DE3321738A1 - Optical display elements - Google Patents

Abstract

Optical display elements which are controlled by light and consist of a combination of one or more transparent pellucid materials dyed in a fluorescing fashion. The pellucid material is structured entirely or partly so as to cause the emission of light at these points.

Description

BASF Aktiengesellschaft _Λ 'OZ 0050/36558

Optical display elements 3 3 Z \ / OO

The invention relates to the subject matter characterized in the claim.

Optical display elements are e.g. information, marking or traffic signs or usable for creative, advertising or lighting purposes Elements. In particular, such elements can be used, for example, in lamps, luminous bodies, sports and play equipment or as apparatus and Find packaging parts use.

The one used to control or excite the fluorescent compounds Light can be of natural or artificial origin; the light source can also be incorporated into the optical display elements be. Light of several or only one wavelength can be used will.

Fluorescent compounds, at least in part of the transparent Areas included are optical brighteners and / or fluorescent dyes; Suitable compounds are extremely numerous in the patent literature, e.g. in DE-OSes 12 93 364, 12 93 939, 12 97 259, 15 69 735, 15 69 761, 17 94 381, 21 39 688, 22 55 524, 23 31 307, 24 51 781, 24 51 782, 26 07 966, 28 07 761, 28 37 257, 28 51 513, 29 34 541, 30 01 149, 30 01 188, 30 01 857, 30 01 858, 30 01 877 and 33 10 959.

The fluorescent compounds can be used individually or in groups can be used, accordingly, different colored or - depending on the concentration - differently intense fluorescent light can be used obtain.

A prerequisite for the usability of the fluorescent compounds is essentially the possibility of incorporating or introducing them into the transparent materials. Sufficient solubility to achieve a molecularly disperse distribution is required. In addition, there are of course other properties, such as temperature and light resistance necessary.

Fluorescent compounds used with preference originate from e.g. Perylene, peracid, benzofuran, naphthalimide or coumarin dye series.

Since the fluorescent compounds are preferably organic compounds come as materials into which they can be incorporated,

BASF Aktiengesellschaft - ^ - * "·· * O.Z. 0050/36558

organic materials are also possible. Crystal clear polymers are especially suitable for the transparent areas, of which for example the following may be mentioned:

Polymethyl acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, Polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylonitrile, cellulose diacetate, Cellulose triacetate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene isophthalate, Polytrimethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, polytetramethylene terephthalate , Polyethylene naphthalate, polyhexamethylene sebacamide, Poly- undecanamide, poly- dodecanamide, polycarbonate based on 2,2-bis- (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polydiethylene glycol diallyl biscarbonate, polyphenylmethylsiloxane, polydiphenylsiloxane, polysulfones, polyolefins, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyisobutylene, copolymers of styrene with butadiene, acrylonitrile and / or acrylic acid ester ^ styrene-butadiene block copolymers, Polyester resins or alkyd resins.

Preferred polymers are, for example: polymethyl methacrylate, styrene-acrylonitrile -Mixed polymers, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polydiethylene glycol diallyl biscarbonate, Styrene-butadiene block copolymers or polycarbonates based on 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane.

The material containing fluorescent compounds can also be a varnish which is partially or fully applied to the transparent material.

The lacquers used here are, for example, those based on crosslinked polymers such as melamine acrylates, melamine siliconates, silicone acrylates, acrylic isocyanates, Acrylic epoxides or cellulose acetates, propionates, butyrates or nitrates in layer thicknesses between 50 and 200μ with a dye content from 0.0001% to 0.1% into consideration.

Materials that do not contain organic fluorescent compounds, can also consist of inorganic glasses.

The combination of fluorescent and non-fluorescent transparent Materials can be made through any compounds, for example by gluing, welding, mixing, mechanical fastening (e.g. tongue and groove) or other known technical methods.

The display elements according to the invention can of course also have additional ones Contain compounds that do not interfere with the desired effect, e.g. they can be colored.

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The surface of the transparent materials can also be partially or be completely glossy or matt, corrugated or roughened, etc., depending on how it is appropriate for the desired application.

