Durable retroreflective elements with a blend of beads

• Main Authors: Wilding, Matthew D, Carlson, Eugene H, Engebretson, Joseph D, Lieder, Stephen L, Budd, Kenton D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.12.2020
• Subjects: ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTIONOF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, ORTHE LIKE; ADHESIVES; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES, OR VITREOUSENAMELS; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; CHEMISTRY; COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES ORLACQUERS; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES; CORRECTING FLUIDS; DYES; FILLING PASTES; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GLASS; INKS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS; METALLURGY; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PAINTS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; PHYSICS; POLISHES; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS,MINERALS OR SLAGS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; USE OF INORGANIC OR NON-MACROMOLECULAR ORGANIC SUBSTANCES ASCOMPOUNDING INGREDIENTS; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR; WOODSTAINS

The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.