US 6,005,024 A · Phosphorescent epoxy overlay

Abstract

The present invention pertains to novel durable, tough, transparent, luminescent overlay compositions, useful for highlighting and/or illuminating and preserving surfaces and markings thereupon, such as roadways/highways, pedestrian passageways, airport runways, traffic control surface markings on travelways such as those listed above, traffic control devices/signs, structures, and articles. The clear compositions contain a moisture sensitive luminescent substance (for example, a phosphorescent substance having increased brightness and longer lasting afterglow) and an epoxy resin which imparts moisture stability to the luminescent substance, and durability and longer life to the underlying markings, surface area, structure or article. The clear transparent compositions can be applied as an overlay to existing surface area markings, or to unmarked surface areas themselves, or to structures or articles without obscuring the original appearance or color of the marking/surface/structure/article, to cover and/or protect the marking/surface/structure/article for an extended period of time, while providing indoor and outdoor luminescence on the marking/surface/structure/article in dark conditions for increased safety. The overlay compositions provide these benefits in an environmentally friendly manner because the compositions do not contaminate the surrounding environment with any organic hydrocarbon products via vaporization or runoffs, and in addition, may decrease the necessity to illuminate surface markings by energy-consuming overhead electrical fixtures.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A phosphorescent-luminescent epoxy overlaying composition, for use in highlighting, during dark or non-daylight conditions, and preserving, and protecting ground surfaces, structure surfaces, article surfaces, or markings on ground, structure or article surfaces, comprising:

(a) a nearly colorless phosphorescent-luminescent material, comprising a compound expressed by the matrix MA1.sub.2 0.sub.4 in which M is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium and barium or alternatively, is a matrix MA1.sub.2 0.sub.4 in which M is a plurality of metal elements comprised of magnesium and at least one element selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium and barium;
and
(b) a two-part epoxy (comprising a resin component and a hardener/activator component) that, after curing, is fairly clear, durable, tough, non-aqueous, and moisture stable (insensitive), whereby said overlaying composition, when exposed to a light source, exhibits brightness properties superior to the brightness properties of conventional sulfide phosphorescent materials, and afterglow (i.e., energy deca time period) properties superior to, by exceeding by about ten times, the afterglow properties of conventional sulfide phosphorescent materials.

A method of preparing (or "pre-mixing") a phosphorescent-luminescent epoxy overlay composition for use in highlighting, during dark or non-daylight conditions, and preserving, and protecting ground surfaces and markings on ground surfaces and articles, whereby incremental amounts of the phosphorescent-luminescent substance are mixed with either the hardener component or the resin/activator component of the two-part epoxy before mixing together and activating the two epoxy components, thus assuring that the phosphorescent-luminescent powder particles are thoroughly coated, encapsulated and homogeneously distributed throughout the hardener component or the resin/activator component of the two-part epoxy, prior to mixing together the two epoxy components.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Phosphorescent epoxy overlay

Life of this patent

Phosphorescent epoxy overlay

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13