Reflective aluminum strip
US5637404A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 18, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 18, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/31544
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A strip of highly 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 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. The reflective conversion coated surface is coated with the fluoropolymer while maintaining at least 80% D/I. The strip can then be formed to a desired profile and may optionally be treated with a corona discharge to 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.