EP0623224A4 - Billes de verre noyees dans un substrat polyethylene haute densite utilise pour des articles reflechissants, comme une cloture. - Google Patents

Billes de verre noyees dans un substrat polyethylene haute densite utilise pour des articles reflechissants, comme une cloture.

Info

Publication number
EP0623224A4
EP0623224A4 EP19920905243 EP92905243A EP0623224A4 EP 0623224 A4 EP0623224 A4 EP 0623224A4 EP 19920905243 EP19920905243 EP 19920905243 EP 92905243 A EP92905243 A EP 92905243A EP 0623224 A4 EP0623224 A4 EP 0623224A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
beads
plastic
article
diameter
substrate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19920905243
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0623224A1 (fr
Inventor
Robert C Olson
Andrew J Thoen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Leucadia Inc
Original Assignee
Leucadia Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Leucadia Inc filed Critical Leucadia Inc
Publication of EP0623224A4 publication Critical patent/EP0623224A4/fr
Publication of EP0623224A1 publication Critical patent/EP0623224A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/58—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising fillers only, e.g. particles, powder, beads, flakes, spheres
    • B29C70/64—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising fillers only, e.g. particles, powder, beads, flakes, spheres the filler influencing the surface characteristics of the material, e.g. by concentrating near the surface or by incorporating in the surface by force
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F13/00—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions
    • E01F13/02—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions free-standing; portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes ; Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers
    • E01F13/028—Flexible barrier members, e.g. cords; Means for rendering same conspicuous; Adapted supports, e.g. with storage reel
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F7/00—Devices affording protection against snow, sand drifts, side-wind effects, snowslides, avalanches or falling rocks; Anti-dazzle arrangements ; Sight-screens for roads, e.g. to mask accident site
    • E01F7/04—Devices affording protection against snowslides, avalanches or falling rocks, e.g. avalanche preventing structures, galleries
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/12—Reflex reflectors
    • G02B5/126—Reflex reflectors including curved refracting surface
    • G02B5/128—Reflex reflectors including curved refracting surface transparent spheres being embedded in matrix
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2023/00—Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
    • B29K2023/04—Polymers of ethylene
    • B29K2023/06—PE, i.e. polyethylene
    • B29K2023/0608—PE, i.e. polyethylene characterised by its density
    • B29K2023/065—HDPE, i.e. high density polyethylene
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
    • B29K2105/06—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2011/00—Optical elements, e.g. lenses, prisms
    • B29L2011/0083—Reflectors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/73—Fences

