflective articles include mixing a metal pigment with a binder material. The mixture is applied to a surface of a substrate. The surface can be a flat planar surface or be contoured or have arcuate regions. The binder material forms a binder material layer and the metal pigment forms a leafing pigment layer near a top surface of the binder material layer. Transparent microsphere lenses are embedded in the top surface of the binder material layer. The leafing metal pigment layer conforms to a rear embedded surface of the microsphere lenses to thereby form a retroreflective article. Related retroreflective articles are also disclosed.

High reflectivity open bead method and material

Methods of making adhesive articles providing air egress by supplying a route for the air to flow out from under the construction are described. One method includes providing a release liner comprising a moldable layer having a release surface and a back surface; applying a first pattern of a first non-adhesive material to a first portion of the release surface; applying a second pattern of a second non-adhesive material to a second portion of the release surface, wherein the second pattern partially overlaps the first pattern; embedding at least one of the first or second non-adhesive materials into the moldable layer; and transferring an adhesive layer having a front and back surface and end edges onto the release liner, wherein the front surface of the adhesive layer is adhered to the release surface of the release liner.

Adhesive articles with improved air egress

An embossed thermoplastic label includes (a) a facestock having an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one layer and the layer has at least one thermoplastic resin, and (b) the facestock includes at least one embossed pattern on the upper surface of the facestock. The embossed pattern includes at least one embossed section and at least one unembossed section on the facestock. An intermediate configuration is also disclosed. A method is provided for embossing a thermoplastic label. The embossed thermoplastic label is useful in various labeling and brand awareness applications and provides visual and textural effects.

Embossed thermoplastic label

A retroreflective article includes a prismatic film having prismatic elements with a metallized coating wherein the metallized coating is laser etched to provide one or more light transmissive regions to expose underlying material that one or more provides high contrast images that contrast with the retroreflective film. The underlying material can include one or more contrasting elements. The article may be back-lighted to increase the contrast especially during conditions of reduced lighting.

Retroreflective article

The present invention relates to projection films and methods of making the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a projection film whereby the microspheres exhibit improved alignment on the light exit surface and have alignment on the light entrance surface that varies according to the individual microsphere diameter. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a projection film that has the attributes of variable gain within the single projection film. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an exposed microsphere projection film construction that provides modification of the head-on and angular pattern of light transmission (gain).

Discontinuous or variable thickness gain modification coating for projection film and method for making same

An adhesive article and a method of making the adhesive article are described. The adhesive article includes a facestock film having a first surface, a second surface and end edges wherein the second surface has a plurality of recesses formed therein that provide a path for fluid egress to at least one end edge; and a continuous layer of adhesive adhered to the second surface of the facestock film. The adhesive layer can compress, collapse or flex into the recesses of the embossed surface in response to a force to create a path for fluid egress.

Adhesive article having improved application properties

This invention relates to an adhesive article which provides air egress. Air egress is provided by supplying a route, such as areas of no initial adhesion for the air to flow out from under the construction. The invention relates to an adhesive article comprising a facestock having a front surface and a back surface, a continuous layer of adhesive having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein the upper surface of the adhesive layer is adhered to the back surface of the facestock, and a plurality of spaced-apart non-adhesive material which is in contact with the lower surface of the adhesive layer. These articles have usefulness as industrial graphics images, as well as decorative coverings, etc. The articles provide air egress and optionally repositionability and slideability.

An emergency information sign () comprising a base substrate () and an indicia layer () positioned over the base substrate (). Exposed areas () of the base substrate () and covering areas () of the indicia layer () together form emergency information indicia. The base substrate () and the indicia layer () each carry phosphorescent materials (), which absorb and store light from a primary light source () and emit this stored light during dark conditions.

Emergency information sign

The present invention provides a retroreflective sheet with a discernable image. The retroreflective sheet comprises a transparent polymeric spacing layer having a first surface and a second surface; a layer of transparent microsphere lenses embedded into the first surface of the spacing layer at varying depths forming an image, wherein the spacing layer adheres to and conforms to the microspheres; and a reflective layer adhered to the second surface of the spacing layer. The present invention also provides methods for preparing such retroreflective sheet.

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Madison, OH, United States of America

Michael E Hannington