Nhk Spring Co., Ltd.

Yokohama Kiko Co., Ltd.

Kiko Co., Ltd.

Susumu Shimomura

Hiroshi Imai

Shitomi Katayama

Susumu Senaha

Suguru Nomura

Akira Akagami

Suizo Kyo

Akira Ohno

Akiro Ohno

The present invention is intended for a heat resistant reflector in which a light reflective metal is vacuum coated on a metal or inorganic material substrate and in which on the surface of the vacuum coated layer is further vacuum coated a light transmissible ceramic and preferably, a ceramic having a crystalline substance. This reflector has a light reflective metal and a ceramic vacuum coated together, and thus, can form a thin film of the same replica as a substrate. Therefore, there is very little refraction or absorption of light due to a protective film, cnanges of total reflectivity, regular reflectivity or refractivity are very few and its manufacture as well is simple because of continuous vacuum coating with one and the same coating machine. Further, as this reflector is protected with a crystalline ceramic, it has good resistance to heat, light, weather and solvent, and since a ceramic having a low degree of oxidation is electrically conductive in some cases, it can be made antifogging by conduction. The surface is highly dense and there is very little loss of transparency or coloring deterioration with time. Rubbing scratches due to wiping of pollutants on the surface are difficult to inflict and the surface has the property of excellent durability.

Heat resistant reflector

A multi-layer coating reflector consisting of 3 or 4 layers of the present invention, which comprises a light reflective metallic vacuum-deposited layer disposed on a substrate which may, or may not, have a resin layer thereon and a light transmittable inorganic or light transmittable resin layer which may, or may not, be further disposed on the surface of that, use for one or both of the resin layers high aryl silicone resin in which the mole percentage of aryl/alkyl+aryl is 65-100%. With the use of such high aryl silicone resin, when said resin is a protective layer, the reflector has excellent resistance to light, weathering, water, humidity, chemicals and bending and when it is on the substrate, the light reflective metal has excellent reflection properties and obtains bright reflected images, high precision light collection and distribution properties.

Multi-layer reflectors

An article with multi-layer protective coatings, comprising a substrate and two protective coating layers, in which said protective coating layers consist of a vacuum-coated ceramic layer and a resin layer, coated in any desired order.

Multi-layer coating protective film form

The reflector of the present invention is a multi-layer reflector comprising a substrate with or without a resin layer coated thereon; a light-reflective metal layer vacuum-coated on said substrate; and a protective layer consisting of a light transmittable resin layer and a light transmittable, preferably vacuum-coated, inorganic substance layer coated on said metal layer. By this, each film can be thin as compared with each individual protective film, which leads to good heat conductivity low temperature rise, high impact strength and good durability and which gives clear reflected images or high precision light collective and light distributing properties. In addition, the coated light-reflective metal shows better regular reflectivity, giving clear and sharp reflected images and allowing more accurate light collective or light distributing properties. Furthermore, selection of an inorganic substance layer or a resin layer as the outermost protection allows the manufacture of reflectors having desired characteristics (resistance to oil, solvents, light, heat, abrasion, chemicals, water and moisture; flexibility, etc.) depending on specific requirements.

Growing community of inventors

Yokohama, Japan

Susumu Shimomura