Definitions

  • This invention relates to retroreflective articles, and more particularly to fencing made of a high density polyethylene substrate wfth reflective glass beads, sometimes referred to as microspheres embedded therein.
  • U.S. Patent 4,950,525 relates to "Elastomeric Reflective Sheeting" in which beads are embedded in a polymeric sheet. However, the sheet is then covered with a covering layer 19c (see column 5, lines 25-32 for a description of the final product).
  • U.S. Patent 4,104,102 is somewhat similar to 4,950,525 in that the glass beads are covered with a sealing layer.
  • U.S. Patent 3,873,390 makes use of glass beads (column 13) which are adhered with an adhesive (Fig. 5).
  • U.S. Patent 4,505,967 describes retroreflectrve sheeting in which
  • the microspheres are embedded into a first polymeric layer to less than one- half the average diameter of the microspheres and a film is laminated to the
  • microsphere covered surface of the first layer is the microsphere covered surface of the first layer.
  • U.S. Patent 4,648,932 also relates to retroreflective sheeting
  • microspheres are embedded into a first polymeric layer to less than one-half their diameter and a covering film is placed over the microspheres.
  • U.S. Patent 4,876,141 relates to a technique in which a mixture of
  • materials including the glass beads or microspheres are formed into a sheet, the beads having a variety of exposed surfaces.
  • U.S. Patent 4,897,136 describes retroreflective sheeting wherein a cover film is utilized over microspheres.
  • beads in pavement marking material are heated to a temperature below their melting point but above the melting point of the existing
  • thermoplastic pavement marking material into which they are to be
  • the beads are then dropped onto the marking material and heat
  • the invention specifically relates to the provision of reflective
  • Japanese Patent 57-186702 is of general interest regarding embedded glass spheres in which an adhesive is utilized.
  • the art described in this section is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is "prior art" with respect to this invention, unless specifically designated as such.
  • this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. ⁇ 1.56(a) exists.
  • the present invention relates to a process and the resultant article in which retroreflective plastic articles, namely plastic fencing in the preferred embodiment, are prepared by embedding glass beads in plastic or
  • thermoplastic materials such as high density polyethylene (HDPE).
  • HDPE high density polyethylene
  • the glass beads are heated and the thermoplastic material is softened by contact with the heated beads. Pressure is applied to the beads to embed them into the substrate at least 50% of their diameter but no greater than 70% of their diameter.
  • the resulting product has superior durability and abrasion resistance.
  • the 50-70% embedment of the beads in the present invention offers an advantage over the existing art in that no covering layer is necessary to retain the beads in their embedded position in the thermoplastic substrate.
  • Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the plastic reflective
  • FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged perspective detail view
  • Fig. 3 is a side view of a schematic of the inventive embedment process as applied to plastic fencing
  • Fig. 4 is an overhead view of a schematic of the inventive
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic detail of a portion of Figs. 3 & 4, showing the glass bead hopper in more detail;
  • Fig. 6 is a conceptual diagram of the embedment of a glass bead into a plastic substrate according to the invention. Description Of The Preferred Embodiments While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described in detail herein a specific
  • FIG. 1 a fragment of the retroreflective fencing material comprising glass beads embedded in a plastic substrate is shown generally at 10.
  • the fencing material 12 has panels 50 separated by rows of perforations 52.
  • the perforations are separated by strips 54.
  • Glass beads 30 are embedded in panels 50 to form reflective strips 56, imparting reflective quality to fencing material 12.
  • present inventive process is on fencing material made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) blended with polypropylene, for example 90% HDPE and
  • the process may be utilized with any plastic or thermoplastic substrate.
  • Glass bead hopper(s) 28 contains glass beads 30. More than one hopper may be utilized as can be seen in Fig. 4. The most preferred type of glass beads are size 11 , sign
  • silica glass beads with a refractive index of 1.91 commercially available from Flex-O-Ute, P.O. Box 4366, St. Louis, MO 63123. As shown in
  • glass beads 30 descend through neck 29 of hopper 28 and are heated by electrical heaters 32 situated on opposite sides of neck 29. Although any temperature well above the melting point of the plastic substrate and below the temperature of the glass beads may be used, a temperature of
  • Electrical heater 32 is set at a temperature between 920°-960°F to produce a bead temperature of about 900° F.
  • a simple mechanical valve 27 located in neck 29 of glass bead hopper 28 controls the flow of glass beads
  • Beads 30 from hopper 28. It may be remotely activated. Beads 30 may therefore be released continuously or intermittently, controlled by valve 27.
  • Heated glass beads 30 flow through nozzle 34 and meet deflector(s) 36, which deflects the beads so they evenly disperse over the width of reflective strip 56.
  • a plurality of glass hoppers 28 continuously release glass beads 30 onto panels 50 of fencing material 12, forming reflective strips 56.
  • Fig. 4 shows three glass bead application units which apply reflective glass bead strips 56 to fencing material 12.
  • the apparatus shown will accommodate fencing material of up to 48" wide. The process may, however, be used on plastic material of any width.
  • the fence is shown with three reflective strips 56 on alternating panels, the process may employ as many as ten or more application units, depending on the configuration of the fencing material used.
  • the thermal energy of glass beads 30 is used to melt the plastic substrate as it comes in contact with glass beads 30. A load is applied to the
  • nip roll 38 (best seen in Fig. 3) to displace molten plastic and increase the surface area in contact to promote heat transfer.
  • the thermal energy and load applied must be set to embed the glass bead to approximately 50% of its diameter into the original substrate surface, and no more than 70%.
  • the molten plastic flows up around the glass beads to provide a physical lock of the beads into the plastic surface.
  • Embedment depth is important for two reasons, first to provide a positive lock of the beads and second, for the retroreflectrvity performance of the glass bead. Embedment depth must be greater than 50% for physically locking the beads into the surface, producing product durability.
  • Embedment depth determines the maximum angle at which the product (substrate surface or plane) can be rotated away from 90° of the light source and remain retroreflective.
  • a maximum embedment depth of 70% of the beads' diameter is critical to maintain product performance.
  • This application method of embedding the glass beads into the plastic substrate surface uses no adhesives or binders to hold or retain the reflective glass beads onto the surface.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne des articles réfléchissants en plastique plus particulièrement une clôture en plastique, ainsi qu'un procédé de préparation de cette dernière dans lequel on incorpore des billes de verre dans des matériaux thermoplastiques tels que du polyéthylène haute densité. Les billes de verre (30) sont chauffées et le matériau thermoplastique (12) se ramollit au contact des billes chauffées (30). On applique de la pression sur les billes de verre pour qu'elles pénètrent dans le substrat sur au moins 50 % de leur diamètre sans toutefois dépasser 70 % de leur diamètre. Il n'est pas nécessaire de déposer une couche de revêtement.
EP92905243A 1992-01-21 1992-01-21 Billes de verre noyees dans un substrat polyethylene haute densite utilise pour des articles reflechissants, comme une cloture Withdrawn EP0623224A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1992/000460 WO1993014423A1 (fr) 1992-01-21 1992-01-21 Billes de verre noyees dans un substrat polyethylene haute densite utilise pour des articles reflechissants, comme une cloture

