Diffuse reflective articles
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsWade D. Kretman, Scott R. Kaytor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Diffuse reflective materials proximate to a structure formed by thermally induced phase separation of a thermoplastic polymer and a diluent providing enhanced flexibility and reflectivity especially in the visible wavelengths of 380-730 nanometers are described. Such materials find a wide variety of application among combinations with other reflective layers. The diffuse reflective articles are useful in backlight units of liquid crystal displays, lights, copy machines, projection system displays, facsimile apparatus, electronic blackboards, diffuse white standards, photographic lights and the like.
Claims32
A diffuse reflective article comprising a diffuse reflective material proximate to a structure wherein said diffuse reflective material is made of a porous polyolefin sheet comprising a network of polymer domains and fibrils interconnecting the domains, the porous polyolefin sheet comprising a first surface having a surface element configured to reduce optical coupling with the structure.
A diffuse reflective article comprising a diffuse reflective material proximate to a structure wherein said diffuse reflective material is made of a porous polymeric sheet comprising a network of polymeric material having voids therein which material comprises:
- (a) a polymer component, and
- (b) a diluent component, said diluent component being miscible with the polymer component at a temperature above the melting point of the polymer component or a liquid-liquid phase separation temperature of a total solution of polymer and diluent;
- wherein the porous polymeric sheet comprises a first surface having a surface element configured to reduce optical coupling with the structure.
A method of improving diffuse reflectivity of light comprising using a diffuse reflective material to cause light energy to reflect off of it, wherein the material comprises a porous polymeric sheet containing at least one surface element positioned to reduce optical coupling with a substrate, the sheet comprising a network of polymeric material having voids therein which material comprises:
- (a) a polymer component, and
- (b) a diluent component, said diluent component being miscible with the polymer component at a temperature above the melting point of the polymer component or a liquid-liquid phase separation temperature of a total solution of polymer and diluent.
A method of making an article comprising a diffuse reflective material configured for positioning proximate to a structure, the method comprising:
- providing a polymer component;
- providing a diluent component, said diluent component being miscible with the polymer component at a temperature above the melting point of the polymer component or liquid-liquid phase separation temperature of the total solution of polymer and diluent;
- combining the polymer component and diluent component to form a porous polymeric sheet having a first thickness;
- and
- applying a force to the porous polymeric sheet to form a sheet having a second thickness.
A reflective article comprising a reflective material proximate to a structure, wherein the reflective article comprises a first surface having a surface element configured to reduce optical coupling with the structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.