CA2687190C - Multivariate color system with texture application - Google Patents

Multivariate color system with texture application Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2687190C
CA2687190C CA2687190A CA2687190A CA2687190C CA 2687190 C CA2687190 C CA 2687190C CA 2687190 A CA2687190 A CA 2687190A CA 2687190 A CA2687190 A CA 2687190A CA 2687190 C CA2687190 C CA 2687190C
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Prior art keywords
resin substrate
colored
colored film
recited
film
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French (fr)
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CA2687190A1 (en
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John E.C. Willham
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3Form LLC
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3Form LLC
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/02Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
    • G02B5/0205Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterised by the diffusing properties
    • G02B5/021Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterised by the diffusing properties the diffusion taking place at the element's surface, e.g. by means of surface roughening or microprismatic structures
    • G02B5/0215Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterised by the diffusing properties the diffusion taking place at the element's surface, e.g. by means of surface roughening or microprismatic structures the surface having a regular structure
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/06Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
    • B32B27/08Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/16Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin specially treated, e.g. irradiated
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/18Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin characterised by the use of special additives
    • B32B27/20Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin characterised by the use of special additives using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/30Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/30Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
    • B32B27/304Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/36Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyesters
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/36Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyesters
    • B32B27/365Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyesters comprising polycarbonates
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B7/00Layered products characterised by the relation between layers; Layered products characterised by the relative orientation of features between layers, or by the relative values of a measurable parameter between layers, i.e. products comprising layers having different physical, chemical or physicochemical properties; Layered products characterised by the interconnection of layers
    • B32B7/04Interconnection of layers
    • B32B7/12Interconnection of layers using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44FSPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES
    • B44F1/00Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects
    • B44F1/06Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects produced by transmitted light, e.g. transparencies, imitations of glass paintings
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44FSPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES
    • B44F1/00Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects
    • B44F1/06Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects produced by transmitted light, e.g. transparencies, imitations of glass paintings
    • B44F1/066Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects produced by transmitted light, e.g. transparencies, imitations of glass paintings comprising at least two transparent elements, e.g. sheets, layers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2307/00Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/40Properties of the layers or laminate having particular optical properties
    • B32B2307/402Coloured
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2307/00Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/40Properties of the layers or laminate having particular optical properties
    • B32B2307/402Coloured
    • B32B2307/4026Coloured within the layer by addition of a colorant, e.g. pigments, dyes
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2307/00Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/40Properties of the layers or laminate having particular optical properties
    • B32B2307/412Transparent
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
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    • B32B2307/00Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/40Properties of the layers or laminate having particular optical properties
    • B32B2307/414Translucent
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    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2307/00Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/50Properties of the layers or laminate having particular mechanical properties
    • B32B2307/538Roughness
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2451/00Decorative or ornamental articles
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T156/00Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
    • Y10T156/10Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
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    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T156/00Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
    • Y10T156/10Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
    • Y10T156/1002Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina
    • Y10T156/1007Running or continuous length work
    • Y10T156/1023Surface deformation only [e.g., embossing]
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
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    • Y10T156/1039Surface deformation only of sandwich or lamina [e.g., embossed panels]
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
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    • Y10T156/1702For plural parts or plural areas of single part
    • Y10T156/1712Indefinite or running length work
    • Y10T156/1737Discontinuous, spaced area, and/or patterned pressing
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
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Abstract

Implementations of the present invention relate to a translucent and/or transparent polymer-based panel system that incorporates multi-colored insert layers that enable manipulation of color, transparency or light transmission of the finished panel system. Implementations of the present invention also relate to the construction of such panels to avoid the capture and retention of air within the panels through the use of textured surfaces at the lamination interfaces. In addition, implementations of the present invention provide a method of quantifying the optical response achieved in a given panel system and describes types of construction that enable the multiplicity of color and optic manipulation. Furthermore, implementations of the present invention provide methods for applying texture in an efficient, uniform manner.

Description

2 MULTIVARIATE COLOR SYSTEM WITH TEXTURE APPLICATION
Field of the Invention This invention relates to translucent and/or transparent polymer-based panel assemblies that incorporate colors through applied colored film layers.
Background and Relevant Art Laminated translucent panel systems have achieved a wide utility in designed architectural assemblies and applications as well as lighting and display applications.
One of the main facets that is of significant interest is the ability to add color to such panel systems. Translucent panel systems come in a variety of forms and assemblies ranging from composites and products produced from polymers to glass.
Traditional means of achieving color with the aforementioned substrates are through paints and coatings, dye and pigment concentrates or dispersants, or through adhesion of colored films, fabrics or papers. Many of the aforementioned coloring systems introduce aesthetic, performance or manufacturing constraints when combined with the aforementioned polymer-based or glass-based panel systems.
One category of methods to achieve a colored translucent or transparent thermoplastic panel is through direct application of color through screen printing or painting. Using screen printing, ink is applied to the surface using traditional screen printing methods. Drawbacks of screen printing include the fact that the ink may be scratched off of the panel surface. In addition, the ink typically needs to be bonded to the panel with bonding additives that are often solvent-based and often produce undesirable volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
Painting is another way of applying color to the surface of a panel. Like screen printing, paint may also be scratched from the surface of the panel.
Additionally, painting, and more particularly cleanup from painting, also results in undesirable VOC emissions. Moreover, colors or images applied through screen printing or painting are only correctly viewable from one side of the panel.
Also, panels colored or decorated using these methods tend to require cure times of between four and twelve hours, during which time the panels require special storage and possibly drying units.

A second category of methods for achieving a colored translucent or transparent thermoplastic panel is through the infusion of color into the surface of the panel. One method of this category is dye sublimation printing, during which solid sources of dye, such as a printed transfer paper, are heated, placed in contact with a receiving substrate and the printed color or image is transferred to the substrate and subsequently cooled. This method results in the color or image penetrating the substrate such that it is more resilient to surface scratches. Moreover, the colors or images produced using this method may be viewed equally well from either side of the panel. The dye sublimation method, however, requires considerable technical to expertise to create the digital master files and an understanding of the interaction of the dye with the substrate. Dye sublimation is also a capital-intensive operation that tends to require specialized printing equipment.
A second method in this category for infusing color into a translucent or transparent thermoplastic panel is by driving pigment into the surface chemically. For example, one conventional mechanism includes bombarding the surface of a thermoplastic panel with solvent that temporarily improves the solubility of the panel, thereby allowing dyes carried in the solvent to be transferred to and incorporated in the matrix of the thermoplastic panel. Although this method is not entirely capable of rendering a predetermined image, the color driven into the surface of the panel in this way does yield a homogeneous color, and is more resilient to surface abrasion than colors applied directly through screen printing or painting.
Unfortunately, this chemical process consumes large amounts of energy. The final quality also tends to be quite dependent on several process variables and strict process control. The cycle time, regulation of temperature and solvent concentration are driving forces that determine the quality of the finished panel. In addition, the equipment required to employ this method is very costly. Furthermore, it takes a significant amount of time to change over between one color and the next because the system must undergo a cleaning cycle to flush out each color after use.
A third category of means for imparting color to a translucent or transparent thermoplastic panel is through the use of a fabric interlayer. Here, the method of imparting color to panels includes the use of colored textiles. Using colored textiles
3 to achieve a uniform panel color, however, presents several challenges. One challenge is that fabric has a texture of its own that remains visible through the translucent or transparent thermoplastic panel. In addition, while colored textiles may be used selectively to control the translucency of a panel, they tend to impair the transparency of a panel.
Moreover, thermoplastic panels with textile interlayers are not generally suitable for wet environments without additional fabrication precautions, because the fabric at the exposed edges of the panel will wick moisture into the interior of the panel. This wicking action through the fabric layer introduces color distortion and staining within the panel. In addition, the viewability of color or an image depends upon whether the color or pattern is woven into the fabric or printed on only one side of the fabric. Also, fabric interlayers interfere with recycling because they can not be easily separated from the resin substrate.
Furthermore, if more than one fabric interlayer is used, the most visible color will be that of the textile layer nearest the viewer, since colors are not blended or mixed when using textiles. In addition, care must be taken when laying up fabric interlayers because if they are not placed straight and taut, the fabric layer can create the appearance of waves. Still further, multiple layers of fabric may create the moire effect, which can be further exaggerated depending on the thickness of any substrate interposed between fabric layers. Another consideration when constructing thermoplastic panels with fabric interlayers is that the fabric layer may not be on the surface. Moreover, care must be taken to ensure that the fabric layer is laid up in the center of the overall panel thickness to create a "balanced lay-up."
Otherwise the panel, once constructed, will bow as it cools, and the bowing is an undesirable characteristic. Also, fabric layers within panels reduce the ability to thermoform the panels since the fabric will separate or pull away under deep draw conditions due to the physical limitations of the fabric. A last disadvantage of fabric layers within panels is that the fabric may wick moisture into the body of the laminated panel if edges are exposed to wet environments.
A fourth category of technology for coloring a translucent or transparent thermoplastic panel is through the use of films or "sheets" colored during manufacture
4 with compounded pigments and dyes. In general, a "sheet" refers to that portion of a translucent polymeric resin panel which, in its prefabrication state, is a unitary extrusion of material, typically measuring 2-6 feet wide and 8-12 feet long, and at least 1/32 of an inch in thickness. By contrast, a "film" refers to a thin, membranous layer with the same planar dimensions as a sheet but with a thickness ranging from 0.001 mils to 30 mils, but preferably 0.5 mils to 20 mils, and most preferably 10 mils.
There are conventional mechanisms and apparatus that involve using colored films or sheets to create colored panels. Unlike panels constructed with embedded fabric layers, such conventional mechanisms involve no texture that is visible in panels formed with colored films. In addition, according to one conventional technology, such panels must be constructed with two co-polyester sheets made from a variety of materials, and include a backing layer, which backing layer may also be colored. Accordingly, with this technology, there are at least two interfaces where air entrapment can be a problem.
In addition, panels constructed for high-relief surfaces, when incorporated with a fabric or a printed or a colored image, may experience wrinkling of the fabric or unusual distortion of the color or image when captured between a top layer that is heavily textured and a back layer. The assembly may further require a laminating enhancing layer (LEL), in addition to thermally compatible surfaces, to achieve bonding and to facilitate the removal of air between the adjacent layers.
