3m Innovative Properties Company

Vivek Krishnan

Christopher Bland Walker, Jr

John Charles Clark

Alexander J Kugel

Steven J McMan

Toheeb B Alabi

Mikhail L Pekurovsky

Abdullahi A Mohamud

Thomas P Klun

Michael A Kropp

Joseph D Rule

Ryan E Marx

Charlie C Ho

Roger W Barton

Kara A Meyers

Saagar A Shah

James Zhu

Jonathan W Kemling

Teresa M Goeddel

Kevin T Reddy

Chris A Pommer

Ankit Mahajan, Jr

Matthew H Frey

Tatsuo Fukushi

Kenton D Budd

Matthew S Stay

Aaron K Nienaber

Yu Yang

Thomas J Metzler

Kui Chen-Ho

Lan Hong Liu

Jingjing Ma

Christopher K Haas

Mary M Caruso Dailey

Sharon Wang

Jean A Tangeman

Samad Javid

Sonja S Mackey

Matthew R C Atkinson

Matthew D Wilding

Thomas B Galush

Steven Hin-Chung Kong

Jeremy P Gundale

Matthew T Holbrook

Gaurav Manik

Anthony J Ostlund

Kyle E Kulseth

Gajendra Rao

Steven J Mcman

Matthew RC Atkinson

Christopher B Walker

Suresh S Iyer

A stretchable conductor includes a substrate with a first major surface, wherein the substrate is an elastomeric material. An elongate wire is on the first major surface of the substrate; the wire includes a first end and a second end, and further includes at least one arcuate region between the first end and the second end. At least one portion of the arcuate region of the wire in the region has a first surface area portion embedded in the surface of the substrate and a second surface area portion unembedded on the substrate and exposed in an amount sufficient to render at least an area of the substrate in the region electrically conductive. The unembedded second surface portion of the arcuate region may lie above or below a plane of the substrate. Composite articles including a stretchable conductor in durable electrical contact with a conductive fabric are also disclosed.

Stretchable conductors

There is provided an article comprising at least a first surface having: (a) a first binder layer; (b) a plurality of transparent microspheres partially embedded in the first binder layer wherein the transparent microspheres have refractive indices that are less than a refractive index of the first binder layer and wherein the plurality of transparent microspheres consist of microspheres having a refractive index of no more than 1.490. There is also provided a transfer article comprising: (a) a transfer carrier, the transfer carrier comprising: (i) a support layer; and (ii) a thermoplastic release layer bonded to the support layer; (b) a layer of a plurality of transparent microspheres, formed on a side of the thermoplastic transparent microsphere release layer opposite the support layer, wherein the plurality of transparent microspheres consist of microspheres having a refractive index of no more than 1.490.

Microsphere articles and transfer articles

Described herein is an article comprising (i) bead film comprising a binder resin layer and a plurality of microspheres partially embedded in the binder resin layer such that a portion of the microspheres outwardly protrude a first distance from the surface of the binder resin layer; (ii) a stabilizing layer disposed on the outwardly protruding microspheres opposite the binder resin layer, wherein the stabilizing layer intimately conforms to the protruding microspheres, and wherein the stabilizing layer has a Tg less than 100 C and a storage modulus at 150&#xb0; C. of at least 1.5 MPa; and (iii) a release agent, wherein (a) the binder resin layer comprises the release agent, (b) the stabilizing layer comprises the release agent, and/or (c) an intermediate layer comprises the release agent, wherein the intermediate layer is disposed between the monolayer of microspheres and the stabilizing layer, with the proviso that when the binder resin layer has a fluorine content along the polymeric backbone greater than 65 wt %, the stabilizing layer comprises a release agent selected from a silicone and a fluoropolymer. Also disclosed herein are methods of making thermoformable bead films.

Thermoformable beaded articles with removable stabilizing layer and methods thereof

Described herein is an article having a microsphere layer comprising a monolayer of microspheres, the monolayer of microspheres comprising a first area substantially free of microspheres and a second area comprising a plurality of randomly-distributed microspheres, wherein the monolayer of microspheres comprises a predetermined pattern, the predetermined pattern comprises at least one of (i) a plurality of the first areas, (ii) a plurality of the second areas, and (iii) combinations thereof; and (b) a bead bonding layer disposed on the microsphere layer, wherein the plurality of microspheres are partially embedded in a first major surface of the bead bonding layer, wherein the article has a retroreflectivity (R) of less than 5.0 candelas/lux/square meter. Also disclosed herein are transfer carriers and methods of making the articles and transfer carriers.

Article featuring a predetermined pattern of randomly distributed microspheres and methods of making the same

Described herein is decorative article having a coefficient of friction less than 0.3 wherein the decorative articles comprises: (i) a microsphere layer comprising a plurality of microspheres, wherein the microsphere layer comprises a monolayer of microspheres and wherein the plurality of microspheres are in a microscopic periodic pattern; and (ii) a bead bonding layer disposed on the microsphere layer, wherein the plurality of microspheres are partially embedded in the bead bonding layer. Also disclosed herein are transfer articles and methods of making the decorative articles and transfer articles.

Decorative article featuring a microscopic periodic pattern and methods of making the same

A stretchable conductor includes a substrate with a first major surface and an elongate wire, wherein the substrate is an elastomeric material, the elongate wire is on the first major surface of the substrate, the wire includes a first end and a second end, and further includes at least one arcuate region between the first end and the second end. At least one portion of the arcuate region of the wire in the region has a first surface area portion embedded in the surface of the substrate and a second surface area portion unembedded on the substrate and exposed in an amount sufficient to render at least an area of the substrate in the region electrically conductive. The unembedded second surface portion of the arcuate region may lie above or below a plane of the substrate. Additionally, different methods of preparing said stretchable conductor are disclosed. Composite articles including said stretchable conductor in durable electrical contact with a conductive fabric are also disclosed.

