LIGHT CONTROL FILMS AND METHOD THEREOF
A light control film including a polymer carrier film and a coating disposed on the carrier film and including dark colored or reflective particles dispersed within a cured resin matrix, the particles being aligned either perpendicular or parallel to a major surface of the carrier film, and method for making the same.
1 . A method for forming a light control film, the method:
dispersing alignable particles in a clear curable resin to form a coating;
applying the coating to a carrier film;
aligning the particles in a field; and
at least one of curing and drying the coating, wherein the dispersing, the applying, the aligning, the at least one of curing and drying occur continuously.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are aligned by a magnetic field.
3 . The method of claim 3 wherein the magnetic filed is oscillating.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are aligned by an electric field.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the electric filed is oscillating.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the particles have a dark colored surface.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the dark colored surface is black.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the particles have a reflective surface.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the alignable particles are aciculae.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the alignable particles are flakes.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the coating is cured by exposure to actinic radiation.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the coating is cured by solvent drying.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the coating is a thermoplastic.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are aligned perpendicular to a major surface of the carrier film.
15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are aligned parallel to a major surface of the carrier film.
16 . The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are aligned between parallel and perpendicular to a major surface of the carrier film.
17 . A collimating film comprising:
a polymer carrier film; and
a coating disposed on the carrier film and comprising aligned reflective particles dispersed within a cured resin matrix the aligned reflective particles being aligned perpendicular to a major surface of the carrier film.
18 . The film of claim 17 wherein the aligned reflective particles are aciculae.
19 . The film of claim 17 wherein the aligned reflective particles are flakes.
20 . The film of claim 17 wherein the aligned reflective particles are formed of a magnetic material.
21 . The film of claim 17 wherein the aligned reflective particles are formed of an electrically conductive material.
20 . The film of claim 17 wherein the coating is sandwiched between a carrier film and a supplemental film.
21 . The film of claim 17 wherein the aligned reflective particles comprise chromium dioxide.
22 . The film of claim 17 wherein the carrier film is a polyethylene terepthalate (PET) film.
23 . A polarizing film comprising:
a polymer carrier film; and
a coating disposed on the carrier film and comprising aligned reflective particles dispersed within a cured resin matrix, the aligned reflective particles being aligned parallel to a major surface of the carrier film.