Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Ecolab Inc.

Paul J Wang

Gaye K Lehman

Valdis Mikelsons

John F Eisele

Patricia J Brandt

Tatsuo Fukushi

Michael J Petrich

Minyu Li

Ying-Yuh Lu

Hsin-hsin Chou

Terry R Bailey

Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao

Lawrence A Grab

Kanta Kumar

James E Lasch

Wu-Shyong Li

Raymond L Lucking

Jeffrey D Janovec

Jaime R Ojeda

Bruce W Weeks

Michael D Currens

Gregory L Zwaldo

Thomas J Staiger

Michael A Essien

Raymond J Farm

Francis A Wadzinski

James E Guither

Michael G Baier

Richard H Olson

A method of lubricating a moving surface is herein described wherein the lubricant composition contains a fatty acid, a neutralization agent, a pH buffer, and a carrier. Also described are compositions in both concentrate and dilute form. The compositions may also comprise additional functional ingredients.

Buffered lubricant for conveyor system

Retroreflective articles having multilayer films are useful for commercial graphics and retroreflective products, such as roll-up signs for highway transportation safety. The articles comprise multilayer films having at least one layer of polyurethane and at least one layer of a copolymer of alkylene and at least one non-acidic, polar co-monomer. Articles having the new multilayer films provide the same or improved performance, are less expensive, and offer improved methods for manufacturing, when compared to prior articles.

Retroreflective articles having multilayer films and methods of manufacturing same

A multi-layer article comprises a fluoropolymer layer comprising interpolymerized units derived from vinylidene fluoride, and a melt-processable, substantially non-fluorinated polymer layer comprising a polyamide, polyimide, polyurethane, or a carboxyl, anhydride, or imide functionalized polyolefin. The non-fluorinated polymer layer further contains an aliphatic di-, or polyamine which provides increased adhesion between the fluoropolymer layer and the non-fluorinated polymer layer.

Multi-layer compositions having a fluoropolymer layer

The invention provides electrographic imaging sheets comprising a substrate carrying a layer of dielectric material which has abhesive properties suitable for the release of a multicolored toner image from the dielectric surface during image transfer, while also having good toning properties during the several development stages of a multicolor toner imaging process.

Electrostatic color imaging paper with an instrinsic release dielectric

This application discloses a core/shell latex thermal adhesive comprising a thermally softenable polymeric shell having a Tg of greater than 20.degree.C., and a thermally softenable, crosslinked polymeric core having a Tg of less than 20.degree. C., the difference between the Tg of the core and the shell being at least 10.degree.C. This application also discloses a thermally activated adhesive composition comprising:

Laminable proofing elements

Electrostatic color imaging paper with an intrinsic release dielectric

A method for increasing the adhesion of a first layer comprising fluoropolymer to a second layer comprising a melt-processable, substantially non-fluorinated polymer is disclosed. The method comprises mixing, preferably in a melt, an aliphatic di- or polyamine of less than 1,000 molecular weight with the melt-processable, substantially non-fluorinated polymer. The resulting multi-layer compositions and articles comprising the composition are also disclosed.

The invention is a flexible plate, suitable for use as a flexographic printing plate, comprising a flexible substrate primed with an aziridine functional material, and, contacting a primed surface of said substrate, a photosensitive layer which comprises a substantially polar acrylate compound, an elastomeric block copolymer, and a photoinitiator. The adhesion between the substrate and the photosensitive layer is strengthened by use of the aziridine functional primer in combination with a substantially polar acrylate compound. In contrast, when acrylate compounds with large nonpolar portions are used, the adhesion tends to be poor. The adhesion is further improved by exposure of the plate to radiation.

Aziridine primer for flexographic printing plates

An electrographic imaging process is described in which electrostatic images are toned in sequence to form a multicolor intermediate image on a temporary dielectric receptor. The intermediate image is then transferred to a permanent receptor. Certain relative properties of the toner and the intermediate image, such as surface energy, T.sub.g, work of adhesion, and complex dynamic viscosity, have been found to be important to the production of good final images.

Toner developed electrostatic imaging process for outdoor signs

A method and apparatus for the transfer of images from a donor surface to a receptor utilizing heated pressure rolls to cause transfer to the image materials to the receptor.

Image transfer apparatus and method

Receptor sheet for a toner developed electrostatic imaging process

Disclosed are image release sheets which comprise a dielectric coated substrate and a silicone-urea block polymer coating for the dielectric substrate. The silicone-urea block polymer functions as a release coating when the image sheet is used in electrographic processes. Excellent transfer of an image from a donor element, comprising the silicone-urea block polymer as a release coating, to a receptor substrate occurs. In a preferred embodiment, a pH sensitive indicator such as thymolphthalein can be added to the release coating in order to monitor the thickness of the coating.

Release coatings for dielectric substrates

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Paul J Wang