Removal of air from the panels is important, since any air pockets that remain in a finished panel can create a notch ¨ or point of weakness ¨ with the laminate matrix that can result in crack propagation and failure in notch-sensitive thermoplastic materials.
Applying a laminating enhancing layer tends to require additional processing steps, and increases material costs and introduces potential for contamination. In addition, the laminating enhancing layer must be uniformly applied for best results. Furthermore, the laminating enhancing layer, whether an actual film or a sprayed-on material, is not generally the same material as the substrate. Similar to fabric interlayers mentioned above, this dissimilarity contributes to the inability of such panels to be reclaimed and recycled because the dissimilar material would be a contaminant in the recycling stream for the panel substrate which constitutes the majority of the panel.

A drawback of using colored films or sheets under the conventional art is that, typically, colored films are produced in large quantities to achieve economies of scale.
As a result, the customer must purchase a large quantity of a single color or image in order to obtain favorable pricing. This is compounded by the need to purchase
5 multiple colors in order to offer a variety of color choices. Such high-volume purchase requirements can lead to unnecessary expense do to inventory obsolescence.
Alternatively, a purchaser may purchase small quantities of custom colored films at a much higher price for less than full run quantities. As alluded to above, the sheets forming the substrate of the panel may themselves be colored with pigments or dyes by introducing color to the raw material during the process of sheet manufacture.
Here again, economies of scale apply, requiring the purchaser to purchase high volumes of colored sheets to obtain favorable pricing or to pay extremely high prices for small quantities of custom colors.
As introduced earlier, there are a number of conventional mechanisms that involve the use of laminated translucent resin panels with a decorative image layer with or without a laminating enhancing layer. In such cases, the decorative image layer is a printed or colored film layer wherein at least one of the film layer's surfaces is colored or has an image printed thereon. In addition, the decorative image layer only occurs between outer layers. Moreover, a laminating enhancing layer may be a required element to assure adhesion of the various dissimilar layers and to facilitate removal of air from between them. Incorporating a laminating enhancing layer not only increases the processing steps and materials required, but also, such additional inputs can increase the potential occurrence of manufacturing defects or contamination within the laminate. Because the laminating enhancing layer is non-homogeneous, it typically must be carefully tested and applied to assure that proper coverage is attained for bonding to occur. Such conventional mechanisms use a backing layer, which can overcome the increased level of defects caused by the additional processing requirements, but, in the process, further increase the processing requirements. Furthermore, the backing layer may or may not be of optical quality, and could reduce the transparency or translucency, or both, of the resulting panel.
6 There are still other conventional mechanisms, which use colored films produced from polyvinyl butyral ("PVB") for use in glass lamination. According to such mechanisms, the colored PVB layer is used as a tie-layer to facilitate lamination of multiple glass layers. Such mechanisms, however, are usually specifically directed toward laminated glass compositions.
In addition, colored PVB films, while necessary in the laminated glass composition, may contain plasticizers, which may not be compatible with certain thermoplastics such as the copolyester known as PETG, (i.e., polyethylene-co-cyclohexane 1,4-dimethanol terephthalate), polycarbonate, or acrylic (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate, or PMMA). Furthermore, PVB tends to require special handling and storage conditions including refrigeration. Such requirements can add expense to the use of PVB in laminations. Also, plasticizers used in PVB are known to craze polycarbonate when used in laminations with polycarbonate.
Ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) films are known to provide good bonding characteristics for laminated glass structures. Such films are available in a variety of colors from such companies as Sekesui; however, such films are not ideal for use on the surface of panels due to the fact that they attract dirt and debris, making them difficult to use. The surface tends to be very sticky and has a low surface roughness, which often requires that a vacuum be used to remove air during lamination.
Further, EVA has a limitation if used to construct interior architectural paneling applications due to its relatively high flammability.
As noted above, an inherent challenge in manufacturing laminate panels is avoidance of the tendency of the panels to retain air between the layers unless preventative measures are taken to remove the air. Examples of methods used in the art for this purpose include the use of a laminating enhancing layer and/or vacuum bagging, and using an autoclave to remove the air. Use of laminating enhancing layers and/or vacuum bagging, however, requires additional lay-up and processing steps and materials, all of which increase expense.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Implementations of the present invention include systems, methods, and apparatus related to a translucent and/or transparent polymer-based panel system that
7 incorporates multiple colored layers. The multiple colored layers, in turn, enable manipulation of color, transparency or light transmission of the finished panel system.
Implementations of the present invention also related to the construction of such panels to avoid the capture and retention of air within the panels through the use of textured surfaces at the lamination interfaces. Further implementations of the present invention relate to the application of a substantially uniform texture to a panel constructed according to the present invention. Accordingly, implementations of the present invention address a number of deficiencies and limitations in conventional commercial architectural and lighting panel systems.
For example, a thermoplastic structure in accordance with implementations of the present invention can include a substantially transparent polymer substrate and one or more colored film layers laminated thereto. The colored film layers can be laminated to the polymer substrate with the use of heat and pressure.
Additionally, the colored film layers can impart color to the entire structure. Furthermore, in at least one implementation, the polymer substrate is substantially thicker than the colored film layers.
In addition, a thermoplastic structure in accordance with an implementation of the present invention can include one or more substantially transparent polymer substrates and one or more film layers adapted for fusion thereto. In this case, each of the film layers has a surface roughness that is substantially greater than a surface roughness of the one or more substrates. The surface roughness of the film layers reduces incidences of air-entrapment between the film layers and the substrates during manufacture of the structure.
Moreover, a system for creating a textured, thermoplastic structure in accordance with the present invention can include a resin panel assembly that has a resin substrate having a front surface and a back surface, one or more colored films to be laminated to at least one of the front surface and the back surface of the resin substrate, and one or more textured rollers configured to provide texture to one or more articles of the resin panel assembly. In one implementation of the system, each of the one or more textures rollers has a substantially uniformly-textured exterior shell
8 for providing texture to the resin panel. In addition, the one or more textured rollers can be applied to the one or more articles simultaneously or sequentially.
Additional features and advantages of exemplary implementations of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations. The features and advantages of such implementations may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations as set forth hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a side, cross-sectional view of a panel assembly in accordance with one implementation of the present invention, detailing texture distributed over both bonding surfaces;
Figure 2 illustrates a lay-up assembly of an article in accordance with an implementation of the present invention, which is configured with a colored film on each side of the substrate;
Figure 3 illustrates an exploded, side view of a lay-up assembly with three films positioned on one side of the substrate;
Figure 4 illustrates an assembly configured with a colored film layer between two sheets of substrate;
Figure 5 illustrates an assembly configured with a colored film layer comprising two colored films between two sheets of substrate;
9 Figure 6 illustrates a lay-up assembly comprising a plurality of films positioned on one side of a substrate, which is configured to increase the resident depth of the colored films;
Figure 7A illustrates a panel assembly configured with a colored film on each side of a substrate, and a texture roller used to apply texture to the panel assembly;
Figure 7B illustrates the panel assembly of Figure 7A, with the colored films bonded to the substrate, and prior to the texture roller applying texture to the panel assembly;
Figure 7C illustrates the panel assembly of Figure 7B after the texture roller has applied texture to the panel assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Implementations of the present invention include systems, methods, and apparatus related to a translucent and/or transparent polymer-based panel system that incorporates multiple colored layers. The multiple colored layers, in turn, enable manipulation of color, transparency or light transmission of the finished panel system.
Implementations of the present invention also relate to the construction of such panels to avoid the capture and retention of air within the panels through the use of textured surfaces at the lamination interfaces. Further implementations of the present invention relate to the application of a substantially uniform texture to a panel constructed according to the present invention.
Accordingly, implementations of the present invention allow designers (e.g., architects, manufacturers, assemblers, etc.) to create high quality, aesthetically pleasing colored panel assemblies without requiring numerous complex process steps.
In particular, panel assemblies constructed according to implementations of the present invention have few, if any, pockets of trapped air, which can lead to unsightly blemishes and diminished structural integrity of a finished panel assembly.
Additionally, through selection of the number and color of film layers used to create a panel assembly according to implementations of the present invention, the color, light transmission, and color durability properties of the panel assembly can be readily customized to create a colored panel assembly tailored for a specific application or product design. Furthermore, the panel assemblies can be formed with a substantially uniform surface texture that does not tend to cause streaking of the panel assembly color. The following examples describe some example implementations of the present invention for creating such high quality, aesthetically pleasing colored panel assemblies.
5 Example 1: Textured vs. Non-textured Films Producing fused laminate panels in open-air lamination processes can result in panels that exhibit air-entrapment, or bubbles, particularly during the fusion process when the interfacing layers of the panel just begin to fuse. Air movement restriction occurs when any layer-to-layer interface is fused together and subsequently blocks
10 movement of air from the inner surface of the panel to the outer perimeters. Air movement restriction often occurs particularly during open-air laminations involving smooth or polished surfaces. By increasing the surface roughness of one or both interfaces to be fused in a laminated panel assembly, the amount of air trapped within a finished panel can be dramatically reduced, if not eliminated. Trapped air is not only deemed unsightly in an aesthetic panel, but it also can create interstitial sites that act as notches within the panel structure. Such notches result in potential breakage sites and can be detrimental to the physical performance of panels when used in structural applications.
Typical open-air laminations are produced with single thin-film layers without laminating enhancing layers (laminating enhancing layers) or vacuum assist.
The thin-film layers typically have surface average roughness (Ra) values on a first and/or second surface, as measured with a POCKET SURF PORTABLE SURFACE
ROUGHNESS GAUGE from MAHR FEDERAL INC., in the range of 15-20 la inches or less. Such laminations often result in finished sheets with significant air entrapment.
By increasing the surface roughness of the first and/or second surface of a thin-film layer (or multiple thin-film layers) in a laminated panel structure produced in open-air presses, it is found that the occurrence of air entrapment is significantly reduced as compared to laminated panel structures formed with thin-film layers having surface Ra values in the range of 15-20 II inches or less. By way of example, multi-layer film panels, 4'x8' in dimension, were prepared with a heated-plate, open-
11 air lamination press without the assistance of laminating enhancing layers or vacuum bagging. The structures consisted of film thicknesses ranging from 10 to 20 mils, and were assembled in conjunction with substrates of differing thicknesses. All the films possessed surface Ra values greater than 50 la inches on both surfaces. The structures were fixed in place with steel plates and subjected to sufficient heat and pressure required to fuse the films to the substrates.
