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:
Feb. 25, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 11, 2000
Tracy L. Phillips, Lawrenceville, GA (US);
PolyOne Corporation, Avon Lake, OH (US);
Abstract
The invention provides compositions and methods for imparting a translucent optical effect to transparent thermoplastic polymers. The compositions comprise the thermoplastic polymer and 0.01 to 15 parts per hundred by weight (preferably 0.1 to 6, more preferably 0.2 to 5 parts by weight, even more preferably 0.5 to 2 parts by weight, and most preferably 0.5 to 1.5 parts by weight) of at least one particulate, light diffusing material in the form of powders, fibers, whiskers, platelets, flakes, aggregates, agglomerates, and mixtures of these, comprising a average maximum particle size of from about 0.1 microns to about 200 microns (preferably from about 1 to about 100 microns). A first embodiment of the invention comprises a one step method for imparting the translucent optical effect. A second embodiment comprises a two step method, including the use of a concentrate composition. The translucent optical effects are obtainable in a continuum of very smooth to very grainy, depending on the type and concentration of the particles employed.