Method of detecting wear on a substrate using a fluorescent indicator
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsYen Lane Chen, Gary S. Williamson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of detecting wear on a substrate including coating a composition that includes a fluorescent compound on the surface of a first substrate, exposing the coated surface to wear, exposing the coated surface to radiation capable of exciting the fluorescent compound, and detecting the presence or absence of fluorescence.
Claims33
A method of detecting wear on a substrate, said method comprising:
- a. coating a composition comprising a fluorescent compound on the surface of a substrate, wherein said composition is selected from waxes, floor finishing compositions, sealants, polishing compositions, antimicrobial compositions, water proofing compositions, antigraffiti compositions, antisoiling compositions, mildew growth preventing compositions, water repellent compositions, antislipping compositions, and polymer compositions;
- b. exposing the coated surface to wear;
- c. exposing the coated surface to ultraviolet radiation capable of exciting the fluorescent compound;
- and
- d. detecting the presence or absence of fluorescence.
A method of detecting wear on a substrate surface, said method comprising:
- a. providing a substrate that has been previously coated with a composition comprising a fluorescent compound, the coated surface having been exposed to wear, wherein said coating composition is selected from waxes, floor finishing compositions, sealants, polishing compositions;
- antimicrobial compositions, water proofing compositions, antigraffiti compositions, antisoiling compositions, mildew growth preventing compositions, water repellent compositions, antislipping compositions, and polymer compositions;
- b. exposing the surface to ultraviolet radiation capable of exciting the fluorescent compound;
- and
- c. detecting the presence or absence of fluorescence.
A method of determining the degree of wear on a coated surface of a substrate, said method comprising:
- a. providing a substrate surface having previously been coated with a composition comprising a fluorescent compound, wherein said coating composition is selected from waxes, floor finishing compositions, sealants, polishing compositions, antimicrobial compositions, water proofing compositions, antigraffiti compositions, antisoiling compositions, mildew growth preventing compositions, water repellent compositions, antislipping compositions, and polymer compositions;
- b. exposing the coated substrate to ultraviolet radiation capable of exciting the fluorescent compound;
- c. measuring the fluorescence intensity emitted from said coated surface;
- and
- d. comparing the measured fluorescence intensity with a predetermined fluorescence intensity.
A method of detecting coverage of a coating on a substrate, said method comprising:
- a. coating a substrate with a composition comprising a fluorescent dye, wherein said coating composition is selected from waxes, floor finishing compositions, sealants, polishing compositions, antimicrobial compositions, water proofing compositions, antigraffiti compositions, antisoiling compositions, mildew growth preventing compositions, water repellent compositions, antislipping compositions, and polymer compositions;
- b. affixing said composition to said substrate;
- c. exposing the coated substrate to ultraviolet radiation capable of exciting the fluorescent dye;
- and
- d. detecting the presence or absence of fluorescence across the coated surface to determine the extent of surface coverage by the coating composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.