VERFAHREN ZUR HERSTELLUNG EINES RETROREFLEKTIERENDEN GEGENSTANDES UND RETROREFLEKTIERENDER GEGENSTAND MIT EINEM REFLEKTOR AUS ALUMINIUM

• Main Authors: CURRENS, D, LIGHTLE, VERA
• Format: Patent
• Language: German
• Published: 10.02.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCESIN A PLASTIC STATE; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A process for making a retroreflective article that includes the steps of providing a device (tool or a mold) having a first structured surface; applying a reflective layer on the first structured surface resulting in a first adhesion value between the reflective layer and the first structured surface, the reflective layer having an exposed surface; applying a molding polymer to the exposed surface of the reflective layer resulting in a second adhesion value between the reflective layer and the molding polymer. The second adhesion value is higher than the first adhesion value. The device is separated from the molding polymer to yield a retroreflective article that has a second structured surface that is the reverse image of the first structured surface. The separation causes a transfer of the reflective layer from the first structured surface to the retroreflective article. The method allows the reflective layer to be formed during the separation step, rather than being formed independent of creating the second structured surface. The method can yield a article that has a second structured surface coated with an aluminum reflective material having aluminum microstructures that are predominantly amorphous on a first side (the side near the second structured surface) and predominantly crystalline on a second side, which is opposite the first side.