Durable retroreflective elements with a blend of beads
The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.
1. A reflective element comprising: a core consisting of a composite core
wherein the composite core comprising a polymer and a plurality of first beads having a first refractive index distributed throughout the polymer;
a plurality of second beads having a second refractive index that is different from the first refractive index, wherein the plurality of second beads are at a perimeter of the composite core,
wherein the plurality of the first beads are entirely distributed throughout the composite core wherein the plurality of first beads are glass or glass ceramic beads and wherein the reflective element is essentially spherical.
2. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic or thermoset acrylic, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyolefin, polyester, fluoropolymer, polyvinyl chloride and its copolymers, acid olefin copolymer such as ethylene acrylic acid or ethylene methacrylic acid, ionic copolymer, or mixtures thereof.
3. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the polymer has a hardness of greater than a Shore D 10.
4. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the polymer has a hardness of greater than a Shore D 36 and less than Shore D 68.
5. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the first refractive index ranges from 1.5 to 2.6.
6. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first beads comprise from 5-65% volume of the composite core.
7. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first beads comprise from 20-35% volume of the composite core.
8. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second beads are glass or glass ceramic beads.
9. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the second refractive index ranges from 1.5-2.6.
10. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the difference in refractive index between the first refractive index and the second refractive index is at least 0.25.
11. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the difference in refractive index between the first refractive index and the second refractive index is at least 0.5.
12. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the difference in refractive index between the first refractive index and the second refractive index is less than 1.5.
13. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second beads are at the entire perimeter of the composite core.
14. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second beads are fixed to the perimeter of the composite core by one of the polymer, a softening material, or an adhesive.
15. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the retroreflective element is secured to a substrate by an adhesive, paint, resin.
16. The reflective element of claim 1 , wherein the composite core is a sphere.