The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2019
Filed:
Oct. 22, 2010
Adam D. Haag, Woodbury, MN (US);
William F. Edmonds, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Jason S. Petaja, Cottage Grove, MN (US);
Eric W. Nelson, Stillwater, MN (US);
William Blake Kolb, West Lakeland, MN (US);
Encai Hao, Woodbury, MN (US);
Fei LU, Woodbury, MN (US);
Michael Benton Free, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Adam D. Haag, Woodbury, MN (US);
William F. Edmonds, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Jason S. Petaja, Cottage Grove, MN (US);
Eric W. Nelson, Stillwater, MN (US);
William Blake Kolb, West Lakeland, MN (US);
Encai Hao, Woodbury, MN (US);
Fei Lu, Woodbury, MN (US);
Michael Benton Free, Saint Paul, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A process and apparatus for producing a gradient nanovoided article, a gradient nanovoided coating, and a gradient low refractive index coating is described. The process includes providing a first solution of a polymerizable material in a solvent, and providing a first environment proximate a first region of the coating and a different second environment proximate an adjacent region of the coating. The process further includes at least partially polymerizing the polymerizable material to form a composition that includes an insoluble polymer matrix and a second solution. The insoluble polymer matrix includes a plurality of nanovoids that are filled with the second solution, and a major portion of the solvent from the second solution is removed. A first volume fraction of the plurality of nanovoids proximate the first region of the coating is less than a second volume fraction of the plurality of nanovoids proximate an adjacent of the coating. An apparatus for the process is also described, and includes a web line, a coating section, a partial polymerization section, and a solvent removal section.