초록 ▼

A process for making a protective and decorative surfacing film comprises extrusion coating a solventless polymeric material from an extruder die to form an optically clear first layer on a polyester carrier sheet traveling past the extruder die opening. The extrusion coated first layer is immediate

A process for making a protective and decorative surfacing film comprises extrusion coating a solventless polymeric material from an extruder die to form an optically clear first layer on a polyester carrier sheet traveling past the extruder die opening. The extrusion coated first layer is immediately cooled on the carrier sheet to harden it, followed by applying a pigmented second layer to the first layer. The composite paint coat is transferred to a reinforcing backing sheet, after which the carrier sheet is separated from the paint coat to expose the outer surface of the first layer as a high gloss surface with a high distinctness-of-image, providing a transparent protective outer coat for the pigmented second layer. The pigmented second layer can be solvent cast and dried or extruded and hardened as a separate coating on the first layer. The composite paint coat can be bonded to a coextruded size coat and semi-rigid plastic substrate panel to form a thermoformable laminate. Techniques are disclosed for producing extruded clear films of exceedingly high optical clarity using a closed air flow transport and HEPA filtration system that removes airborne particles from the resin handling and extrusion process, thereby preventing micron-sized contaminants naturally present from many sources from entering the process and degrading ultimate film quality.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A process for extruding a high transparency clear film from a particulate resinous starting material, comprising the steps of:providing a solventless resinous starting material in particulate form essentially free of contaminants above about 10 microns in size, the resi

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A process for extruding a high transparency clear film from a particulate resinous starting material, comprising the steps of:providing a solventless resinous starting material in particulate form essentially free of contaminants above about 10 microns in size, the resinous material contained in a sealed container to prevent introduction of contaminants from the ambient environment;conveying said resinous material from the sealed container to an extrusion apparatus in a closed airflow transport system in which transport air for conveying said resinous material is subjected to high efficiency filtration to prevent introduction of contaminants above about 10 microns in size from the ambient environment into the airflow that transports the resinous material to the extrusion apparatus; andextruding the resinous material via the extrusion apparatus to form a transparent extruded clear coat film essentially free of such filtered contaminants, in which the resinous material is extrusion coated onto a traveling polymeric carrier sheet, and in which opposite sides of the carrier sheet contact tacky roll web cleaners for removing airborne particles from the carrier sheet before and after extrusion coating.