RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLE INCLUDING A CONFORMAL WAVELENGTH-SELECTIVE RADIATION ABSORBING COATING LAYER, AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME

• Main Authors: Chen-Ho, Kui, Chatterjee, Reema, Coonce, Benjamin R, Schmidt, Daniel J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.11.2021
• Subjects: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS

The present disclosure provides a retroreflective article. The retroreflective article includes a retroreflective layer including a number of cube corner elements that collectively form a structured surface that is opposite a major surface, and a conformal wavelength-selective radiation absorbing coating layer adjacent to the structured surface. The present disclosure also provides a method of making a retroreflective article. The method includes obtaining a retroreflective layer, and forming a conformal wavelength-selective radiation absorbing coating layer on the retroreflective layer by applying a first material having a first binding group to the structured surface, and applying a second material having a second binding group to the first material. The conformal wavelength-selective radiation absorbing coating layer absorbs radiation of at least one selected wavelength and can impart color (or absorption of at least one wavelength outside of the colored wavelength range) to retroreflective light of the retroreflective article.