Abstract:
The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the invention relates to processes for producing optical effect layers (OELs) comprising a motif made of at least two areas made of a single hardened layer on a substrate comprising a photomask.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a patterned stamp (100) for patterning a contoured surface (10) is disclosed. The method comprises applying a layer (115) of a pliable material precursor over a master (50) carrying an inverse pattern (52) to form a desired pattern (112) in said layer; curing the pliable material precursor to form a pliable stamp layer (120) comprising said desired pattern; providing an intermediate stamp structure by adhering a porous pliable support layer (130) to the pliable stamp layer; releasing the intermediate stamp structure from the master; forcing the intermediate stamp structure onto the contoured surface with said pattern of features facing the contoured surface; forming the patterned stamp by filling the porous pliable support layer with a filler material to reduce the pliability of the support layer; and removing the patterned stamp from the contoured surface. A corresponding patterned stamp, imprinting method and imprinted article are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method for producing a three-dimensional object, in particular an artificial tooth, by stereolithography wherein a liquid photocurable resin composition is cured by light. Said photocurable resin composition contains, based on the total weight of the photocurable resin composition, (i) from 90 to 99.9% by weight of a radical polymerizable organic compound (A) selected from radical polymerizable monomers, oligomers, pre-polymers and mixtures thereof; and (ii) from 0.1 to 10% by weight of a photosensitive radical polymerization initiator (B). Said radical polymerizable organic compound (A) comprises, based on the weight of the radical polymerizable organic compound (A), from 0.5 to 20% by weight of a polyrotaxane compound comprising a polymer chain selected from polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG), polyethylene glycol - polypropylene glycol (PEG- PPG) block copolymer or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), onto which the cyclodextrin ring(s) is/are slipped and wherein the cyclodextrin is derivatized with at least a radical polymerizable group. The invention also concerns a relative liquid photocurable resin composition and articles produced thereby.
Abstract:
A method of making a relief printing element in a liquid photopolymer platemaking process is described. The method comprises the steps of: (a) selectively exposing the liquid photopolymer to actinic radiation through a negative to crosslink and cure portions of the liquid photopolymer; and (b) reclaiming uncured portions of the liquid photopolymer to be reused in the platemaking process. The step of reclaiming uncured portions of the liquid photopolymer comprises (i) heating the printing element to decrease the viscosity of the uncured liquid photopolymer; and (ii) removing uncured liquid photopolymer from the surface of the relief image printing element so that recovery of uncured liquid photopolymer from the surface of the relief image printing element is enhanced.
Abstract:
A method of producing a relief image from a liquid photopolymerizable resin, said method comprising the steps of; a) placing a coverfilm onto an exposure glass; b) casting a liquid photopolymerizable resin layer onto the coverfilm; c) laminating a substrate to a backside of the liquid photopolymerizable resin layer as the liquid photopolymerizable resin layer is being cast onto the coverfilm; d) placing an image or film negative on top of the substrate; and e) exposing the liquid photopolymerizable resin layer through the image or film negative from the backside of the liquid photopolymerizable resin layer to selectively crosslink and cure the photopolymerizable resin layer and form a cured relief image, wherein said depth of the cured relief image is less than the height of the cast liquid photopolymerizable resin.
Abstract:
The invention provides a photopolymer package for use in making a hand stamp plate, the package consisting of a sachet containing a photocurable liquid polymer, the walls of the sachet being formed of material capable of being released from the cured photopolymer. Methods for the formation of the package and the hand stamp plate are also provided. The invention eliminates the requirement for the use of a backing layer in the package and thereby offers significant advantages over the prior art in terms of cost and efficiency. The invention describes how that sachet can be inserted in a holding device to expose it to UV radiation to produce the printed surface. The invention describes a novel method for spraying the sachet with a liquid to enable it to be dry post-exposed in a new type of exposure unit. It describes how this exposure unit benefits from the simplicity of the sachet concept to require no movable upper lid. This unit combines the post exposure process with the exposure process without the requirement for a water bath.
Abstract:
The invention provides a stamp stock, from which a stamp can be simply manufactured, and from which non-exposed portions of a photosensitive resin are easily removed, in particular, in a manufacturing process, method of forming a stamp, and a stamp. The stamp stock comprises a seal face forming member having a photosensitive resin which changes from a liquid or gel into a solid due to light as received, and a stamp block for holding the seal face forming member. Accordingly, those portions of the photosensitive resin which receive light harden to attach to the stamp block, and those portions of the photosensitive resin which do not receive light flow out without hardening, or can be peeled off easily.
Abstract:
A stereolithography machine using an "active" mask directly controlled by a computer device as a source for selectively photopolymerising liquid or powdered resins in order to produce three-dimensional objects on the basis of computer data. The "active" mask enabling an entire resin layer to be cured in a single step is particularly a liquid crystal device (9, 10) combined with a light source (8), an emissive video screen (11) or a laser diode or discharge tube device (12). An image of the mask may be projected through a focusing lens (13) onto a sheet member (14) immersed in a vessel (5) filled with liquid resin (4).
Abstract:
The method comprises: - placing a fluid guide forming composition (30) in contact with the optical source (12) and with the optical fiber (14), - injecting a first light in the guide forming composition (30) from the optical source (12) and/or from the optical fiber (14), to harden a central region of the optical guide, - illuminating the guide forming composition (30) with the second light to harden a peripheral region of the optical guide by photopolymerization initiated by the second photoinitiator system. The difference between the first peak wavelength and the second peak wavelength being more than 100 nm.
Abstract:
A system and method for forming microlattice structures of large thickness. In one embodiment, a photomonomer resin is secured in a mold having a transparent bottom, the interior surface of which is coated with a mold-release agent. A substrate is placed in contact with the top surface of the photomonomer resin. The photomonomer resin is illuminated from below by one or more sources of collimated light, through a photomask, causing polymer waveguides to form, extending up to the substrate, forming a microlattice structure connected with the substrate. After a layer of microlattice structure has formed, the substrate is raised using a translation-rotation system, additional photomonomer resin is added to the mold, and the photomonomer resin is again illuminated through the photomask, to form an additional layer of microlattice structure. The process is repeated multiple times to form a stacked microlattice structure.