# US 11,111,346 B2 · Metal-coated non-spherical resin particles and method for producing same, aligned film of metal-coated non-spherical resin particles and method for producing same, particles, and method for producing particle-aligned film > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,346 B2 - Document ID: US11111346B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/088,925 - Filed: 2017-03-31 - Published: 2020-10-15 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Sekisui Kasei Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Sekisui Kasei Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Ryosuke Harada; Eiji Tokunaga; Sou Aizawa; Keisuke Seto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111346B2 ## CPC - C08J 7/04: Coating - C08J 3/11: from solid polymers - C08J 3/128: {Polymer particles coated by inorganic and non-macromolecular organic compounds} - C08J 5/18: Manufacture of films or sheets - C08J 7/044: Forming conductive coatings; Forming coatings having anti-static properties - G01N 21/01: Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation - G01N 21/41: Refractivity; Phase-affecting properties, e.g. optical path length (G01N21/21 takes precedence) - C08J 2333/12: Homopolymers or copolymers of methyl methacrylate - C08J 2333/14: of esters containing halogen, nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen atoms in addition to the carboxy oxygen - C08J 2367/00: Characterised by the use of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain; Derivatives of such polymers - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The present invention provides non-spherical metal-coated irregularly-shaped resin particles that can improve characteristics, such as light diffusion characteristics and reflection characteristics, when used for optical applications, compared with spherical metal-coated resin particles. Specifically, the present invention provides metal-coated irregularly-shaped resin particles in which part of the surface of irregularly-shaped resin particles is coated with metal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Metal-coated non-spherical resin particles, in which 20% or more and less than 80% of the surface of non-spherical resin particles is coated with metal, wherein the sphere-equivalent volume average particle diameter of the non-spherical resin particles is 0.1 to 300 μm and wherein the non-spherical resin particles have an aspect ratio of 1.2 or more. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 1, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have a circular outer shape when viewed from a direction in which a project area is the largest, and the non-spherical resin particles have a non-circular outer shape when viewed from a direction in which a project area is the smallest. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 1, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have (1) multiple flat portions, (2) a flat portion and a curved portion, or (3) a curved portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 1, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have a surface coated with metal and a surface that is not coated with metal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 1, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have a hemispherical shape with a hemispherical portion and a flat portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 5, wherein at least part of the surface of the hemispherical portion is coated with metal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 5, wherein at least part of the surface of the flat portion is coated with metal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 1, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have a biconvex lens shape with a curved portion, or a flat shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 8, wherein only one side convex lens portion of the biconvex lens shape is coated, or only one side portion of the flat shape is coated. ### Claim 10 Metal-coated non-spherical resin particles, in which 1% or more and less than 100% of the surface of non-spherical resin particles is coated with metal, wherein the sphere-equivalent volume average particle diameter of the non-spherical resin particles is 0.1 to 300 μm, and wherein the metal-coated non-spherical resin particles have phototaxis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 10, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have an aspect ratio of 1.2 or more. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 10, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have a circular outer shape when viewed from a direction in which a project area is the largest, and the non-spherical resin particles have a non-circular outer shape when viewed from a direction in which a project area is the smallest. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 10, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have (1) multiple flat portions, (2) a flat portion and a curved portion, or (3) a curved portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 10, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have a surface coated with metal and a surface that is not coated with metal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 10, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have a hemispherical shape with a hemispherical portion and a flat portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 15, wherein at least part of the surface of the hemispherical portion is coated with metal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 15, wherein at least part of the surface of the flat portion is coated with metal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 10, wherein the non-spherical resin particles have a biconvex lens shape with a curved portion, or a flat shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The metal-coated non-spherical resin particles according to claim 18, wherein only one side convex lens portion of the biconvex lens shape is coated, or only one side portion of the flat shape is coated.