US 2008/0165419 A1Published application

Reflective polarizers containing polymer fibers

Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company

InventorsAndrew J. Ouderkirk, Richard C. Allen, Patrick R. Fleming, Diane North, Andrew T. Ruff, Kristin L. Thunhorst

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Abstract

A polarizer is formed with an arrangement of polymer fibers substantially parallel within a polymer matrix. The polymer fibers are formed of at least first and second polymer materials. At least one of the polymer matrix and the first and second polymer materials is birefringent, and provides a birefringent interface with the adjacent material. Light is reflected and/or scattered at the birefringent interfaces with sensitivity to the polarization of the light. In some embodiments, the polymer fibers are formed as composite fibers, having a plurality of scattering polymer fibers disposed within a filler to form the composite fiber. In other embodiments, the polymer fiber is a multilayered polymer fiber. The polymer fibers may be arranged within the polymer matrix as part of a fiber weave.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An optical body, comprising:

a polymer matrix;
and
a plurality of polymer fibers disposed within the polymer matrix and oriented substantially parallel to a first axis of the matrix, wherein at least one of the polymer fibers comprises a first polymer material and a second polymer material, the first and second polymer materials not miscible with each other and at least one of the polymer materials being birefringent, the at least one fiber having elongated internal multiple birefringent interfaces for reflecting light, the elongated birefringent interfaces formed between the first polymer material and the second polymer material, wherein a refractive index difference at the birefringent interfaces for light polarized parallel to the first axis is different from a refractive index difference at the birefringent interfaces for light polarized parallel to a second axis, the second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.