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded side view of a panel assembly 110 formed with a substrate and a film having the surface Ra values as described above.
Specifically, panel assembly 110 is formed with a substrate 112 and a film 114. Film 114 has a surface 116 having a surface Ra value greater than 50 II inches. In the illustrated embodiment, substrate 112 has a surface 118 with a surface Ra value less than 10 II inches. Thus, at least one exemplary panel assembly 110 comprises one or more films 114 have a surface roughness that is greater than 20 II inches, and one or more substrates 112 with a surface roughness that is less than 20 II inches.
By way of explanation, and as understood more fully herein, any or all of the resin components in the thermoplastic substrate can comprise any number of different resin materials, and/or combinations thereof In one implementation, for example, the film(s) 114 and substrate(s) 112 can comprise any one or more of polycarbonate materials, polyester materials (including copolyester materials), acrylic materials, and/or combinations thereof For the purposes of this specification and claims, a polyester material refers to any one or more of PBT, PET, PETG, or PCTG, and combinations thereof In addition, an "acrylic" material refers to PMMA or the like, whether in extruded form, or created through continuous casting, or mold-casting processes, and further includes impact-modified acrylic.
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate lay-ups of multi-layer film panel assemblies constructed according to at least one implementation of the present invention.
In particular, Figure 2 illustrates a panel assembly 120 comprising a sheet (e.g., PETG) substrate 122 with PETG films 124 and 126 positioned on opposing sides of the PETG sheet substrate 122 for fusion thereto. Although not illustrated in Figure 2, each of films 124 and 126 has opposing surfaces with surface Ra values greater than
12 50 inches, and substrate 122 has opposing surfaces with surface Ra value less than la inches.
While Figure 2 illustrates two films positioned on opposing sides of a substrate, it will be appreciated that panels can be constructed in a variety of 5 configurations. For example, a panel assembly 130 can be formed with multiple films 132, 134, and 136 fused to one or more sides of a substrate 138, as illustrated in Figure 3. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more films can be fused between one or more substrates.
For example, Figure 4 illustrates a panel assembly 140 comprising two PETG
10 sheet substrates 142 and 144 with a film 146 disposed therebetween. More specifically, film 146 is laid between a first side surface of substrate 142 and a first side surface of substrate 144. In this manner, film 146 can be fused between opposing substrates 142 and 144. While not illustrated in Figure 4, film 146 typically has surface Ra values greater than 50 inches on opposing surfaces, and substrates 142 and 144 each has at least one surface with a surface Ra value less than 10 inches.
Similarly, Figure 5 illustrates a panel assembly 150 with two films 156 and positioned next to one another and disposed between two opposing substrates 152 and 154.
Table 1 below provides further details of the panel assembly constructions illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, and the resulting quality and aesthetic appearance following lamination.
Table 1. Translucent Thermoplastic Panel Constructs of Films with Various Average Surface Roughnesses.
Panel Layer 1 Layer 2 Layer 3 Result 1 0.020" PETG dual 0.090" PETG 0.020" PETG dual All areas of sided texture film sheet sided texture film panel free of Rai = 62 II in.,Rai2 < 10 1.1. in. Rai = 62 II in., air -Ra2 = 64 II in. Ra2 = 64 II in.
13 2 0.060" PETG 0.010" PETG dual 0.060" PETG All areas of sheet sided texture film sheet panel free of Ra < 10 p. in. Ra1_2 > 250 p. in. Ra < 10 j.i in air Rai ¨ indicates average roughness on first surface.
Ra2 ¨ indicates average roughness on second surface.
Rai-2 ¨ indicates average roughness on first and second surface identical in measure.
Example 2: Non-homogeneous Lay-up A key benefit of the present invention is the ability to combine a multitude of thermoplastic film and substrate materials together to yield a finished and aesthetically pleasing structure. Any sheet substrate and colored film combination where the joining layers possess sufficient miscibility when combined via fusion at elevated temperatures can be utilized for a panel system capable of multivariate colors. Such effective lamination may occur without a laminating enhancing layer or vacuum assistance so long as the highest glass-transition temperature (Tg) of the heterogeneous materials is exceeded during the lamination process, and the materials are sufficiently miscible so as not to result in hazing or insufficient bonding.
For example, in one implementation, multiple panel structures were created by laminating one or more PETG sheets to one or more PVC (i.e., polyvinyl chloride) films to produce 12"x12" panel assemblies in an open-air lamination mechanical press. During the laminating process, the press operation averaged 265 F, under pressure of 40 psi, with a heat soak time of 11 minutes. The particular combinations of PETG sheets and PVC films used to create three structures according to this implementation, identified as structures A, B, and C, respectively, are detailed below.
Structure A was formed using a first layer of PVC film and a second layer of a PETG sheet. The first layer of PVC film was a translucent, non-textured, orange PVC
film having a 0.010" thickness. The second layer was a 0.118" thick, clear, non-textured PETG sheet. The two layers of structure A were laminated together according to the present implementation of the invention.
14 Structure B was created by laminating five layers of thermoplastic film and substrate materials together according to the present implementation of the invention.
The first layer comprised a 0.060" thick, clear, non-textured PETG sheet. The second layer comprised a translucent, non-textured, red PVC film with a thickness of 0.010".
The third layer comprised another 0.060" thick, clear, non-textured PETG
sheet. The fourth layer comprised another translucent, non-textured, red PVC film with a thickness of 0.010". Finally, the fifth layer comprised a 0.060" thick, clear, non-textured PETG sheet. In other words, structure B was formed with three 0.060"
thick, clear, non-textured PETG sheets separated by 0.010" thick, translucent, non-textured, red PVC films.
Similarly, structure C was created by laminating five layers of thermoplastic film and substrate materials together according to the present implementation of the invention. The first layer comprised a 0.060" thick, clear, non-textured PETG
sheet.
The second layer comprised a translucent, non-textured, red PVC film with a thickness of 0.010". The third layer comprised a 0.118" thick, clear, non-textured PETG sheet. The fourth layer comprised a translucent, non-textured, orange PVC

film with a thickness of 0.010". Finally, the fifth layer comprised a 0.060"
thick, clear, non-textured, PETG sheet.
For all three structures, A-C, no panel exhibited shadows or air gaps within the panel that would exemplify delamination or insufficient bonding. Further, each of structures A-C were produced with two dissimilar but relatively miscible materials, PVC and PETG, and were adequately fused together at elevated temperatures above the respective material's Tg (PVC film Tg ¨185 F and PETG Tg ¨176 F) without the assistance of a laminating enhancing layer or vacuum.
In a second example of dissimilar materials being laminated to form a single panel structure, a polycarbonate sheet was fused to a PETG film to produce a 12"x12"
panel in an open-air lamination mechanical press. The press operation averaged F, under pressure of 40 psi, with a heat soak time of 15 minutes. The particular polycarbonate sheet and PETG film combinations used to create two of the structures according to this implementation are identified as structures D and E, respectively, and are detailed below.

Structure D was formed using a first layer of PETG film and a second layer of a polycarbonate sheet. The PETG film was a translucent, 2-sided textured, blue PETG film with a 0.010" thickness. The second layer of polycarbonate sheet was a 0.236" thick, clear, non-textured Polycarbonate sheet. Structure D was created by 5 laminating the two layers together according to implementations of the present invention.
Likewise, structure E was formed using a first layer of PETG film and a second layer of a polycarbonate sheet. The PETG film was a translucent, 2-sided textured, blue PETG film with a 0.010" thickness. The second layer of the 10 polycarbonate sheet was a 0.118" thick, clear, non-textured polycarbonate sheet. The two layers of structure E were laminated together according to the present implementation of the invention.
Although polycarbonate and PETG are not considered "thermally compatible"
due to the wide disparity in Tg between the materials (PETG film Tg ¨176 F and
15 Polycarbonate Tg ¨300 F), the polycarbonate and PETG layers of each of structures D
and E were combined to form aesthetically pleasing laminated panel assemblies with good adhesion, and no evidence of insufficient bonding or distortion.
In a final example of dissimilar materials being laminated to produce a single panel structure, identified as structure F, a PETG sheet (Tg ¨176 F) was laminated to three PCTG (i.e., glycol modified poly-cyclohexylene-dimethylene terephthalate) films (Tg ¨187 F) to produce 12"x12" panel assemblies in an open-air lamination mechanical press. The press operation averaged 265 F, under pressure of 40 psi, with a heat soak time of 10 minutes. The PETG sheet used to create structure F
comprised a 0.500" thick, clear, non-textured PETG sheet. Each of the three PCTG films used to form structure F comprised a translucent, white, single-side textured PCTG
film with a 0.010" thickness. In forming structure F, the three PCTG film layers were laminated to one side of the PETG sheet.
As with the previous examples, structure F, though produced with multiple PCTG films and a PETG sheet, was sufficiently bonded with no evidence of delamination of the PCTG films from the PETG sheet.
16 Example 3: Multivariate Coloring of Panel Assemblies Different colored films, ranging from 0.001" to 0.030" in thickness, more preferably in a range of 0.005" to 0.020" in thickness, and most preferably from 0.010" to 0.015" in total thickness, can be thermally combined to make a single, uniformly colored panel assembly. The thermoplastic film layers may be positioned separately on the outermost surfaces of any clear thermoplastic substrate that is miscible with the thermoplastic film of any gauge, so long as the substrate is clear, transparent and has a clear or neutral color. Or, the thermoplastic films may be positioned conjointly on a single surface of the same substrate without significant change to the overall surface color of the panel assembly.
Combination through lamination or adhesion of such film layers of differing colors creates a uniform colored panel assembly that is a composite color of the individual film colors used to construct the panel assembly. Furthermore, the color ordering of two or more colored films is not important as the color and hue of the panel remains the same throughout the finished panel regardless of viewing direction and ordering of the films on or within the substrate. For example, Figure 6 illustrates a panel assembly 160 that is configured with a substrate 162, and multiple films 164, 166, 168, 170, and 172 to be fused thereto. In the illustrated example in Figure 6, the multiple films 164, 166, 168, 170, and 172 are configured to be fused to the same surface of substrate 162, and comprise three colored films 164, 168, and 172, and two transparent films 166 and 170 positioned between colored films 164, 168, and 172.
