Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article bearing a graphic and a method of making the same. The prismatic retroreflective article can include an optical layer including a front surface and a rear structured surface defined at least partially by internally reflecting cube-corner optical elements. The rear structured surface can be infused with a graphic, such that the prismatic retroreflective article retroreflects the graphic when viewed from the front surface of the optical layer. The method can include providing a graphic donor sheet, coupling the graphic donor sheet to the prismatic retroreflective article to form a composite, and applying heat and pressure to the composite to transfer at least a portion of the sublimation colorant from the graphic donor sheet to the rear structured surface of the optical layer.

Abstract: A transfer article, a retroreflective article and methods of making the same. The transfer article can include an overlay. The retroreflective article can include an optical layer and an overlay. The optical layer can include a front surface and a rear surface, and can include retroreflective optical elements. The overlay can include a front surface and a rear surface adapted to be coupled to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer. The overlay can further include a graphic, such that the graphic is buried with respect to the front surface of the overlay. A method of making the retroreflective article can include applying a graphic to the rear surface of the overlay, and coupling the overlay bearing the graphic to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer.

Abstract: A transfer article, a retroreflective article and methods of making the same. The transfer article can include an overlay. The retroreflective article can include an optical layer and an overlay. The optical layer can include a front surface and a rear surface, and can include retroreflective optical elements. The overlay can include a front surface and a rear surface adapted to be coupled to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer. The overlay can further include a graphic, such that the graphic is buried with respect to the front surface of the overlay. A method of making the retroreflective article can include applying a graphic to the rear surface of the overlay, and coupling the overlay bearing the graphic to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer.

Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article bearing a graphic and a method of making the same. The prismatic retroreflective article can include an optical layer including a front surface and a rear structured surface defined at least partially by internally reflecting cube-corner optical elements. The rear structured surface can be infused with a graphic, such that the prismatic retroreflective article retroreflects the graphic when viewed from the front surface of the optical layer. The method can include providing a graphic donor sheet, coupling the graphic donor sheet to the prismatic retroreflective article to form a composite, and applying heat and pressure to the composite to transfer at least a portion of the sublimation colorant from the graphic donor sheet to the rear structured surface of the optical layer.

Abstract: An ink receptive article including a substrate having applied on at least a portion thereof a layer of an ink receptive coating, wherein the ink receptive coating layer includes a cross-linked polymer and an ink absorbing polymer, wherein the ink absorbing polymer has a solubility parameter of equal to or less than 9 (cal/cm3)1/2.

Abstract: A retroreflective article that includes a first layer that includes a copolyester ether composition, and a second layer that includes a retroreflective structure juxtaposed in at least a partially overlying relationship to the first layer is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of forming a retroreflective article that includes providing at least a copolyester ether composition layer, and providing a retroreflective structure in a juxtaposed and at least partially overlying relationship to the composition layer.

Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article and a method for making same. The retroreflective article can include a transparent polymeric body portion, an optical layer coupled to the body portion, and an image layer coupled to the body portion opposite the optical layer. The image layer can define imaged portions and non-imaged portions of the prismatic retroreflective article. The image layer can include cross-links formed between a polymer resin having hydroxyl functional groups and a cross-linking agent having isocyanate functional groups. The image layer can have a percent elongation of at least 80 percent and less than 200 percent. The method can include printing or coating an image layer onto to the body portion of the retroreflective sheeting opposite the optical layer, and cross-linking the image layer to form cross-links between the hydroxyl functional groups of the polymer resin and the isocyanate functional groups of the cross-linking agent.

Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article and a method for making same. The retroreflective article can include a transparent polymeric body portion, an optical layer coupled to the body portion, and an image layer coupled to the body portion opposite the optical layer. The image layer can define imaged portions and non-imaged portions of the prismatic retroreflective article. The image layer can include cross-links formed between a polymer resin having hydroxyl functional groups and a cross-linking agent having isocyanate functional groups. The image layer can have a percent elongation of at least 80 percent and less than 200 percent. The method can include printing or coating an image layer onto to the body portion of the retroreflective sheeting opposite the optical layer, and cross-linking the image layer to form cross-links between the hydroxyl functional groups of the polymer resin and the isocyanate functional groups of the cross-linking agent.

Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article comprising a transparent polymeric body portion having an elastic modulus less than about 13×108 pascals, and a layer of internally reflecting open air-exposed cube-corner optical elements having an elastic modulus greater than about 14×108 pascals and comprising a polymer having covalently-bound fluorine or silicon. The traditionally-employed rear cover film may be eliminated (thereby reducing cost, weight, stiffness and retroreflectivity loss due to seal leg formation), and retroreflectivity under wet conditions, dirty conditions, or both wet and dirty conditions can be at least partially maintained.

Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article has a transparent body portion and a layer of internally reflecting cube-corner optical elements having an open air-exposed rear surface at least a portion of which is more hydrophobic, more oleophobic, or both more hydrophobic and more oleophobic than the underlying cube-corner optical element. The article may be made by providing a transparent body portion bearing a layer of internally reflecting open air-exposed cube-corner optical elements; treating or coating at least a portion of the cube-corner elements to make the treated or coated portion more hydrophobic, more oleophobic, or both more hydrophobic and more oleophobic than the underlying cube-corner optical elements; and leaving such treated or coated portion exposed to the open air.

Abstract: The present invention relates to colored articles such as flexible films and retroreflective sheeting that exhibit an improvement in color stability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articles having a printed surface as well as flexible coating and film compositions that are printable in combination with exhibiting stain resistance. The composition comprises a hard component having an elongation of less than about 150%, a soft component having an elongation of greater than about 200%, and a cross-linking agent. The hard component preferably comprises a hydroxy functional thermoplastic polyurethane, hydroxy functional acrylic polymer, polymeric polyol or mixture thereof. The soft component preferably comprises a hydroxy functional thermoplastic urethane, polymeric polyol, or mixture thereof; whereas the cross-linking agent is preferably an isocyanate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a substantially cylindrical tool from a substantially planar substrate, wherein the tooling has at least one patterned surface. The resulting tooling includes a patterned surface with a sufficiently strong weld that is capable of producing an article having a pattern surface that has a relatively narrow and preferably cosmetically pleasing seam line. Such articles include retroreflective sheeting, structured abrasive articles, adhesive articles suitable for use in personal care products, and the like.

Abstract: Retroreflective pavement marking material comprising on the top surface thereof an enclosed-lens retroreflective sheet that comprises a monolayer of retroreflective elements wherein first portions of the monolayer are arranged in an upwardly contoured profile and second portions of the monolayer are arranged a lower, substantially planar position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articles having a printed surface as well as flexible coating and film compositions that are printable in combination with exhibiting stain resistance. The composition comprises a hard component having an elongation of less than about 150%, a soft component having an elongation of greater than about 200%, and a cross-linking agent. The hard component preferably comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane, acrylic polymer, polymeric polyol or mixture thereof. The soft component preferably comprises a thermoplastic urethane, polymeric polyol, or mixture thereof; whereas the cross-linking agent is preferably an isocyanate.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved and novel removable sheeting, having a specular reflective layer, and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adjacent the specular reflective layer. The adhesive layer of this sheeting includes an organofunctional coupling agent. In preferred embodiments the sheeting is retroreflective and further includes an array of retroreflective elements.

Abstract: Conformable cube corner retroreflective sheetings comprising a plurality of discrete cube corner segments which are conformably bonded together, each cube corner segment comprising a plastic body portion having a substantially planar front major surface and at least one minute cube corner retroreflective element projecting rearwardly from the body portion and defining a cube corner point side of the cube corner segment. The peripheries of the cube corner segments can be defined by a plurality of separations extending from the cube corner point sides to the front major surfaces, the separations being disposed between adjacent cube corner segments. Adjacent cube corner segments are conformably bonded together in the sense that they are either: (1) separated by a gap of less than about 1 millimeter and bonded together through a conformable carrier layer; or (2) separated by a gap which is substantially filled with a conformable resin that bonds the side walls of adjacent cube corner segments together.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a substantially cylindrical tool from a substantially planar substrate, wherein the tooling has at least one patterned surface. The resulting tooling includes a patterned surface with a sufficiently strong weld that is capable of producing an article having a pattern surface that has a relatively narrow and preferably cosmetically pleasing seam line. Such articles include retroreflective sheeting, structured abrasive articles, adhesive articles suitable for use in personal care products, and the like.

Abstract: Conformable cube corner retroreflective sheetings comprising a plurality of discrete cube corner segments which are conformably bonded together, each cube corner segment comprising a plastic body portion having a substantially planar front major surface and at least one minute cube corner retroreflective element projecting rearwardly from the body portion and defining a cube corner point side of the cube corner segment. The peripheries of the cube corner segments can be defined by a plurality of separations extending from the cube corner point sides to the front major surfaces, the separations being disposed between adjacent cube corner segments. Adjacent cube corner segments are conformably bonded together in the sense that they are either: (1) separated by a gap of less than about 1 millimeter and bonded together through a conformable carrier layer; or (2) separated by a gap which is substantially filled with a conformable resin that bonds the side walls of adjacent cube corner segments together.

Abstract: A method of making a retroreflective marking material is provided, the method has the steps of: (a) providing an enclosed-lens retroreflective sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface and comprising a cover layer and a monolayer of retroreflective elements; (b) applying a conformance layer to the bottom surface of the retroreflective sheet; and (c) laminating a configuration member to the conformance layer thereby creating first portions and second portions in the sheet, the first portions being arranged in an upwardly contoured profile and the second portions being arranged in a lower, substantially planar position. A retroreflective article made by the method is also provided.