Phosphorescent elastomer master mixture and horological component comprising such a mixture
AssigneeThe Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
InventorsSophie Napoli, Nicolas Francois
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a master mixture comprising: from 40 to 95% by weight of a photoluminescent pigment, said pigment having a particle size limited by sifting at 30 μm; 5 to 60% by weight of a polymer in the form of an elastomer or an elastomer precursor chosen from fluorinated polymers from the FKM family, the polyurethane (TPU) family, Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, silicones, ethylene propylene rubbers (EPR) and the thermoplastic derivatives (TPO) thereof and acrylic elastomers.
Claims7
A polymeric composition comprising 20 to 50% by weight of a polymer and 50 to 80% by weight of a master mixture comprising:
- from 40 to 95% by weight of a photoluminescent pigment, said pigment having a particle size limited by sifting at 30 μm;
- 5 to 60% by weight of a polymer matrix in the form of an elastomer or an elastomer precursor chosen from fluorinated polymers from the FKM family, silicones, ethylene propylene rubbers (EPR) and acrylic elastomers,
- wherein the master mixture comprises 0.2 to 2% wax and/or oil, and 0.1 to 2% chromophores and/or fluorochromes.
A method for manufacturing a photoluminescent horological component comprising the steps of:
- a. producing a master mixture comprising:
- from 40 to 95% by weight of a photoluminescent pigment, said pigment having a particle size limited by sifting at 30 μm;
- and 5 to 60% by weight of a polymer matrix in the form of an elastomer or an elastomer precursor chosen from fluorinated polymers from the FKM family, silicones, ethylene propylene rubbers (EPR) and acrylic elastomers;
- b. mixing the master mixture in a polymer compatible with said master mixture to obtain a composition;
- and
- c. shaping the composition obtained in b) to obtain a photoluminescent horological component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.