As discussed herein, however, multiple films and/or substrates can be ordered in any manner, or left out entirely, to alter the color, hue, color durability, or other properties of the panel assembly as desired.
In one implementation, laminated thermoplastic panels were produced from colored PETG and PCTG films possessing a total thickness of 0.010". All films were textured on the front and back surface with a surface Ra value of 65 n inches as measured with a POCKET SURF PORTABLE SURFACE ROUGHNESS GAUGE
from MAHR FEDERAL INC. The optical properties of these films were measured with a HUNTERLAB COLORQUEST XE spectrophotometer with the TTRANS
scanning method. The color measures of each base film were measured and
17 quantified with the respective L*, a*, b*, haze and percent light-transmission values as reported from the spectrophotometer measurements. Table 2 lists the color and optic measurements and provides a description of each film layer used in these examples.
Table 2. Associated Color and Optics Measures of Experimental Colored Films.
Color Name (description) L* a* b* Haze %
Light Transmission POMEGRANATE 52.05 49.82 14.62 77.68 20.19 (dull red PETG film) ALLURE 55.44 -1.69 -34.76 80.25 23.36 (deep blue PETG film) LAWN 84.37 -29.41 38.47 79.24 64.78 (emerald green PETG film) WHITE 86.96 -10.85 41.04 66.84 65.42 (translucent white PCTG film) Laminate structures of two different gauges were produced with films listed by the color names described in Table 2 to ascertain the aesthetic affect that orientation of the films has on the overall panel. Table 3 provides detailed lay-ups of the several combinations of color, gauge and color-film-layer positioning with respect to the panels.
Table 3. Panel Lay-ups for Directional Color Measurement Comparison Exhibits.
Sample Surface 1 Surface 2 Surface 3 Surface 4 Number (front) (back) A 0.030" 0.010" 0.010" 0.030"
Clear ALLURE POMEGRANATE Clear PETG film PETG film PETG film PETG film 0.010" 0.060" 0.010" NA
ALLURE Clear POMEGRANATE
PETG film PETG sheet PETG film
18 0.500" 0.010" 0.010" 0.500"
Clear ALLURE POMEGRANATE
Clear PETG sheet PETG film PETG film PETG
sheet 0.010" 0.500" 0.500" 0.010"
ALLURE Clear Clear POMEGRANATE
PETG film PETG sheet PETG sheet PETG
film 0.010" 0.060" 0.010" NA
POMEGRANATE Clear LAWN
PETG film PETG sheet PETG film 0.010" 0.500" 0.500" 0.010"
POMEGRANATE Clear Clear LAWN
PETG film PETG sheet PETG sheet PETG
film The panel assemblies in Table 3 above were laminated in a mechanical heat press in 4"x4" plaques, and then measured for color with a HUNTERLAB
COLORQUEST XE spectrophotometer (TTRANS method). Each sample was measured from both the front and back surfaces facing the spectrophotometer light source to compare for directional differences. The results are depicted in Table 4.
Table 4. Directional Measures of Dissimilar Color Film Layers Laminated as a Single Assembly.
Sample Number Measurement Direction L* a* b*
A Front 31 26 36 14 -12.79 A Back 31.37 36.15 -12.88 Front 31.74 35.21 -14.05 Back 31.78 35.14 -14.18 Front 33.18 33 73 -11.57
19 Back 34.07 33.15 -12.03 Front 29.62 34.34 -11.73 Back 30.25 34.43 -11.62 Front 45 56 29 99 36 44 Back 46.22 29.77 36.03 Front 42.15 28.36 34.57 Back 41.88 27.85 33.79 As shown in Table 4, all sample color measurements, regardless of color, gauge or film positioning within a sample construct show significantly identical L*, a* and b* color values when measured from the front and the back surfaces of the sample constructs. These measurements confirm that the color is uniform throughout the panel, despite opposing colors being on opposing surfaces of a given panel assembly.
Example 4: Manipulation of Color Intensity with a Multiplicity of Layers Implementations of the present invention further comprise controlling the color intensity of a panel assembly with the addition of multiple film layers of the same color. To exemplify the relative intensity effect that can be achieved with the addition of multiple colored film layers in a laminated panel, samples were produced with colored films as detailed in Table 2. Such layering enables end users to control the intensity of color of finished panels through simple addition of same color layers.
In the case of this example, sample structures were produced from PETG films and sheets with an open-air lamination press under conditions sufficient for bonding materials together without the use of a laminating enhancing layer (-250 F
for 10 minutes at 40 psi). The configurations of colored films and sheets utilized to produce the example structures are listed in Table 5 below. The data presented in Table 6 is representative of the resultant color of the structures as measured with a HUNTERLAB COLORQUEST XE spectrophotometer.

Table 5. Panel Configurations Produced with Multiple Homogeneous Color Layers Sample Surface 1 Surface 2 Surface 3 Surface 4 Surface 5 Number (front) (back) G 0.500" 0.010" 0.500" NA NA
Clear POMEGRANATE Clear PETG sheet PETG film PETG sheet H 0.500" 0.010" 0.010" 0.500"
NA
Clear POMEGRANATE POMEGRANATE
Clear PETG sheet PETG film PETG film PETG sheet I 0.500" 0.010" 0.010" 0.010"
0.500"
Clear POMEGRANATE POMEGRANATE POMEGRANATE Clear PETG sheet PETG film PETG film PETG film PETG
J 0.010" 0.500" NA NA NA
LAWN Clear PETG film PETG sheet K 0.010" 0.010" 0.500" NA NA
LAWN LAWN Clear PETG film PETG film PETG
L 0.010" 0.010" 0.010" 0.500"
NA
LAWN LAWN LAWN Clear PETG film PETG film PETG film PETG sheet Table 6. Resultant Color Measures of Panels Produced with Multiple Color Layers.
Sample L* a* b* Light Transmission G 56.56 44.5 10.76 24.47 H 37.67 52.87 25.17 9.91 28.20 49.26 33.46 5.45 82.49 -34.42 37.89 61.2 76.54 -44.2 51.15 50.77 70.34 -52.92 56.72 41.23 As is shown with the data in Table 6, increasing the film layers has a predictable effect on L* and light transmission. That is, as the number of color film layers increases, the apparent "darkness" (as characterized by decreasing L*
and decreasing light transmission) of the panel increases accordingly. While there is movement in the a* (red to green axis) and b* (blue to yellow axis) values of the samples, the relative hue of the color stays intact upon visual inspection, and the colors show an increase in intensity in accordance with the decrease in light transmission.
Example 5: Manipulation of Light Transmission and Diffusion Performance Implementations of the present invention further comprise controlling the panel optical properties with the addition of translucent "WHITE" film layers.
Such control of light transmission and diffusion properties is often important in the design of artificial and day-lighting systems with respect to spreading light across a panel and creating a desired lighting effect.
To demonstrate the effects of varying light transmission, 4"x4" sample panels were assembled and fused as described by the configurations listed in Table 7.

Lamination was conducted in an open-air lamination press at approximately 265 F
for 10 minutes at 40 psi, which can constitute appropriate bonding conditions for laminating one or more PCTG films to a PETG sheet. The base "WHITE" film was produced from PCTG and is characterized in Table 2.
Table 7. Panel Configurations Produced with Multiple White Color Layers.
Sample Surface 1 Surface 2 Surface 3 Surface 4 (front) (back) 0.010" WHITE 0.060" Clear NA NA
PCTG film PETG sheet 0.010" WHITE 0.010" WHITE 0.060" Clear NA
PCTG film PCTG film PETG sheet 0 0.010" WHITE 0.010" WHITE 0.010" WHITE 0.060" Clear PCTG film PCTG film PCTG film PETG sheet The color, light transmission and haze responses, as measured with a HUNTERLAB COLORQUEST XE spectrophotometer (TTRANS setting), of the samples listed in Table 7 are represented in Table 8.
Table 8. Color and Optical Measurements of Panels with Multiple Layers of Translucent White Film.
Sample L* A* B* Haze Light Transmission M 81.56 2.81 -2.53 90.84 59.48 N 74.58 3.04 -2.59 97.80 47.61 0 69.67 3.20 -3.33 99.08 40.28 Similar to the ability to increase panel color intensity with the addition of multiple layers of colored films, increasing the number of translucent "WHITE"
film layers has a significant effect on the overall light transmission and diffusion (as characterized by haze) properties that are exhibited in a translucent laminated panel.
Further, the results in Table 8 also point to a consistency of color hue that is characterized by the small differences among the measured a* and b* values of samples produced with one, two, and three layers of translucent "WHITE" film.

The practice of the present invention lends itself well as a tool for designers and specifiers of interior lighting and panel systems. Having the ability to manipulate the light transmission and diffusion (haze) properties of a panel allows one to control the amount of light scattering, and the ultimate aesthetic lighting effect that occurs at the panel surface. Increasing the haze value, by increasing the number of translucent "WHITE" layers, allows designers to manipulate the transparency of a lighting and panel system to achieve the desired visual effects in a lighting application, regardless if the light source in the application is from artificial light sources (incandescent, fluorescent, LED, halogen, etc.) or natural daylight.
An added feature can be introduced with one or multiple translucent "WHITE" film layers laminated in conjunction with colored film layers. Table 9 demonstrates that the change in the light transmission and the diffusion characteristics created by translucent "WHITE" film layers in a laminated panel can be utilized in conjunction with panels that contain colored film layers. When translucent "WHITE"
films are combined with colored film layers, one has the ability to modify the light transmission and the diffusion characteristics of a panel with little effect on the overall panel color.
In the example case represented in Table 9, a first panel of 1/32" nominal thickness was constructed in an open-air lamination press with a 0.010" thick first surface layer of "ALLURE" blue film (as described in Table 2) laminated to a 0.060"
thick layer of clear PETG sheet. A second panel was constructed with the same 0.010" thick "ALLURE" blue film on the first surface and a second layer of 0.010"
"WHITE" PCTG film (as described in Table 2) laminated to a 0.060" thick layer of clear PETG sheet. The data in Table 9 shows that the incorporation of a "WHITE"
translucent film layer, even with a color, has a dramatic effect on the haze and light transmission of the panel. Despite the large change in light transmission and haze values, the "WHITE" translucent film layer imparts only a slight difference to the overall color hue (as represented by the a* and the b* values) between the color-only sample and the sample with a color layer and a "WHITE" diffuser layer.

