Back to results
US 7,745,360 B2Granted
Pavement marking, reflective elements, and methods of making microspheres
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsMatthew H. Frey, Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz, Kenton D. Budd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Presently described are retroreflective articles, such as pavement markings, that comprise transparent microspheres partially embedded in a (e.g., polymeric) binder. Also described are (e.g., glass-ceramic) microspheres, methods of making microspheres, as well as compositions of glass materials and compositions of glass-ceramic materials. The microspheres generally comprise lanthanide series oxide(s), titanium oxide (TiO2), and optionally zirconium oxide (ZrO2).
Claims24
A retroreflective article, comprising:
- first transparent microspheres having an index of refraction of at least 2.10 and comprising:
- at least 56 wt % TiO2;
- and
- at least 10 wt-% of one or more metal oxides selected from oxides of lanthanide series elements;
- and
- second transparent microspheres having an index of refraction within a range from 1.5 to 2.0;
- wherein the first and second transparent microspheres are at least partially embedded in a binder.
4 more elements
A retroreflective element, comprising:
- a core;
- and
- transparent microspheres at least partially embedded in the core and having an index of refraction of at least 2.10;
- wherein at least a portion of the transparent microspheres include at least 56 wt-% TiO2 and at least 10 wt-% of one or more lanthanide series oxides.
1 more element
A retroreflective article, comprising:
- first transparent microspheres having an index of refraction of at least 2.10 and comprising:
- at least 50 mol-% TiO2;
- and
- at least 5 mol-% of yttrium oxide;
- and
- second transparent microspheres having an index of refraction within a range from 1.5 to 2.0;
- wherein the first and second transparent microspheres are at least partially embedded in a binder.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.