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0623224A4 true EP0623224A4 (fr) 1994-08-25
EP0623224A1 EP0623224A1 (fr) 1994-11-09

Family

ID=22230738

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92905243A Withdrawn EP0623224A1 (fr) 1992-01-21 1992-01-21 Billes de verre noyees dans un substrat polyethylene haute densite utilise pour des articles reflechissants, comme une cloture

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0623224A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1993014423A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO301797B1 (no) * 1995-12-22 1997-12-08 Norsk Hydro As Retroreflekterende platemateriale og fremgangsmåte for fremstilling av slikt materiale
EP2935474A1 (fr) * 2012-12-20 2015-10-28 3M Innovative Properties Company Constructions anti-salissures résistantes à l'abrasion et procédé de fabrication
EP3039071B1 (fr) 2013-08-28 2019-04-10 SABIC Global Technologies B.V. Compositions toucher doux et articles obtenus à partir de celles-ci

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3836227A (en) * 1973-04-13 1974-09-17 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Heat-bondable retroreflective sheeting
EP0291178A1 (fr) * 1987-04-15 1988-11-17 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Feuille retro-réfléchissante avec couche dorsale

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2345644A (en) * 1942-04-01 1944-04-04 Cast Stone Inst Light reflecting sign or marker
US3563781A (en) * 1967-12-11 1971-02-16 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Method of providing retro-reflective stripes on cylindrical surfaces
US3989775A (en) * 1971-03-01 1976-11-02 Bakelite Xylonite Limited Method of making a retro-reflective beaded material
US4221498A (en) * 1979-05-07 1980-09-09 Astro Optics Corporation Roadside barrier reflector
US4272564A (en) * 1979-06-27 1981-06-09 C. M. Offray & Son, Inc. Flexible reflex-reflective article having undulant surface and method of making the same
US4569857A (en) * 1979-10-01 1986-02-11 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Retroreflective sheeting
US4626127A (en) * 1983-04-11 1986-12-02 May David C Elastomeric pavement marker
US4983458A (en) * 1984-09-21 1991-01-08 Potters Industries, Inc. Reflective particles
US5039557A (en) * 1989-10-26 1991-08-13 White Terrence H Method for embedding reflective beads in thermoplastic pavement marking lines

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3836227A (en) * 1973-04-13 1974-09-17 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Heat-bondable retroreflective sheeting
EP0291178A1 (fr) * 1987-04-15 1988-11-17 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Feuille retro-réfléchissante avec couche dorsale

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9314423A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1993014423A1 (fr) 1993-07-22
EP0623224A1 (fr) 1994-11-09

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA1236720A (fr) Feuille retroreflechissante a dispersion multidirectionnelle, et sa fabrication
JP3602539B2 (ja) 多層トップコート付舗道標識
US7413316B2 (en) Retroreflective elements and articles
US5728424A (en) Method for forming a textured surface on a geomembrane
JP2010170146A (ja) 路面標示物品
US7156528B2 (en) Retroreflective elements and articles
JP2001500993A (ja) 隆起した突起物を有する舗装用マーキング及び製造方法
JPH0823739B2 (ja) 高輝度全天候型路面標示用シート材
CA1286269C (fr) Materiau en feuille a l'epreuve des intemperies pour traces de surface de chaussees
US5370756A (en) Substrate splices for roofing
US5726803A (en) Lens-type retroreflective sheeting
WO1993014423A1 (fr) Billes de verre noyees dans un substrat polyethylene haute densite utilise pour des articles reflechissants, comme une cloture
AU659519B2 (en) A tarpaulin provided with a decoration of a reflecting material and a method of making it
JP4584938B2 (ja) 再帰反射要素および物品
TW206281B (fr)
EP0980453A1 (fr) Marquages discrets pour chaussee et leur procede de fabrication
JPH0430032Y2 (fr)
WO2000068509A1 (fr) Matiere reflechissante dirigee et son procede de fabrication
CA2234652C (fr) Article a surface lisse revetu de microspheres de verre a faible indice de refraction, et son procede de preparation
NO20030957L (no) Fremgangsmåte for tilvirkning av et bituminöst dekkflak, samt slikt dekkflak
MXPA06008203A (en) Retroreflective elements and articles
JPH01273085A (ja) 貼紙防止用シートの製造方法
ITMO940136A1 (it) Metodo di fabbricazione di pellicole catadiottriche con microsfere in vetro ad elevato indice di rifrazione
MXPA01003900A (en) Method for making retroreflective elements having enhanced retroreflectivity under dry or wet conditions

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched
AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A4

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19940707

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19951113

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19960326