Table 9. Fused Colored Panels Produced With and Without a Translucent White Diffusing Layer.
Panel lay-up L* a* b* Haze Light Transmission Blue + Clear 63.63 -3.74 -31.26 8.63 32.34 Blue + WHITE + Clear 48.33 -0.14 -26.42 82.71 17.06 Example 6. Laminated Panels with Colored Filmsused in Combination with Neutral Fabrics.
Additional implementations of the present invention include the ability to add color to neutral (clear or white) fabric inserts through the fusion of colored film layers to the fabric layers. To this end, samples (4"x4") of such laminations were produced with fabrics, and with colored films combined with fabrics, in an open-air lamination press. The configurations of the samples produced are described in Table 10.
Laminated panels with only fabric inserts were included for the purpose of comparison to laminated panels containing both fabrics and colored film layers. The "LAWN" color identified in Table 10 is the same material as previously characterized in Table 2.
Table 10. Constructs of Panels Containing Fabrics and Fabrics with Colored Film Layers Sample Surface 1 Surface 2 Surface 3 Surface 4 Surface (front) (back) 0.236" Clear Clear 0.236" Clear NA NA
PETG sheet Sheer fabric PETG sheet 0.236" Clear White 0.236" Clear NA NA
PETG sheet Voile fabric PETG sheet 0.236" Clear White 0.236" Clear NA NA
PETG sheet Taffeta Fabric PETG sheet 0.236" Clear 0.010" LAWN Clear 0.010"
LAWN 0.236" Clear PETG sheet PETG film Sheer fabric PETG
film PETG sheet T 0.236" Clear 0.010" LAWN White 0.010"
LAWN 0.236" Clear PETG sheet PETG film Voile fabric PETG
film PETG sheet U 0.236" Clear 0.010" LAWN White 0.010"
LAWN 0.236" Clear PETG sheet PETG film Taffeta fabric PETG
film PETG sheet V 0.010" LAWN 0.236" Clear White 0.236" Clear 0.010" LAWN
PETG film PETG sheet Voile fabric PETG
sheet PETG film The resultant panels were measured for color and optical response in a HUNTERLAB COLORSCAN XE spectrophotometer (TTRANS setting). The measurement results are listed in Table 11.
5 Table 11.
Color and Optical Measurements of Laminated Panels Containing Fabrics With and Without Color Film Layers.
Sample L* a* b* Haze Light Transmission 91.08 0.07 0.78 5.62 78.66 79.13 0.51 1.04 17.65 55.15 49.54 1.47 0.62 82.95 18.03 74.65 -42.94 50.45 24.31 47.73 63.79 -37.69 45.52 37.84 32.54 33.5 -25.43 30.13 97.81 7.77 V 63.94 -37.63 44.39 24.11 48.76 The data in Table 11 exemplifies the aesthetic differences between the sheer, to voile and taffeta fabrics in terms of color, haze and light transmission. These differences create unique panel aesthetics and lighting effects when laminated into single panel constructions and used in applications that are either lighted or serve as a light-diffusing medium of daylight or artificial lighting. Comparison of samples P to S, Q to T, and S to V show the effect that the color film layers impart onto the fabric layer, and the structure as a whole, laminated into a single panel.
Of significance is a comparison of sample S from Table 11, which is produced with 2 layers of the "LAWN" color film in contact with a white voile fabric, with sample K from Table 6, which is the same total thickness and also produced with two layers of the same "LAWN" color film. The resultant panel colors as characterized by the measured L*, a* and b* values are virtually identical with the only difference being a reduction in the light transmission of sample S, which is due to the fabric.
Such a result demonstrates that the color of the film does translate to the fabric to create the effect of a pre-colored fabric.
Samples T and V of Table 11 further demonstrate that the placement of the colored film layer, or layers, with respect to the position of fabric in the laminated panel structure has no effect on the overall measured color values obtained from a laminated panel. This result demonstrates that the colored film layers do not have to be in direct contact with the fabric layer to impart a consistent color appearance to the fabric.
In addition to creating a colored panel as described herein, a manufacturer can apply a texture to any one or more of the films, substrates, and/or film/substrate laminate combinations for any number of purposes. In at least one implementation, and as previously described, the manufacturer can apply texture to one or more films and/or one or more substrates before lamination in order to ensure appropriate air removal between the film(s) and substrate(s) during lamination. In addition, the manufacturer can apply texture to a substrate/film laminate combination for a variety of aesthetic purposes (e.g., better diffusion, avoidance of color streaking, etc.) In conventional cases, a manufacturer will typically provide texture to a panel by including a texture paper as one of the various layers in the forming/laminating process. For example, in addition to the layers shown in Figure 4, a manufacturer might further include a texture paper layer on a surface of substrate 142 and/or 144;
or, with respect to the layers shown in Figure 1, the manufacturer might further include the texture paper layer on top of the film layer 114, which is on top of the substrate. In some cases, however, depending on one or more of the film layers and the granularity of the texture paper, this sort of application of texture can result in uneven air removal in the functional sense, or uneven streaking of colors in the aesthetic sense. This tends to occur particularly if the manufacturer subsequently laminates the panel with yet another color film layer.
With respect to the color/aesthetic aspect, one reason for such streaking may include the notion that the texture granules on the texture paper are somewhat randomly aligned, which means that, in some cases, valleys and peaks can form that provide some of the color film inks a conduit for streaking during lamination.
A
similar effect can be observed with respect to using texturing in order to remove air from between film and/or substrate layers. That is, random or less-than-ideal distribution of texture granules, can result in texturing of the film and/or resin substrates that entraps air in the final panel, and thus results in a final panel with reduced aesthetic qualities.
Accordingly, implementations of the present invention further include one or more apparatus and methods for applying texture to films, substrates, and/or completed panels while minimizing or outright eliminating any potential for air entrapment, and/or color streaking in such panels. This can be done at least in part by providing a much more uniform distribution of texture granules on a texture applicator. In at least one implementation, applying this distribution can be done at least in part by using a textured roller to apply texture to a colored film, substrate, and/or completed panel, whereby the textured roller imparts a highly uniform texture.
The manufacturer can then apply the textured film to the substrate (which may also be textured using similar or identical mechanisms). During lamination, as described herein, the uniformly-applied texture one or all of the given surfaces can then provide for sufficient air removal between surfaces on the one hand, and/or avoid any color streaking on the other hand.
Along these lines, Figures 7A-7C illustrate various schematic diagrams for applying texture in accordance with an additional or alternative implementation of the present invention using a textured roller. In the illustrated case, Figures 7A-7C show components in a process for producing a finished lamination product for aesthetic effects. Such illustration, however, is primarily by way of convenience, as the mechanism for lamination is essentially the same whether providing texture to an individual film or an individual substrate prior to lamination, such as to achieve improved air removal effects.
In either case, a texture-applying roller 180 (or textured roller) can comprise a cylinder having a double wall, spiral baffle using mild steel construction. In such a case, this roller can further comprise an outer shell 182 produced from 4140 stainless steel that has been hardened to 52 - 54 Rc ("Rockwell Hardness.") In at least one implementation, the roller size can be about a 16" diameter with a 66" face, and can be prepared with a plurality of different textures. In at least one implementation, for example, the roller is prepared (e.g., sandblasted or engraved) with a texture of having a Ra value of 150 inches, and, in another implementation, the roller is prepared (e.g., sandblasted or engraved) with a texture having a Ra value of 250 inches.
At least one method of applying texture, therefore, includes first obtaining the article to be textured (e.g., the colored film, the resin substrate, or completed panel).
If texturing a completed panel, such as illustrated in Figure 7A, the manufacturer first prepares colored panel 184 using one or more colored films 186 and 188. In particular, as previously described, a manufacture can form or laminate one or more colored films to one or more surfaces of a resin substrate (e.g., polycarbonate, acrylic, co-polyester, etc.). Of course, one will appreciate that, as also previously described, the articles (i.e., the substrate article and one or more color film articles) will be at least partially translucent. Nevertheless, Figure 7A illustrates the substrate and films without translucence/transparency effects for purposes of convenience in illustration.
As shown in Figure 7B, however, the lamination of the one or more color film articles to the substrate article results in an at least partially translucent article (e.g., panel 184) that bears the color (or color combination) presented by the applied color film layers. If the article to be textured is simply a colored film alone, however, Figure 7B similarly can be construed as representing a colored film article or a basic resin substrate article prior to lamination. Specifically, Figure 7B
illustrates the translucency of any given article (e.g., laminated/colored panel 184) prior to applying texture.
In either case, the texturing process begins by heating the surface of the panel to above the material's Tg. The manufacturer then passes the article (e.g., laminated/colored panel 184, or just film 186 and/or 188) through the one or more textured rollers 180, which have been chosen based on the texture or surface roughness of the given roller 180 (or set of rollers). As shown in Figure 7C, passing the given article (e.g., panel 184, or films 186 and/or 188) through the one or more textured rollers 180 results in application of the texture (i.e., in inverted form) from the roller 180 to the panel 184 and/or film(s) 186/188. Following transfer of the roller texture to the article, the manufacturer allows the textured article to cool below the Tg to complete the texturing process. If texturing the films 186/188 articles separately, the manufacturer can then laminate the now-textured film articles 186/188 to the resin substrate 184 article, as previously described herein.
On the one hand, if the manufacturer has only textured the exposed side of the colored film (or laminated panel), the resulting product is a thermoplastic panel such as shown in Figure 7C, in which a resin thermoplastic panel comprises a textured film laminated to a base resin substrate 184. On the other hand, if the manufacturer has only applied textured to an inside surface of a film article that is placed directly against the surface of the resin substrate article, the texturing shown in Figure 7C will be less visible (or potentially invisible). One will appreciate in either case that because the roller 180 is prepared carefully with a uniform distribution of texture granules, and because the roller 180 provides a continuous and repeated application of the texture granulation, the ultimate, laminated end product is virtually ensured to have a uniform distribution of texture thereon. This, in turn, can minimize or outright avoid any air entrapment, and/or avoids color streaking that could accompany application of the color film(s) (particularly subsequent color films laminated on top of the textured surface(s)).