It is known that the fluorescent compounds depending on the Raurafora cause a concentration of the incident light. in the Optimal spatial shapes are developed in accordance with the laws of optics for example in the applications DE-OS 26 20 115 and DE-OS 25 54 226 described.

It is also known that scales as well as writing and image displays may be indirect to illuminate to make them more visible. The light guide in transparent materials is used to turn the light on accordingly structured surface to deflect at the desired points.

The light irradiation into the transparent one has so far been unsatisfactory Material.

1. Until now, an artificial light source was usually necessary to use.

2. The percentage of light used was very low, since only that in the edges irradiated light could be exploited.

3. The light concentration had to be through appropriate lenses or mirror systems take place; this was technically very complex.

In the case of fluorescent colored, transparent material, there is a dependency from the Rauraform light concentration in the edges.

According to the invention, this light is used to illuminate the non-fluorescent exploited transparent material in that appropriate materials are connected to one another. The advantages are the often possible waiver on an artificial light source and the simpler technical design.

As a rule, 0.005 to 1, preferably 0.01 to 0.1 percent by weight is sufficient of fluorescent compound in the substrate according to the invention To achieve effects.

The invention is explained in more detail in the following examples, wherein Data on parts and percentages are based on weight, unless otherwise stated.

BASF Aktiengesellschaft example 1

O.Z. 0050/36558

In molten polymethyl methacrylate, 0.01% of the yellow dye s of the formula

dissolved and homogeneously distributed, then the mass is extruded into strands and granulated. Press plates are produced from the granulate in molds with the desired geometry, which are then glued to corresponding non-colored plates. A name, for example, is engraved in a wedge shape in the crystal-clear plates. It lights up in the fluorescent colors

Example 2

'In the same way as described in Example 1, 0.05% of the green-yellow dye of the formula

COOC ₄ H ₉

COOC ₇ H,

incorporated in polymethyl methacrylate and then extruded directly into sheets 3 mm thick with the aid of a slot die. The plates were cut into squares, the edges of which were then polished and finished off with the same Squares made of crystal-clear, surface-structured poly (ethyl methacrylate) were mirror-welded. A chessboard made in this way lights up on the structured surfaces.

40

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Example 3

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For 1000 parts of polystyrene granules, 0.5 part of the dye is formula

melted on, then the material in the extruder turns into thin films of 50

processed up to 300μ thickness. Be on the green-yellow fluorescent film

Sections made of crystal-clear, surface-structured polystyrene

concealed. The structures light up in the fluorescent colors.

Example 4

In a twin screw extruder, 10% of the dye of the formula

incorporated into low molecular weight polystyrene to create a color batch processed. 0.1% of it is mixed to a styrene-butadiene block copolyraeren and coextrudes the mixture side by side with a strip of crystal clear material to form a deep-drawing film, which becomes a packaging container, consisting of a fluorescent lower part and the crystal-clear upper part directly connected via a film hinge. In the Upper part can be embossed with symbolic characters or names, which then light up in the fluorescent colors.

Example 5

0.05 Z of the dye according to Example 4 are drummed onto a styrene-butadiene block copolyraerisate and coextruded with uncolored material while turning the take-off device to form flexible tubes and profi-

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lates. These tubes shine more intensely in the surface structured part and can be used as drinking straws. In a stronger version, they can serve as sticks for ice cream, sugar confectionery or the like.

Example 6

0.2% of the color batch from Example 4 is mixed with a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer granulate and made into packaging half-shells, e.g. for Chocolates, splashed. The upper part is made of clear material splashes and contains in the form of engravings, e.g. the lettering of the company or the name of the article. After the HF welding of the two halves the engraving lights up in the fluorescent color on a clear background, differently depending on the perspective of the observer. Through the Light impressions that change with the moving viewer can be a such packaging attract special attention.

