Reflective aluminum strip, protected with fluoropolymer coating and a laminate of the strip with a thermoplastic polymer
US5478414A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 21, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC25D11/18
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A strip of gray reflective aluminum protected by a conversion coating and a light-permeable fluoropolymer coating which is non-adhesively interstitially mechanically bonded to the microscopic irregularities of the conversion coated surface. The highly reflective strip may be substituted for polished stainless steel and/or bi-metal and used under comparably aggressive conditions for a prolonged period without deleteriously affecting the initial D/I (distinctness of reflected image) of the shaped strip. The strip of arbitrary length may be shaped in rolling dies so that at least a portion of the strip has a radius of less than 10 mm without damaging or separating the fluoropolymer coating. The specific steps of the claimed process require starting with a bright-rolled clean strip which is conversion coated to carry a thin metal compound coating. After rinsing and drying, the reflective surface is coated with the fluoropolymer while maintaining at least 80% D/I. The strip can then be formed to a desired profile and treated with a corona discharge to activate its surface so as to facilitate non-adhesively bonding of a thermoplastic strip to the activated fluoropolymer surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.