As a final matter, one will appreciate that a manufacturer can apply multiple rollers to a given article in order to impart texture. With a color film article (or non-laminated substrate article), for example, the manufacture may desire to achieve the air removal benefits of texturing on one side of the colored film, but also achieve the benefits of avoiding color streaking on the other side of the film article.
With a laminated panel article, the manufacturer may desire to achieve the above-described aesthetic benefits on both sides of the finished panel.
5 In addition, there may be other reasons in which a manufacturer may desire to apply multiple different rollers on the same side of the article to achieve still other aesthetic or performance effects. Furthermore, the manufacturer may apply texture on opposing sides of the given article with opposing rollers, or simply turn the article over after application of texture on one side and then apply texture to the second side to of the article.
Accordingly, illustration of a single textured roller to a single side of a given article is done by way primarily of convenience, and thus should not be construed as limiting. In any event, and as previously mentioned, the manufacturer may even apply still additional color films on top of the textured surface(s), and further pass the article again through texturing (on top of the new color films).
15 The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims (122)

1. A decorative thermoplastic structure formed to have the appearance of a unitary color throughout its composition, the structure comprising:
a substantially translucent thermoplastic resin substrate having opposing front and back surfaces, wherein the front or back surface comprises a bonding surface having a first surface roughness;
a first thermoplastic colored film layer that has a bonding surface with a second surface roughness that is different from the first surface roughness, wherein the bonding surface of the first colored film layer has been fused to and intermixed with the bonding surface of the resin substrate; and a second thermoplastic colored film layer fused to at least one of the first colored film layer and the resin substrate, such that the resin substrate is fused to one or both of the first or second colored films;
wherein:
the surface roughness of at least one of the bonding surfaces of the resin substrate or the first colored film comprises an even distribution of texture granules;
the fused first and second colored film layers impart a third color throughout the entire thermoplastic structure, such that the color of the thermoplastic structure remains the same throughout the thermoplastic structure regardless of the viewing direction; and the resin substrate is thicker than the one or both of the first or second colored film layers.
2. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate and at least the first colored film comprise the same resin material.
3. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate is made from different materials selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations thereof, and the first or second colored films are made from a material that is different from that selected for the resin substrate.
4. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the first colored film is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of PVC, polyester, acrylic and polycarbonate.
5. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the resin substrate is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of PVC, polyester, acrylic and polycarbonate.
6. The thermoplastic structure as recited in any one of claims 1-5, further comprising one or more fabric layers laminated to the resin substrate.
7. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 6, wherein:
color from the first and second colored films combines with the one or more fabric layers; and the thermoplastic structure portrays a combination of the one or more fabric layers and the third color throughout the thermoplastic structure.
8. A laminate assembly configured to have a unitary color throughout its composition regardless of the viewing direction when subjected to a lamination process, the assembly comprising:
one or more translucent resin substrates, each having opposing front and back surfaces; and a plurality of colored film layers that are miscible with the translucent resin substrates, and that are adapted to be fused to at least one of the front and back surfaces of the one or more substrates;
wherein:
each colored film of the plurality of film layers has a surface roughness that reflects evenly distributed texture granules on a surface to be bonded, and that is substantially greater than a surface roughness of the front and back surfaces of the one or more substrates, thereby reducing incidences of color streaking and of air-entrapment between the bonding surfaces of the plurality of film layers and the one or more substrates during manufacture of the structure; and the plurality of colored films are selected in composition to fuse to and intermix with the one or more substrates during manufacture so that the manufactured structure displays a new color on all viewing surfaces of the manufactured structure regardless of the viewing direction, and the new color represents a combination of each color in the plurality of colored films.
9. The laminate assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the surface roughness of each film of the plurality of film layers is greater than 20 µ inches.
10. The laminate assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the surface roughness of the front and back surfaces of the one or more substrates is less than 20 µ
inches.
11. The laminate assembly as recited in any one of claims 8-10, wherein at least one film of the plurality of film layers has an image printed thereon.
12. The laminate assembly as recited in any one of claims 8-11, wherein the one or more substrates and the plurality of film layers are fused together through application of heat and pressure.
13. The laminate assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the heat applied during the fusing process exceeds the glass-transition temperature (T g) of each of the one or more substrates and the plurality of film layers.
14. The laminate assembly as recited in claims 12 or 13 wherein the one or more substrates and the plurality of film layers are further fused together through application of adhesives.
15. A method of preparing a laminate resin structure having a custom color created from a plurality of colored films, comprising:
providing a translucent resin substrate having opposing first and second bonding surfaces that correspond with opposing first and second viewable surfaces, and a glass transition temperature of said resin substrate;
aligning a bonding surface of a first colored film directly against a bonding surface of the resin substrate, wherein the first colored film is miscible with the bonding surface of the resin substrate, and comprises a glass transition temperature of said first colored film;
aligning a second colored film about an outside surface of the first colored film, wherein the second colored film is miscible with at least the first colored film, and comprises a glass transition temperature of said second colored film;
and applying heat and pressure to meet or exceed the highest glass transition temperature of the resin substrate, the first colored film, and the second colored film, such that the resin substrate intermixes with one or both of the first and second colored films to display a third color substantially throughout the resin substrate, regardless of ordering of the first and second colored films on the translucent resin substrate;
wherein the third color is a composite of the colors of the first and second colored films.
16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein at least the first colored film comprises a texture on the bonding surface that is different from a texture of the bonding surface of the resin substrate.
17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the texture of the first and second colored film comprises a uniform surface roughness that is greater than the surface roughness of the resin substrate.
18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein:
the texture of the first and second colored film comprises a uniform surface roughness that is greater than 20 la inches; and the texture of the resin substrate comprises a uniform surface roughness that is less than 20 µ inches.
19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein:
the texture of the first and second colored film comprises a uniform surface roughness that is greater than 62 inches; and texture of the resin substrate comprises a uniform surface roughness that is less than 10 µ inches.
20. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:
positioning a white film about a bonding surface of the resin substrate or a surface of one of the first or second colored films;
wherein, after the application of heat and pressure, the white film provides a first haze value to the resultant third color.
21. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising:
positioning a second white film about a bonding surface of the resin substrate or one of the first or second colored films before application of heat and pressure;
wherein, the combination of the first and second white films results in a laminate structure having a second haze value that is greater than the first haze value.
22. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the translucent resin substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations and polymer alloys thereof.
23. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein:
the color of one or both of the first or second colored films comprises a printed image; and a difference in surface roughness between opposing surfaces at a bonding interface between the resin substrate and first colored film, or at a bonding interface between the first and second colored films, allows for evacuation of air while preventing color streaking.
24. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the second colored film further comprises a texture on an opposing surface that is different from the bonding surface.
25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the translucent resin substrate further comprises a textured finish on a non-bonding surface.
26. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first and second colored films comprise the same color, such that the new third color comprises the color of the first or second colored film at greater intensity.
27. A method of preparing a laminate resin structure devoid of air entrapment or color streaking, comprising:
providing a resin substrate having a uniform texture with a first surface roughness on a bonding surface;
providing a colored film that is miscible with the resin substrate, and that has a uniform texture with a second surface roughness on a bonding surface, wherein the second surface roughness is different from the first surface roughness;
positioning the resin substrate and the colored film so that the textures of the bonding surfaces of the resin substrate and the colored film are in direct contact with each other; and applying heat and pressure to the positioned resin substrate and colored film so that the resin substrate and colored film intermix, wherein, during application of heat and pressure, the uniform textures of the in-contact bonding surfaces allow air removal from between the resin substrate and the colored film while preventing color streaking; and applying a textured finish to a non-bonding surface of the resin substrate.
28. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising:
providing a textured finish to a non-bonding surface of the colored film;
wherein the textured finish on the non-bonding surfaces of the resin substrate and colored film cooperate to enhance diffusion of light in the laminate resin structure.
29. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising:
identifying a preferred light diffusion characteristic of the laminate resin structure; and identifying a number of one or more white film layers needed to create the light diffusion characteristic.
30. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising positioning the one or more identified white film layers about an assembly comprising the resin substrate and positioned colored film prior to applying heat and pressure.
31. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein:
the surface roughness of the colored film layer is greater than the surface roughness of the resin substrate layer.
32. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein assembly of the positioned resin substrate and the colored film is devoid of a laminating enhancing layer.
33. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising applying heat and pressure through a lamination press.
34. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the color of one or both of the first or second colored films comprises a printed image.
35. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising:
providing one or more additional colored films that are miscible with one or both of the colored film or the resin substrate;
wherein the colored film and the one or more additional colored films are fused to the resin substrate, such that the prepared laminate structure displays a third color throughout the resin substrate that is a composite of the colors of the colored film and the one or more additional colored films.
36. The method as recited in claim 35, the one or more added colored films comprise the same color as the provided colored film, such that the third color comprises the color of the first or second colored film at greater intensity.
37. The method as recited in claim 35, further comprising providing a textured finish to a non-bonding surface of the one or more additional colored films, wherein the textured finish on the non-bonding surfaces of the resin substrate and the one or more additional colored films cooperate to enhance diffusion of light in the laminate resin structure.
38. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein:
one of the resin substrate or the colored film comprises a greater surface roughness on its bonding surface; and the other of the resin substrate of the colored film comprises a lesser surface roughness.
39. The method as recited in claim 38, wherein:
the greater surface roughness is greater than 20 µ inches; and the lesser surface roughness is less than 20 µ inches.
40. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the greater surface roughness is greater than 50µ inches.
41. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the greater surface roughness is greater than 60 µ inches.
42. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the greater surface roughness is greater than 250 µ inches.
