Retroreflective signage articles, kits for producing same, and methods of making signage articles

An embedded lens retroreflective signage article comprising:

• a) a retroreflective base material comprising:
• i) a binder layer;
• ii) a monolayer of lenses anchored in the binder layer;
• and
• iii) a specularly reflective layer underlying and spaced from the lenses by a transparent material;
• b) a weather-resistant, transparent cover film attached to the binder layer of the retroreflective base material, the cover film comprising extruded, substantially thermoplastic polymer having an elongation of at least 50% and a tensile relaxation force from 50% elongation after 5 minutes relaxation of no more than 2300 N/m width;
• and
• c) thermal mass transfer printed matter adhered to the cover film, the thermal mass transfer printed matter consisting essentially of a polymeric binder and a colorant dispersed therein, the polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of polyethylene polymers, physical mixtures of a polyethylene polymer and an acrylic polymer, and copolymers of ethylene and an acrylic monomer.

A method of making a retroreflective signage article, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) selecting a retroreflective base sheeting having a top layer, the top layer positioned between retroreflective elements and a source of light, the top layer having an exposed surface devoid of mechanical and chemical primer treatments and extraneous print-receptive layers, the top layer comprising materials selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyester melamine resin, vegetable oil extended polyester melamine resin, plasticized polyvinylchloride, crosslinked aliphatic polyurethane, acrylic resins, polyvinylbutyral resin, crosslinked polyurethane/acrylics, and extruded substantially thermoplastic polymers having an elongation of at least 50% and a tensile relaxation force from 50% elongation after 5 minutes relaxation of no more than 2300 N/m width;
• b) selecting a thermal mass transfer donor article, the donor article comprising a carrier and a thermal mass transfer composition adhered to the carrier, the thermal mass transfer composition consisting essentially of a polymeric binder and a colorant dispersed therein, the polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of polyethylene polymers, physical mixtures of a polyethylene polymer and an acrylic polymer, and copolymers of ethylene and an acrylic monomer;
• and
• c) thermal mass transfer printing at least a portion of the composition to the top layer of the retroreflective base sheeting.