Example 7

0.01% of the fluorescent dye according to Example 4 is added to an extrudable soft PVC paste and a crystal-clear Welch PVC coextruded into a tube, the crystal clear, twisted part of which is attached to the At the same time, the surface is provided with a corrugation and thereby causes it to glow. In addition to being used as a water hose, a Such a hose can also be used for marking purposes. 25th

Example 8

1 % of the fluorescent dye according to Example 4 is added to a styrene-acrylonitrile monomer mixture, which then polymerizes will. After degassing, the styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer is extruded into strands and granulated. 1% of the color batch thus obtained added to a PMMA granulate and extruded to form 3 mm thick sheets. These and in the same way with different colored fluorescent dyes Manufactured panels are in the form of small sections with a glass clear two-component adhesive which, due to uneven hardening, creates a Surface structure is potted into a mosaic window. In this way, a flat structure which is luminous at the adhesive points is obtained.

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Example 9

-4-

O.Z. 0050/36558

1% of the fluorescent dye of the formula

is dissolved in a plasticizer based on phthalic acid and added in quantities of 1 Z to a polystyrene granulate in an injection molding machine. Parts with cavities are injected, which are then partially or completely filled with colorless liquid material, for example with water, glycol, glycerine or silicone oil. The colorless liquid can contain even larger fillers with different refractive indices such as glass, plastic or metal spheres. By exposing the hollow bodies to light, a luminous effect emanating from the filling bodies and / or the liquid surface is obtained, which can be changed by moving the hollow bodies and influenced by the viscosity of the filling.

Example 10

Polystyrene with 0.01% of the fluorescent dye of the formula

is extruded into decorative panels with the simultaneous embedding of structured colorless glass or plastic parts. Come as plastics only materials that are insoluble in polystyrene such as plexiglass or SAN, possibly with different refractive indices, are considered. The interfaces

40 then act as a highly deflecting area.

BASF Aktiengesellschaft - 9 - O.Z. 0050/36558

Example 11

Polymethylinethacrylate is 0.01 2 of the dye of the formula 05

mixed and sprayed into stencils. Be on or in the stencils then glued crystal-clear, surface-structured PMMA parts, welded or pressed in. Luminous effects occur again on the structures, which can be used for marking purposes. It is It is also possible to encapsulate crystal-clear material with fluorescent plastic, this leads to the same effects.

Example 12 Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with 0.02% of the fluorescent dye of

formula

N = N

is injected into a drawing article body. At the edges can then e.g. PMMA parts, e.g. exchangeable scales, can be easily plugged in using a tongue and groove connection. The fluorescent light that crosses it provides better and clearer edge illumination Text and line marking.

Example 13

A crystal-clear polystyrene plate is provided with inclusions of different refractive indices in the desired manner and then with a crystal-clear, weather-resistant varnish, e.g. based on acrylate-methacrylate, in which 0.1% of the fluorescent dye according to Example 4 was dissolved, painted. The fluorescent light generated in the paint enters the polystyrene plate and is then preferably only deflected at the interfaces between the inclusions.

BASF Aktiengesellschaft - ^ - O.Z. 0050/36558

Example 14

In unsaturated polyester, 0.003% of the dye from Example 4 dissolved, then the material is hardened with accelerator and a little hardener and poured into the desired shape. Get into shape Before or afterwards structured pieces of glass are inserted, e.g. in a checkerboard-like cough. After hardening, if necessary at increased Temperature and demolding, the workpiece is deburred and if necessary sanded and polished. Table tops, chess boards, sanitary items or the like can be produced in this way.

Sign.

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BASF Aktiengesellschaft ^ ™. OZ 0050/36558

Explanation of the figure

1 crystal clear material

2 transparent material containing a fluorescent compound

3 connecting seam (glued) 4 luminous lettering (engraving)

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Claims (1)

BASF Aktiengesellschaft 0.Z. 0050/36558 Claim The invention relates to optical display elements controlled by light, which consist of a combination of one or more transparent fluorescent materials and transparent non-fluorescent materials, whereby the transparent, non-fluorescent material is wholly or partially structured on the surface in such a way that it is used at the structured points The fluorescent light is deflected. 282/33 Bg / Xl 15.06.198?