US 6,670,045 B1Granted

Reflector with a resistant surface

AssigneeAlcan Technology & Management Ltd.

InventorsVolkmar Gillich, Renato Kirin, Roman Fuchs

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A reflector, with high total reflection, resisting mechanical stress, and having a reflector body on which the following components are superimposed (a) a functional coating, e.g., a varnish, (b) a reflection layer structure composed of a reflecting metallic layer and, optionally, one or more transparent ceramic layers, having for instance an optical depth of λ/2, applied on the top of the metallic layer. The reflection layer structure is a protection layer as a surface layer. The protection layer is a silicon oxide of general formula SiOx where x is a number from 1.1 to 2.0, or is an aluminum oxide of formula Al2O3, with a thickness of 3nm or more. The protection layer protects the underlying layers from mechanical stresses. In the DIN 58196 wipe test, the protected layer shows no damage after 50 test cycles, each with 100 wiping strokes. These reflectors are useful in the field of lighting and illumination where they can be used for lighting of display units with screens, primary lighting, secondary lighting, raster lighting, light ceilings or light deflector lamella.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A reflector with high total reflection, and resistant to mechanical stress, containing a reflector body made of a rolled metal sheet on which are superimposed:

(a) a functional coating comprising a gel film, varnish or polymer with a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 20 μm, the functional coating overlying and being directly on the reflector body;
and
(b) a reflection layer structure composed of (i) a reflecting metallic layer overlying and being directly on the functional coating;
(ii) a plurality of transparent layers overlying the reflecting metallic layer, one of the transparent layers being directly on the reflecting metallic layer, and each of the other transparent layers overlying and being directly on one of the transparent layers, and (iii) a scratch proof protective layer overlying and being directly on the transparent layer furthest away from the reflecting metallic layer, surface of the protective layer away from the reflector body has no layer thereon, the protective layer comprises a silicon oxide of formula SiOx where x represents a number from 1.1 to 2.0 or aluminum oxide of formula Al2O3, the protective layer has a thickness of 3 nm to 20 nm, the protective layer, being on the surface of the reflector away from the reflector body, protects underlying layers against mechanical damage, and the protective layer exhibits no surface damage in wipe test according to DIN 58196 after 50 test cycles each of 100 wiping strokes.

1 more element

A reflector with high total reflection, and resistant to mechanical stress, containing a reflector body made of a rolled aluminum sheet on which are superimposed:

(a) a functional coating overlying the reflector body, the functional coating being anodically oxidized aluminum formed directly out of the aluminum lying on surface of the reflector body, of thickness 10 to 500 nm, and a gel-film, lacquer or polymer of thickness 0.5 to 20 μm overlying and being directly on the anodically oxidized aluminum;
and
(b) a reflection layer structure composed of (i) a reflecting metallic layer overlying and being directly on the functional coating, (ii) a plurality of transparent layers overlying the reflecting metallic layer, one of the transparent layers being directly on the reflecting metallic layer, and each of the other transparent layers overlying and being on one of the transparent layers, and (iii) a scratch-proof protective layer overlying and being directly on the transparent layer furthest away from the reflecting metallic layer, and surface of the protective layer away from the reflecting body has no layer thereon, the protective layer comprises a silicon oxide silicon-oxide of formula SiOx where x represents a number from 1.1 to 2.0, or aluminum oxide of formula Al2O3, the protective layer has a thickness of 3 nm to 20 nm, the body, protect underlying layers against mechanical damage, and the protective layer exhibits no surface damage in wipe test according to DIN 58196 after 50 test cycles, each of 100 wiping strokes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.