Abstract:
A method is provided of forming a film of photonic crystal material. A first process is performed upon a material capable of having a photonic crystal structure, this process causing deformation of the material so as to form a film in which incident light received by the material is selectively reflected or transmitted to generate a first optical effect in the film. A second process is performed upon substantially all of the film which applies a shear stress to the film. This causes a change in the material structure so as to generate a second optical effect in the film, different from the first optical effect, in response to incident light. Security films, devices, articles and documents formed using the method are also discussed.
Abstract:
A composite material has a periodic arrangement of particles distributed in a matrix. The refractive index of the material of the particles is different to the refractive index of the material of the matrix and the periodicity is such that, when illuminated with white light, the periodic arrangement provides structural colour. A method of manufacturing the material includes the steps of: (i) forming the periodic arrangement by applying an electric field across a distribution of the particles in a curable liquid; and (ii) curing the curable liquid to form the matrix and thereby fixing the periodic arrangement of the particles. Also disclosed is a structural colour printing system suitable for carrying out the method of manufacture of the material.
Abstract:
A polymer opal material comprises a three dimensionaily periodic arrangement of core particles in a matrix material and exhibits structural colour via Bragg reflection. IN a process for manufacturing such a material, a sandwich structure is provided, of a precursor composite material held between first and second sandwiching layers. A relative shear strain of at least 10% is imposed on the precursor composite material by curling the sandwich structure around a roller. The shear strain is cycled, in order to promote the formation of the three dimensional periodic arrangement.
Abstract:
A polymer opal material comprises a three dimensionaily periodic arrangement of core particles in a matrix material and exhibits structural colour via Bragg reflection. IN a process for manufacturing such a material, a sandwich structure is provided, of a precursor composite material held between first and second sandwiching layers. A relative shear strain of at least 10% is imposed on the precursor composite material by curling the sandwich structure around a roller. The shear strain is cycled, in order to promote the formation of the three dimensional periodic arrangement.
Abstract:
A composite optical material such as a polymer opal is provided having a three dimensional arrangement of core particles distributed in a matrix. The refractive index of the material of the core particles is different to the refractive index of the material of the matrix and the three dimensional arrangement has a periodicity such that, when a surface of the material is illuminated with white light, the composite material exhibits structural colour. The three dimensional periodic arrangement is a reduced symmetry arrangement based on a crystallographic close-packed arrangement but strained therefrom to have reduced symmetry compared to the crystallographic close-packed arrangement. Bragg reflections from planes that would be forbidden in the crystallographic close-packed arrangement are allowed and visible in the reduced symmetry arrangement. This provides a variation in intensity and/or wavelength of structural colour with rotation of the material about an axis perpendicular to the surface when viewed obliquely while the viewing angle remains substantially constant. Also disclosed are methods for the manufacture of such material.
Abstract:
A composite material has a periodic arrangement of particles distributed in a matrix. The refractive index of the material of the particles is different to the refractive index of the material of the matrix and the periodicity is such that, when illuminated with white light, the periodic arrangement provides structural colour. A method of manufacturing the material includes the steps of: (i) forming the periodic arrangement by applying an electric field across a distribution of the particles in a curable liquid; and (ii) curing the curable liquid to form the matrix and thereby fixing the periodic arrangement of the particles. Also disclosed is a structural colour printing system suitable for carrying out the method of manufacture of the material.
Abstract:
A method is provided of forming a film of photonic crystal material. A first process is performed upon a material capable of having a photonic crystal structure, this process causing deformation of the material so as to form a film in which incident light received by the material is selectively reflected or transmitted to generate a first optical effect in the film. A second process is performed upon substantially all of the film which applies a shear stress to the film. This causes a change in the material structure so as to generate a second optical effect in the film, different from the first optical effect, in response to incident light. Security films, devices, articles and documents formed using the method are also discussed.
Abstract:
A polymer opal material comprises a three dimensionaily periodic arrangement of core particles in a matrix material and exhibits structural colour via Bragg reflection. IN a process for manufacturing such a material, a sandwich structure is provided, of a precursor composite material held between first and second sandwiching layers. A relative shear strain of at least 10% is imposed on the precursor composite material by curling the sandwich structure around a roller. The shear strain is cycled, in order to promote the formation of the three dimensional periodic arrangement.
Abstract:
A composite optical material such as a polymer opal is provided having a three dimensional arrangement of core particles distributed in a matrix. The refractive index of the material of the core particles is different to the refractive index of the material of the matrix and the three dimensional arrangement has a periodicity such that, when a surface of the material is illuminated with white light, the composite material exhibits structural colour. The three dimensional periodic arrangement is a reduced symmetry arrangement based on a crystallographic close-packed arrangement but strained therefrom to have reduced symmetry compared to the crystallographic close-packed arrangement. Bragg reflections from planes that would be forbidden in the crystallographic close-packed arrangement are allowed and visible in the reduced symmetry arrangement. This provides a variation in intensity and/or wavelength of structural colour with rotation of the material about an axis perpendicular to the surface when viewed obliquely while the viewing angle remains substantially constant. Also disclosed are methods for the manufacture of such material.
Abstract:
A thermochromic composite optical body formed of a composite optical material. The material has a three dimensionally periodic arrangement of particles of a first material having refractive index n 1 disposed in a matrix of a second material, different to the first material, having refractive index n 2 . The material is capable of being modified by an external stimulus to provide an optical effect based on the three dimensionally periodic arrangement of particles. At a first condition of the external stimulus, the body is substantially transparent and satisfies at least one of: formula (1) and Δn 1 and n 2 at the first condition of the external stimulus. n va is the volume average refractive index of the body at the first condition of the external stimulus, λ is a wavelength of light corresponding to the three dimensionally periodic arrangement of particles. L is the thickness of the body at the first condition of the external stimulus. At a second condition of the external stimulus, different from the first condition, the body provides a colour effect due to a corresponding change in n 1 and/or n 2 .