Cellular encapsulated-lens high whiteness retroreflective sheeting with flexible cover sheet

A cellular, encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting comprising:

• (1) a base sheet that comprises a monolayer of retroreflective elements partially embedded in a binder layer;
• (2) a cover sheet disposed in spaced relation from the layer of retroreflective elements;
• and (3) a network of narrow intersecting bonds that extend between said cover sheet and said base sheet and comprise binder material thermoformed at the point of contact between said bonds and said cover sheet so as to adhere said base sheet and said cover sheet together and from a plurality of cells within which retroreflective elements are hermetically sealed;
• wherein the cover sheet comprises an inner layer and at least a structural layer, said inner layer having an inside major surface that is in adherent contact with said intersecting bonds, and an outside major surface adhered to said structural layer of said cover sheet, and said inner layer having a Vicat Softening point of at least said structural layer of said cover sheet, said Vicat Softening Point of said inner layer also being higher than the minimum temperature at which said binder material was thermoformable into contact with said cover sheet, such that said inner layer improved the interaction between said cover sheet and said retroreflective elements so that when said binder material was thermoformed into contact with said cover sheet the flow of said binder material around the front surfaces of said retroreflective elements was improved.