초록 ▼

A transfer sheet material for forming retroreflective graphic images on a substrate, the sheet material comprising a monolayer of transparent microspheres; a color layer printed over the microspheres in a first graphic segment of the sheet material in an imagewise pattern, the color layer comprising

A transfer sheet material for forming retroreflective graphic images on a substrate, the sheet material comprising a monolayer of transparent microspheres; a color layer printed over the microspheres in a first graphic segment of the sheet material in an imagewise pattern, the color layer comprising a transparent colorant in a transparent resin; a reflective layer printed over the microspheres in a second graphic segment of the sheet material in an imagewise pattern, the reflective layer comprising reflective flakes in a transparent binder, wherein the microspheres are partially embedded in at least one of the color layer and the reflective layer, individual microspheres having the reflective flakes arranged in cup-like fashion about their embedded portions; and a bonding layer printed over the color layer and the reflective layer, the bonding layer being sufficiently thick to embed all exposed surfaces of the color layer and the reflective layer and being adapted for use in securing the sheet material to a substrate. Also, a method for making such a sheet material.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of making a transfer sheet material that is adapted to be used in transferring retroreflective graphic images from the sheet material to a substrate, comprising:a) providing a carrier comprising a base sheet and a heat-softenable layer on the base sheet;b) cascad

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of making a transfer sheet material that is adapted to be used in transferring retroreflective graphic images from the sheet material to a substrate, comprising:a) providing a carrier comprising a base sheet and a heat-softenable layer on the base sheet;b) cascading a monolayer of transparent microspheres onto the heat-softenable layer and embedding the microspheres in the heat-softenable layer to a depth averaging between about 25 and about 50 percent of their diameters;c) printing onto the microspheres in a first graphic segment of the sheet material in a first imagewise pattern with a colorant composition comprising a transparent colorant in a transparent resin and drying the colorant composition to form a color layer;d) thereafter printing onto the microspheres in a second graphic segment of the sheet material in a second imagewise pattern with a reflective layer composition comprising reflective flakes in a transparent binder and drying the reflective layer composition to form a reflective layer, wherein the microspheres are partially embedded in at least one of the color layer and the reflective layer, individual microspheres having the reflective flakes arranged in a cup-shaped fashion about their embedded portions; ande) thereafter printing onto the first and second graphic segments of the sheet material with a bonding composition to a depth sufficient to embed all exposed surfaces of the color layer and the reflective layer and drying the bonding composition to form a bonding layer.