Method of making a stretchable conductor

There is provided an article a binder resin layer comprising an aliphatic polyurethane polymer comprising a plurality of soft segments, and a plurality of hard segments, where the soft segments comprise polycarbonate polyol; and a plurality of microspheres partially embedded and adhered to a first major surface of the binder resin layer, wherein the specific chemical identities and relative amounts of the segments and moieties of the aliphatic polyurethane polymer are sufficient to impart a glass transition temperature of 10&#xb0; C. or less in the article and a storage modulus in the article that changes less than 15 MPa from 25&#xb0; C. to 175&#xb0; C.

Flexible microsphere articles having high temperature stability

There is provided an article comprising at least a first surface having a fluorine-containing polymeric binder resin layer and a plurality of microspheres partially embedded in a first major surface of the binder resin layer and adhered thereto; wherein the fluorine-containing polymer is derived in part from at least one partially fluorinated, or non-fluorinated, monomer; and wherein the article exhibits a stain resistance to yellow mustard at elevated temperature and humidity as measured by the change in b* of less than 50. There are also provided such articles wherein the fluorine-containing polymer is derived in part from at least one partially fluorinated, or non-fluorinated, monomer; and wherein the fluorine content along the polymeric backbone of the fluorine-containing polymer is from about 27% to 72% by weight. There are also provided such articles wherein the article is a thermoformable article exhibiting chemical resistance according to ASTM D5402-06.

Stain resistant microsphere articles

There is provided a thermoformable article comprising at least a first surface having a binder resin layer comprising a fluorine-containing polymer, where the binder resin layer has a first major surface opposite a second major surface; and a plurality of microspheres partially and adhered to the first major surface of the binder resin layer; where the fluorine-containing polymer is a partially fluorinated polymer derived from at least one fluorine containing monomer and two or more non-fluorinated monomers having at least one active hydrogen functional group, and further wherein at least one but not all of the active hydrogen functional groups are reacted with at least one curing agent having latent functionality. In some instances the curing agent comprises polyisocyanate. There is also provided a thermoset article derived from such thermoformable articles.

Dual cure stain resistant microsphere articles

There is provided an article a binder resin layer comprising an aliphatic polyurethane polymer comprising a plurality of soft segments, and a plurality of hard segments, where the soft segments comprise poly(alkoxy) polyol, and where the poly(alkoxy) polyol is essentially free of crosslinker; and a plurality of microspheres partially embedded and adhered to a first major surface of the binder resin layer, wherein the specific chemical identities and relative amounts of the segments and moieties of the aliphatic polyurethane polymer are sufficient to impart a glass transition temperature of 10&#xb0; C. or less in the article and a storage modulus in the article that changes less than 15 MPa from 25&#xb0; C. to 175&#xb0; C.

Multilayer stacks that can be used as decorative microsphere articles. The decorative microsphere articles can be a durable and aesthetically pleasing substitute for anodized aluminum and other matte metallic surfaces. The decorative microsphere articles are durable and can have a bright diffused appearance of any desired color, for example white, gold, silver, red, or other colors, while being capable of being manufactured using a roll-to-roll process. The decorative microsphere articles can also provide novel optical effects than can change at different viewing angles, including, for example, changing color with view angle, changing sharpness or clarity of an image or icon with view angle, and the like, that may allow customers to differentiate their products.

Decorative microsphere articles with information layer

There is provided an article comprising at least a first surface having a first binder layer selected from at least one of linear resins and resins having low cross link densities, where the first binder layer has a first major surface opposite a second major surface; and a plurality of microspheres at least partially embedded in the first major surface of the first binder layer. There is also provided an article comprising a first surface having a first binder layer selected from at least one of linear resins and resins having low cross link densities; and a plurality of microspheres at least partially embedded a the first major surface of the first binder layer, where for at least a portion of the first major surface the plurality of microspheres covers 30% to 50% of that portion, and the microspheres are substantially uniformly spaced.

Thermoformable microsphere articles

There is provided an article comprising at least a first surface having a first binder layer selected from at least one of linear resins and resins having low cross link densities, where the first binder layer has a first major surface opposite a second major surface; and a plurality of microspheres at least partially embedded in the first major surface of the first binder layer. For at least a portion of the first major surface, the plurality of micro spheres may cover 30% to 50% of that portion, and the microspheres may be substantially uniformly spaced.

A security laminate for authenticating an article and a method for authenticating articles is disclosed. The security laminate includes a transparent binder layer and retroreflective microspheres such that the security laminate exhibits a covert switching effect when exposed to particular conditions.

Security article having a switching feature

Retroreflective elements and articles that include such elements. The retroreflective elements () include a solid spherical core () having an outer surface. A first complete concentric optical interference layer () overlays the outer surface of the core providing a first interface between the core and the first optical interference layer, and a second complete concentric optical interference layer () overlays the first optical interference layer to provide a second interface between the first optical interference layer and the second optical interference layer. In some embodiments, a third complete concentric optical interference layer overlays the second optical interference layer to provide a third interface between the second optical interference layer and the third optical interference layer. The retroreflective articles include a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface with a plurality of the retroreflective elements affixed along the first major surface of the substrate.

Retroreflective articles and retroreflective elements comprising a spherical core and two concentric optical interference layers

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Vivek Krishnan