43. A method of preparing a laminate resin structure having a custom color created from a plurality of colored films, comprising:
providing a translucent resin substrate having opposing first and second bonding surfaces that correspond with opposing first and second viewable surfaces, and a glass transition temperature of said resin substrate;
aligning a bonding surface of a first colored film directly against a bonding surface of the resin substrate, wherein the first colored film is miscible with the bonding surface of the resin substrate, and comprises a glass transition temperature of said first colored film;
aligning a second colored film about an outside surface of the first colored film, wherein the second colored film is miscible with at least the first colored film, and comprises a glass transition temperature of said second colored film;
and applying heat and pressure to meet or exceed the highest glass transition temperature of the resin substrate, the first colored film, and the second colored film;
wherein:
the resin substrate intermixes with one or both of the first and second colored films to display a third color substantially throughout the resin substrate, regardless of ordering of the first and second colored films on the translucent resin substrate; and the third color is a composite of the colors of the first and second colored films; and applying a texture to an outside, non-bonding surface of the resin substrate and colored film combination, wherein a plurality of surfaces in the laminate resin structure comprise a textured finish.
44. The method as recited in claim 43, wherein the resin substrate comprises a thickness that is 6 times the thickness of the first or second colored film.
45. The method as recited in claim 43, wherein the resin substrates comprises material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations and polymer alloys thereof.
46. The method as recited in claim 43, wherein the first and second colored films comprise the same color, such that fusing the resin substrate and colored films results in the finished resin structure displaying the color at a higher intensity than when created with only one of the first or second colored films.
47. The method as recited in claim 43, further comprising:
positioning a white film layer about the second colored film;
wherein, when fused to the second colored film, the white film layer cooperates with one or more textured surfaces in the laminate resin structure to diffuse light.
48. The method as recited in claim 43, wherein at least the first colored film comprises a texture on the bonding surface that is different from a texture of the bonding surface of the resin substrate.
49. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein the texture of the second colored film comprises a uniform surface roughness that is different from a surface roughness of the first colored film at a bonding interface.
50. A method of preparing a laminate resin structure having a custom color created from a plurality of colored films, wherein the custom color of the plurality of films is diffused substantially throughout the laminate resin structure, regardless of viewing direction, comprising:
providing a translucent resin substrate having opposing first and second bonding surfaces that correspond with opposing first and second viewable surfaces, and a glass transition temperature of said resin substrate;
aligning a bonding surface of a first colored film about a bonding surface of the resin substrate, wherein the first colored film comprises opposing bonding surfaces, a uniform texture on at least one of the bonding surfaces of the first colored film, and a glass transition temperature of said first colored film;
aligning a bonding surface of a second colored film about a bonding surface of the first colored film, wherein the second colored film is miscible at least with the first colored film, and comprises opposing bonding surfaces, a uniform texture on at least one of the bonding surfaces of the second colored film, and a glass transition temperature of said second colored film;
applying heat and pressure to meet or exceed the highest glass transition temperature of at least the first colored film and the second colored film;
and applying a textured finish to the aligned resin substrate and colored film combination, wherein a plurality of outside surfaces in the laminate resin structure comprise a textured finish;
wherein the first and second colored films intermix to create a substantially uniform third color that, in cooperation with each texture of the non-bonding and bonding surfaces, is diffused substantially throughout the resulting laminate resin structure regardless of viewing direction.
51. The method as recited in claim 50, wherein the textured finish on the plurality of outside surfaces of the laminate resin structure comprises a uniform distribution of texture granules.
52. The method as recited in claim 50, wherein the texture of the second colored film is different from a texture of the first colored film at a bonding interface between the first and second colored films.
53. The method as recited in claim 50, wherein a texture of the first colored film is different from a texture of the translucent resin substrate at a bonding interface between the first colored film and the translucent resin substrate.
54. The method as recited in claim 50, wherein the translucent resin substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations and polymer alloys thereof.
55. The method as recited in claim 54, wherein the translucent resin substrate is miscible with at least the first colored film.
56. The method as recited in claim 50, further comprising providing a lamination enhancer layer between the resin substrate and the first colored film.
57. The method as recited in claim 56, wherein the translucent resin substrate and at least the first colored film comprise heterogeneous materials.
58. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein:
the translucent resin substrate comprises one of PETG, a copolyester, polycarbonate, or acrylic; and the first and second colored films are co-miscible with each other, but are heterogeneous with the translucent resin substrate.
59. A method of preparing a laminate resin structure having a custom color created from a plurality of colored films, wherein the custom color of the plurality of films is diffused substantially throughout the laminate resin structure, regardless of viewing direction, comprising:
providing a translucent resin substrate having a glass transition temperature of said resin substrate;
providing a first colored film having a glass transition temperature of said first colored film about the translucent resin substrate;
providing one or more additional colored films about the first colored film, each of the one or more additional colored films comprising a glass transition temperature of each of said one or more additional colored films; wherein each of the one or more additional colored films is miscible with an adjacent colored film, or the first colored film;
wherein each interface between the resin substrate and first colored film, and between the first colored film and a next one of the one or more additional colored films, in succession, comprises opposing bonding surfaces having a texture of uniform surface roughness on each opposed bonding surface;
wherein the texture of the bonding surface of the resin substrate is different in surface roughness from that of the texture of the bonding surface of the first colored film;
applying heat and pressure to meet or exceed the highest glass transition temperature of each of the first colored film and one or more additional colored films, such that each of the first colored film and one or more additional colored films intermix to create a uniform new color; and applying a textured finish to one or more outer surfaces of the resin substrate and colored film combination, wherein the textured finish of the one or more outer surfaces and one or more bonding surfaces cooperate to diffuse the uniform new color in the finished panel, such that the uniform new color is displayed substantially the same throughout the finished panel regardless of viewing direction or ordering of films.
60. The method as recited in claim 59, wherein the translucent resin substrate is miscible with at least the first colored film.
61. The method as recited in claim 60, wherein:
the translucent resin substrate comprises a uniform surface roughness on its bonding surface opposed to a bonding surface of the first colored film;
and the opposed bonding surface of the first colored film comprises a uniform surface roughness that is different from the surface roughness of the surface roughness of the resin substrate.
62. The method as recited in claim 60, wherein the surface roughness of the translucent resin substrate or of the first colored film is less than 20 µ
inches, while the other opposed surface roughness is greater than 20 µ inches.
63. The method as recited in claim 59, further comprising providing a lamination enhancer layer between the resin substrate and the first colored film.
64. The method as recited in claim 63, wherein the translucent resin substrate and at least the first colored film comprise heterogeneous materials.
65. The method as recited in claim 59, wherein the translucent resin substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations and polymer alloys thereof.
66. The method as recited in claim 59, wherein applying heat and pressure further comprises:
meeting or exceeding the highest glass transition temperature of the translucent resin substrate;
wherein the translucent resin substrate intermixes at least with the first colored film.
67. The method as recited in claim 59, wherein a plurality of outside surfaces of the finished panel comprises a textured finish having a uniform distribution of texture granules.
68. The method as recited in claim 59, further comprising:
positioning one or more white film layers in or about the resin substrate and colored film combination;
wherein the one or more white film layers enhance diffusion of light in the finished panel.
69. A method of preparing a laminate resin structure having a custom color created from a plurality of colored films, comprising:
providing a translucent resin substrate having opposing first and second bonding surfaces that correspond with opposing first and second viewable surfaces, and a glass transition temperature of said resin substrate;
aligning a bonding surface of a first colored film directly against a bonding surface of the resin substrate, wherein the first colored film is miscible with the bonding surface of the resin substrate, and comprises a glass transition temperature of said first colored film;
aligning a second colored film directly against one of another bonding surface of the resin substrate or another bonding surface of the first colored film, wherein the second colored film is miscible with one or both of the resin substrate and the first colored film, and has a glass transition temperature of said second colored film; and applying heat and pressure to meet or exceed the highest glass transition temperature of the resin substrate, the first colored film, and the second colored film, such that the resin substrate intermixes with one or both of the first and second colored films to display a third color throughout the resin substrate that is a composite of the colors of the first and second colored films.
70. The method as recited in claim 69, wherein the first and second colored film both comprise texture on the bonding surface that has a surface roughness that is different from a texture of a bonding surface of the resin substrate.
71. The method as recited in claim 70, wherein the texture of the first and second colored film comprises a uniform surface roughness that is greater than the surface roughness of the resin substrate.
72. The method as recited in claim 70, wherein:
the texture of the first and second colored film comprises a uniform surface roughness that is greater than 20 µ inches; and the texture of the resin substrate comprises a uniform surface roughness that is less than 20 µ inches.
73. The method as recited in claim 70, wherein:
the texture of the first and second colored film comprises a uniform surface roughness that is greater than 62 II inches; and the texture of the resin substrate comprises a uniform surface roughness that is less than 10µ inches.
74. The method as recited in claim 69, further comprising:
positioning a white film about a bonding surface of the resin substrate or one of the first or second colored films;
wherein, after the application of heat and pressure, the white film provides a first haze value to the resultant third color.
75. The method as recited in claim 74, further comprising:
positioning a second white film about a bonding surface of the resin substrate or one of the first or second colored films before application of heat and pressure;
wherein, the combination of the first and second white films results in a laminate structure having a second haze value that is greater than the first haze value.
76. A method of preparing a laminate resin structure devoid of air entrapment or color streaking, comprising:
providing a resin substrate having a uniform texture with a first surface roughness on a bonding surface;
providing a colored film that is miscible with the resin substrate, and that has a uniform texture with a second surface roughness on a bonding surface, wherein the second surface roughness is different from the first surface roughness;
positioning the resin substrate and the colored film so that the textures of the bonding surfaces of the resin substrate and the colored film are in direct contact with each other; and applying heat and pressure to the positioned resin substrate and colored film so that the resin substrate and colored film intermix;
wherein, during application of heat and pressure, the uniform textures of the in-contact bonding surfaces allow air removal from between the resin substrate and the colored film while preventing color streaking.
77. The method as recited in claim 76, further comprising:
identifying a preferred light diffusion characteristic of the laminate resin structure; and identifying a number of one or more white film layers needed to create the light diffusion characteristic.
78. The method as recited in claim 77, further comprising positioning the one or more identified white film layers about an assembly comprising the resin substrate and positioned colored film prior to applying heat and pressure.
79. The method as recited in claim 76, wherein:
the surface roughness of the colored film layer is greater than the surface roughness of the resin substrate layer.
80. The method as recited in claim 76, wherein assembly of the positioned resin substrate and the colored film is devoid of a laminating enhancing layer.
