Decorative laminate with non-visible light activated material and system and method for using the same

A decorative laminate system comprising:

• a structural component having a bonding surface;
• a decorative laminate applied to the bonding surface of the structural component, the decorative laminate comprising:
• a first laminate layer having a transparent appearance;
• a second laminate layer having an opaque appearance, the first laminate layer and the second laminate layer each comprising a thermoplastic fluoropolymer material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film, integral color polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film, and polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film/aluminum foil/adhesive material;
• a decorative layer disposed between the first laminate layer and the second laminate layer, the decorative layer comprising:
• one or more visible materials;
• and
• one or more non-visible light activated materials;
• a resin layer disposed on the second laminate layer;
• an adhesive layer disposed between the decorative laminate and the bonding surface of the structural component;
• and
• a lighting system having a light source configured to illuminate and change the one or more non-visible light activated materials from a non-visible state to a visible state, the light source comprising an ultraviolet (UV) light source or an infrared (IR) light source.

A method of making a composite panel having a decorative laminate applied thereto, the method comprising the steps of:

• depositing a decorative layer between a first laminate layer and a second laminate layer, wherein the first laminate layer and the second laminate layer each comprise a thermoplastic fluoropolymer material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film, integral color polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film, and polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film/aluminum foil/adhesive material, the decorative layer comprising:
• one or more visible materials;
• and
• one or more non-visible light activated materials that change from a non-visible state to a visible state, when exposed to a light source, the light source comprising an ultraviolet (UV) light source or an infrared (IR) light source;
• applying a resin layer to the second laminate layer;
• forming a decorative laminate by layering sequentially and laminating together at a specified heat and a specified pressure the first laminate layer, the decorative layer, the second laminate layer, and the resin layer;
• curing a structural composite panel to form a cured structural composite panel;
• and
• applying with an adhesive layer the decorative laminate to a bonding surface of the cured structural composite panel to form the composite panel having the decorative laminate applied thereto.