# US 8,771,919 B2 · Laser marking process and articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,919 B2 - Document ID: US8771919B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/390,407 - Filed: 2010-08-31 - Published: 2012-06-07 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-31 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Applicants: Pingfan Wu; Junkang Jacob Lui; Robert L. W. Smithson; Rachel M. Lucking; Panu K. Zoller; Jeffrey O. Emslander; Kanta Kumar - Inventors: Pingfan Wu; Junkang Jacob Lui; Robert L. W. Smithson; Rachel M. Lucking; Panu K. Zoller; Jeffrey O. Emslander; Kanta Kumar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771919B2 ## CPC - B41M 5/267: {Marking of plastic artifacts, e.g. with laser} - Y10T 428/24868: Translucent outer layer - Y10T 428/31909: Next to second addition polymer from unsaturated monomers - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A process to mark a multilayered article with a laser (20). The multilayered article (10) includes a laser-markable layer (14) having at least one organic polymer and at least one light-sensitive pigment therein, and including at least one release agent associated with the laser-markable layer. Laser-marking of the laser-markable layer is accomplished by directing laser radiation (22) into the multilayered article through the release agent (12) to induce an interaction between the light-sensitive pigment and the organic polymer. As a result of the interaction, a visually perceptible marking (16) is formed in the article. The laser-marked article includes a laser-markable layer and a first release agent associated with a surface of the laser-markable layer. The marking(s) in the laser-markable layer is visible through the layer of release agent, and the marking is a result of the laser-induced interaction between the light-sensitive pigment and the organic polymer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process, comprising: providing a release liner, the release liner comprising an opaque laser-markable layer comprising at least one organic polymer and at least one light-sensitive pigment, and at least one release agent, the at least one release agent being transparent to a laser radiation; and laser-marking the opaque laser-markable layer by directing the laser radiation into the release liner through the at least one release agent to induce an interaction between the light-sensitive pigment and the organic polymer to form a visually perceptible marking in the release liner, wherein the release agent is not functionally damaged by the laser radiation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1 wherein providing the release liner further comprises mixing the organic polymer and the laser-sensitive pigment to form a blend, and extruding the blend to provide the opaque laser-markable layer, the laser-markable layer comprising a first major surface and a second major surface; and simultaneously co-extruding the at least one release agent over the first major surface of the laser-markable layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1 wherein providing the release liner further comprises first forming the opaque laser-markable layer, wherein the opaque laser-markable layer has a first major surface and a second major surface, and thereafter applying the at least one release agent to one or both of the first and second major surfaces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1 wherein providing the release liner further comprises forming the opaque laser-markable layer, wherein the laser-markable layer has a first major surface and a second major surface, and applying an adhesive layer to one or both of the first and second major surfaces so that the adhesive layer is between the at least one release agent and the laser-markable layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1 wherein the visually perceptible marking is an indicia of source. ### Claim 6 An article, comprising: an opaque laser-markable release liner comprising at least one organic polymer and at least one light-sensitive pigment; the opaque laser-markable release liner comprising a first major surface; a first release agent disposed on the first major surface of the opaque laser-markable release liner; the at least one release agent being transparent to laser radiation, and a marking in the opaque laser-markable release liner visible through the first release agent, the marking resulting from a laser-induced interaction between the at least one light-sensitive pigment and the organic polymer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The article according to claim 6 wherein the at least one polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefin, thermoplastic elastomeric olefin and combinations thereof; and the light-sensitive pigment comprises titanium dioxide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The article according to claim 6 wherein the opaque laser-markable release liner comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nonwoven materials, woven materials, cellulosic materials, films and combinations of two or more of the foregoing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The article according to claim 6 wherein the light sensitive pigment is present at a concentration of less than about 10% by weight based on the weight of the opaque laser-markable release liner. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The article according to claim 6 wherein the opaque laser-markable release liner comprises (i) a first extruded layer comprising a polymer that is essentially transparent to laser radiation, wherein the first major surface is disposed on the first extruded layer; (ii) an opaque laser-markable layer; and (iii) a third extruded layer, the third extruded layer comprising a second major surface of the laser-markable release liner, wherein the opaque laser-markable layer is disposed between the first and third extruded layers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The article according to claim 10 wherein the first extruded layer comprises low density polyethylene; the opaque laser-markable layer comprises high density polyethylene; the third extruded layer comprises medium density polyethylene; and the at least one light-sensitive pigment comprises titanium dioxide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The article according to claim 11 wherein a second release agent is disposed on the second major surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The article according to claim 12 further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the second release agent. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A roll comprising the article according to claim 13, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is releasably adhered to both the first release agent and the second release agent, the first and second release agents selected so as to provide differential release properties with respect to the pressure sensitive adhesive. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The article according to claim 6 wherein the at least one release agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, silicones, fluorosilicons, perfluoroethers, fluorocarbons, polymers with long alkyl side chains, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing. ### Claim 16 A laser-markable release liner comprising (i) a first layer comprising a polymer that is essentially transparent to laser radiation, the first layer forming a first major surface of the laser-markable release liner; (ii) an opaque laser-markable layer; and (iii) a third layer providing a second major surface of the laser-markable release liner, wherein the opaque laser-markable layer is disposed between the first and third layers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The article according to claim 16 wherein the first layer comprises a polyolefin release agent and the article further comprises an adhesive disposed between the first layer and the opaque laser-markable layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The article according to claim 17 wherein the polyolefin release agent is polyethylene. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The article according to claim 16 wherein the first layer comprises a first polyolefin release agent and the third layer comprises a second polyolefin release agent.