3m Innovative Properties Company

Yeun-Jong Chou

Andrew John Ouderkirk

Olester Benson, Jr

Patrick R Fleming

William J Kopecky

Kristin LaVelle Thunhorst

Bruce Brandon Wilson

Diane North

James C Breister

Roger J Stumo

Robert L Brott

Edward J Woo

Richard C Allen

Seyed Abolhassan Angadjivand

Harold E Rude

Rufus C Sanders, Jr

Thomas W Rambosek

Dean S Holmes

Mary B Donovan

Rufus C Sanders

Kristin L 3M Center Thunhorst

A composite polymer fiber comprises a polymer filler material and a plurality of polymer scattering fibers disposed within the filler material. At least one of the filler material and the scattering fibers is formed of a birefringent material. The refractive indices of the filler material and the scattering fibers can be substantially matched for light incident in a first polarization state on the composite polymer fiber and unmatched for light incident in an orthogonal polarization state. The scattering fibers may be arranged to form a photonic crystal within the composite fiber. The composite fibers may be extruded and may be formed into a yarn, a weave or the like. If the filler material is soluble, it may be washed out of the yarn or weave, and the scattering fibers may then be infiltrated with a resin that is subsequently cured.

Composite polymer fibers

An abrasive article comprises a porous abrasive member, a nonwoven filter medium, and a porous attachment fabric. A plurality of openings in the porous abrasive member cooperates with the nonwoven filter medium to allow the flow of particles from an outer abrasive surface of the porous abrasive member to the porous attachment fabric. Methods of making and using the abrasive articles are included.

Abrasive article and method of making and using the same

A polarizer is formed with an arrangement of polymer fibers substantially parallel within a polymer matrix. The polymer fibers are formed of at least first and second polymer materials. At least one of the polymer matrix and the first and second polymer materials is birefringent, and provides a birefringent interface with the adjacent material. Light is reflected and/or scattered at the birefringent interfaces with sensitivity to the polarization of the light. In some embodiments, the polymer fibers are formed as composite fibers, having a plurality of scattering polymer fibers disposed within a filler to form the composite fiber. In other embodiments, the polymer fiber is a multilayered polymer fiber. The polymer fibers may be arranged within the polymer matrix as part of a fiber weave.

Optical elements containing a polymer fiber weave

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Yeun-Jong Chou