81. The method as recited in claim 76, further comprising applying heat and pressure through a heated-plate, open-air lamination press.
82. The method as recited in claim 76, wherein:
one of the resin substrate or the colored film comprises a greater surface roughness on its bonding surface; and the other of the resin substrate of the colored film comprises a lesser surface roughness.
83. The method as recited in claim 82, wherein:
the greater surface roughness is greater than 20 µ inches; and the lesser surface roughness is less than 20 µ inches.
84. The method as recited in claim 83, wherein the greater surface roughness is greater than 50 µ inches.
85. The method as recited in claim 83, wherein the greater surface roughness is greater than 60 µ inches.
86. The method as recited in claim 82, wherein the greater surface roughness is greater than 250 µ inches.
87. A method of combining a thermoplastic film and a plurality of resin substrate materials together through heat and pressure to yield a finished and aesthetically pleasing resin structure that displays the aesthetic characteristics of the thermoplastic film throughout the finished resin structure, comprising:
providing a first resin substrate having a bonding surface with a uniform texture having a first surface roughness;
providing a second resin substrate having a bonding surface with a uniform texture having a second surface roughness that is equal to or less than the first surface roughness; and positioning a colored thermoplastic film between the first and second resin substrates, wherein the colored thermoplastic film is miscible with the first and second resin substrates, and comprises uniform texturing on opposing bonding surfaces;
wherein the surface roughness of the opposing bonding surfaces of the colored thermoplastic film is greater than about 25 times the first surface roughness; and fusing the first resin substrate, the colored thermoplastic film, and the second resin substrate, such that the highest glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic film or substrates is exceeded.
88. The method as recited in claim 87, wherein the first and second resin substrates comprise a thickness that is 6 times the thickness of the colored thermoplastic film.
89. The method as recited in claim 87, wherein the first and second resin substrates comprise an extrusion of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations and polymer alloys thereof
90. The method as recited in claim 87, wherein the color of the colored thermoplastic film comprises a printed image.
91. The method as recited in claim 87, further comprising:
adding one or more colored thermoplastic film between the colored thermoplastic film and one of the first or second resin substrates prior to fusing;
wherein:
the one or more added colored thermoplastic films are miscible with the colored thermoplastic film; and one of the one or more added colored thermoplastic films adjacent the first or second resin substrate comprises a surface roughness that is greater than about 25 times the first surface roughness.
92. The method as recited in claim 91, wherein the colored thermoplastic film and the one or more added colored thermoplastic films comprise the same color, such that the fusing the substrates and thermoplastic films results in the finished resin structure displaying the color at a higher intensity than when created without the added thermoplastic film.
93. The method as recited in claim 91, wherein at least one of the one or more added colored films comprise a white film layer, which, when fused to the first or second resin substrate, reduces light transmission in the finished resin structure.
94. The method as recited in claim 69, wherein the translucent resin substrate comprises an extrusion of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations and polymer alloys thereof.
95. The method as recited in claim 69, wherein the color of one or both of the first or second colored thermoplastic film comprises a printed image.
96. The method as recited in claim 69, wherein:
the first colored film is aligned on the first surface of the translucent resin substrate; and the second colored film is aligned on the second surface of the translucent resin substrate.
97. The method as recited in claim 69, wherein one or both of the first or second resin substrates further comprises a texture on an opposing surface that is opposed to its bonding surface.
98. The method as recited in claim 69, wherein the first and second colored films comprise the same color, such that the new third color comprises the color of the first or second colored film at greater intensity.
99. The method as recited in claim 76, further comprising:
providing one or more additional colored films that are miscible with one or both of the colored film or the resin substrate;
wherein the colored film and the one or more additional colored films are fused to the resin substrate, such that the prepared laminate structure displays a third color throughout the resin substrate that is a composite of the colors of the colored film and the one or more additional colored films.
100. The method as recited in claim 99, the one or more added colored films comprise the same color as the provided colored film, such that the third color comprises the color of the first or second colored film at greater intensity.
101. A decorative thermoplastic structure formed to have the appearance of a unitary color throughout its composition, the structure comprising:
a translucent, first colored film having a first color;
a translucent, second colored film having a second color; and a translucent resin substrate fused to one or both of the first or second colored films such that the translucent resin substrate is intermixed with corresponding one or both of the first and second colors of the first and second films;
wherein:
the translucent resin substrate comprises a unitary resin extrusion of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations thereof;
an interface between one or more of the first colored film, the second colored film and the translucent resin substrate comprises a surface roughness that reflects a uniform distribution of texture granules;
the resin substrate displays a third color uniformly throughout opposing front and back surfaces of the decorative thermoplastic structure regardless of viewing direction, and the third color is a combination of at least the first and second colors from the first and second colored films.
102. The decorative thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 101, wherein each of the first colored film, the second colored film and the resin substrate comprises a bonding surface that is fused to an opposed bonding surface of another of the first colored film, the second colored film, or the resin substrate.
103. The decorative thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 102, wherein, prior to fusion of the opposed bonding surfaces, the opposed bonding surfaces comprise a different surface roughness with respect to each other.
104. The decorative thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 102, wherein, prior to fusion of the opposed bonding surfaces, a surface roughness of the first colored film is greater than a surface roughness of the opposed bonding surface of the resin substrate.
105. The decorative thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 102, wherein, prior to fusion of the opposed bonding surfaces, one or both of the opposed bonding surfaces comprises a surface roughness reflective of an even distribution of texture granules.
106. A decorative, translucent thermoplastic structure formed to have the appearance of a unitary color diffused throughout its composition, the structure comprising:
a transparent resin substrate having opposing front and back surfaces separated by a thickness of at least 0.236 inches, wherein the front or back surface comprises a bonding surface having a first surface roughness, the thickness defining a distance of opposing side wall surfaces that are perpendicular to the opposing front and back surfaces;
a translucent colored film layer that has a bonding surface with a second surface roughness that is different from the first surface roughness, wherein the bonding surface of the colored film layer has been fused to and intermixed with the bonding surface of the resin substrate; and a uniform texture applied to each surface of the thermoplastic structure;
wherein:
the surface roughness of at least one of the bonding surfaces of the resin substrate or of the first colored film comprises an even distribution of texture granules; and the applied texture and intermixing of the translucent colored film layer cooperate to diffuse the color of the translucent colored film layer throughout the thermoplastic structure, such that the thermoplastic structure displays the color of the translucent colored film on all sides of the thermoplastic structure, regardless of the viewing direction.
107. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 106, wherein the resin substrate and at least the colored film layer comprise the same resin material.
108. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 106, wherein:
the substrate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations thereof; and the colored film layer is made from a material that is different from that selected for the resin substrate.
109. The thermoplastic structure as recited in any one of claim 106-108, wherein:
the contrast in surface roughness between the first colored film and the resin substrate facilitates removal of air during fusion, while the even distribution of granules preserves even color intensity in the thermoplastic structure.
110. The thermoplastic structure as recited in any one of claim 106-109, further comprising one or more fabric layers laminated to the resin substrate.
111. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 110, wherein:
color from the colored film layer combines with the one or more fabric layers; and the thermoplastic structure portrays a combination of the one or more fabric layers and the color of the colored film layer throughout the thermoplastic structure.
112. A thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 106, wherein the resin substrate has a thickness of 0.500 inches or more.
113. A thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 112, wherein the resin substrate comprises a plurality of fused substrate layers that, in combination, provide the resin substrate with the thickness of 0.500 inches or more.
114. A decorative, translucent thermoplastic structure prepared from a plurality of dissimilar resin materials to have the appearance of a unitary structure having a color diffused throughout its composition, the structure comprising:
a transparent resin substrate having opposing viewing surfaces and a plurality of adjacent edges that separate the opposing viewing surfaces by at least 0.236 inches, the transparent resin substrate comprising a first resin material;
a translucent colored film made of a second material that is dissimilar to the first material, but that is nevertheless miscible with the first material, the translucent colored film being fused to and intermixed with the transparent resin substrate; and a texture having been uniformly applied to all surfaces of a completed panel comprising the fused combination of the resin substrate and colored film layer;
wherein the uniformly applied texture combined with the intermixing of the combined resin substrate and colored film layer cooperate to diffuse the color of the colored film throughout the thermoplastic structure regardless of viewing angle on each viewing surface, and substantially uniformly on the plurality of adjacent edges.
115. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 114, wherein the resin substrate and at least the colored film layer comprise the same resin material.
116. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 114, wherein:
the substrate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations thereof; and the colored film layer is made from a material that is different from that selected for the resin substrate.
117. A thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 116, wherein the resin substrate has a thickness of 0.500 inches or more.
118. A thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 117, wherein the resin substrate comprises a plurality of fused substrate layers that, in combinatiOn, provide the resin substrate with the thickness of 0.500 inches or more.
119. A decorative, translucent thermoplastic structure prepared from a plurality of dissimilar resin materials to have the appearance of a unitary structure having a color diffused throughout its composition, the structure comprising:
a transparent resin substrate having opposing front and back surfaces and a plurality of adjacent edges that separate the opposing viewing surfaces by 0.500 or more inches, the transparent resin substrate comprising a first resin material, wherein the front or back surface comprises a bonding surface having a first surface roughness;
a translucent colored film made of a second material that is dissimilar to the first material, but that is nevertheless miscible with the first material, the translucent colored film having a bonding surface with -a second surface roughness that is different from the first surface roughness, the bonding surface of the translucent colored film being fused to and intermixed with the bonding surface of the transparent resin substrate without any air pockets being trapped therein; and a texture having been uniformly applied to all surfaces of a completed panel comprising the fused combination of the resin substrate and colored film layer;
wherein the uniformly applied texture combined with the intermixing of the combined resin substrate and colored film layer cooperate to diffuse the color of the colored film throughout the thermoplastic structure regardless of viewing angle on each viewing surface, and substantially uniformly on the plurality of adjacent edges.
120. A thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 119, wherein the resin substrate has a thickness of 0.500 inches or more.
121. A thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 120, wherein the resin substrate comprises a plurality of fused substrate layers that, in combination, provide the resin substrate with the thickness of 0.500 inches or more.
122. The thermoplastic structure as recited in claim 119, wherein the resin substrate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, acrylic, and combinations thereof.
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