Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Robert A Haenggi

James A Laird

Gregory F Jacobs

Terry R Bailey

James E Lasch

Larry K Stump

Mark D Zender

Dale H Haunschild

Roger R Kult

Louis C Belisle

John L Ethen

Michael P Daniels

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

Thermoplastic based pavement marking sheets are disclosed. The marking sheets employ a conformant composite material including: polyolefin and a nonreinforcing mineral particulate; and/or a thermoplastic upper surface. Preferably, the sheet's thermoplastic upper surface is embedded with reflective elements and/or skid-resistant particles. A solventless process of embedding particles in thermoplastic pavement marking sheets is disclosed. Processes for preparing marking sheets are also disclosed. Conformant pavement marking sheets which may be applied in cooler conditions are also disclosed.

Process for making conformable thermoplastic marking sheet

A skid-resistant, surface marking material is disclosed. The skid-resistant, surface marking material comprises a polymer matrix phase and a plurality of opaque ceramic spheroids partially embedded in and protruding from the top surface of the matrix layer. The ceramic spheroids have rounded surfaces and no substantial points.

Skid-resistant surface marking material

A skid-resistant pavement marking sheet including a top surface and a plurality of skid-resistant ceramic spheroids embedded in and protruding from the surface. The ceramic spheroids are fired from a raw material mixture including 10-97 wt. % mineral particulates, 3-90 wt. % alumina, and at least 1 wt. % binder, at a temperature of about 1300.degree. C., have an outer surface rich in alumina concentration relative to the center of the spheroid, and are resistant to crushing and fracturing.

Skid-resistant pavement markings

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Robert A Haenggi