Coated polymeric substrates
The present invention relates to a polymeric substrate being coated with a reflective coating, particularly a chromium-based reflective coating.
1. A rear view device for a vehicle, the rear view device comprising:
a polymeric housing having disposed therein a side turn indicator, the side turn indicator comprising at least one light element, and
a polymeric substrate, wherein the polymeric substrate is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating and wherein the polymeric substrate and the chromium-based reflective coating are at least in part permeable to light originating from the at least one light element, wherein the coating is an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals, the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.
2. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one light element is arranged on one side of the polymeric substrate.
3. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the side turn indicator is incorporated into the polymeric housing by over-moulding the side turn indicator with the polymeric material of the housing.
4. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the side turn indicator is incorporated into an opening in the surface of the polymeric housing having a closeable lid made of the polymeric substrate coated with a chromium-based reflective coating such that the polymeric substrate and the chromium-based reflective coating are at least in part permeable to light originating from the at least one light element, and wherein the coating is an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals, whereby the alloy has a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.
5. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the side turn indicator comprises a polymeric light pipe.
6. The rear view device according to claim 5 , wherein the polymeric light pipe comprises at least one LED lamp to illuminate the light pipe.
7. The rear view device according to claim 6 , wherein the polymeric light pipe is adapted to sequentially radiate the light from the at least one LED lamp.
8. The rear view device according to claim 1 , comprising at least one side turn indicator comprising a plurality of LED lamps and a light reflector arrangement, wherein the plurality of LED lamps are adapted to sequentially illuminate the light reflector element, wherein the light originating from the at least one side turn indicator sweeps from a center outwards to promote direction of travel, wherein the light has the appearance of a continuous even illumination.
9. The rear view device according to claim 1 , comprising at least one side turn indicator comprising a plurality of LED lamps and a light diffusing element, wherein the plurality of LED lamps are adapted to sequentially illuminate the light diffusing element, wherein the light originating from the at least one side turn indicator sweeps from a center outwards to promote direction of travel, wherein the light has the appearance of a continuous even illumination.
10. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the alloy is a binary alloy of chromium and the dopant material.
11. The rear view device according to claim 10 , wherein the atomic percentage of the dopant material in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.
12. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.
13. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium and cobalt.
14. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is zirconium, and wherein the atomic percentage of the zirconium in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 4.5 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.
15. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is titanium, and wherein the atomic percentage of the titanium in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.
16. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is cobalt, and wherein the atomic percentage of the cobalt in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to 5.7 at. %.
17. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the chromium-based reflective coating has a thickness of 200 nm or less.
18. The rear view device according to claim 17 , wherein the thickness of the chromium-based reflective coating is 100 nm or less.
19. The rear view device according to claim 18 , wherein the thickness of the chromium-based reflective coating is in the range of from 40 nm to 80 nm.
20. The rear view device according to claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the chromium-based reflective coating is in the range of from 50 nm to 70 nm.
21. The rear view device according to claim 20 , wherein the thickness of the chromium-based reflective coating is about 60 nm.
22. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric substrate is formed from a material selected from the group of polyacrylate, polyester, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides, polyamides, polycarbonate, epoxy, phenolic, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylonitrile-styrene-arylates, acetal and blends of these.
23. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric substrate is formed from a material selected from the group of polycarbonate, poly (2,2′-dihydroxyphenylpropane) carbonate, polydiethyleneglycol bis(allyl carbonate), polymethylmethacrylate, polystyrene, or blends thereof.
24. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric substrate includes a pre-coated film in the form of either a hardcoat, an inorganic oxide, or a thin metal film, or a combination of such pre-coated films.
25. The rear view device of claim 1 , wherein the rear view device comprises a surface having a metallic appearance that is realized by the coated polymeric substrate.
26. The rear view device of claim 25 , wherein a side turn indicator is arranged below the surface having a metallic appearance or comprises at least part of said surface having the metallic appearance.
27. The rear view device of claim 26 , wherein light originating from a light source of the side turn indicator shines through the surface of the polymeric substrate having a metallic appearance.
28. The rear view device of claim 27 , wherein light originating from the light source of the side turn indicator sweeps in one direction to indicate a direction of travel.
29. The rear view device of claim 28 , wherein a light front is moving in said direction of travel.
30. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the side turn indicator comprises a polymeric light pipe comprising a clear polymeric material.
31. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric housing defines in its surface an opening and a closable lid for said opening, wherein the closeable lid comprises the polymeric substrate coated with the chromium-based reflective coating, and wherein the side turn indicator is incorporated into the opening beneath the closeable lid so that light originating from the side turn indicator can shine through the lid.