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EP-3956142-B1 - LAYERED ASSEMBLY WITH 3D STRUCTURE AND 2D PROJECTION OF THIS STRUCTURE AND METHOD

EP3956142B1EP 3956142 B1EP3956142 B1EP 3956142B1EP-3956142-B1

Inventors

  • KUENZEL, ROLAND
  • GROSSER, ULRICH
  • GRIMM, THOMAS
  • KLINKENBERG, CHRISTOPH
  • LEONHARDT, Konstantin

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20200409

Claims (14)

  1. Layer arrangement, comprising: a foil layer (100) provided with optical information and a three-dimensionally structured layer (200) with a smooth side (210) and with a structured side (220) opposite to the smooth side (210), where the structured side (220) has at least one surface area (230) which is not coplanar with the smooth side (210) and where the structured side (220) has at least one surface area (235) which is not coplanar with the smooth side (210) and where the surface area (230) which is not coplanar with the smooth side (210) and the surface area (235) which is not coplanar with the smooth side (210) include an angle not equal to 180°, where the three-dimensionally structured layer (200) is formed by a thermoplastic polymer which, at a layer thickness of 4 mm, has an optical clarity Ty (D65/10°) of ≥ 10% in accordance with ASTM D1003 and where the foil layer (100) provided with optical information is bonded to the structured side (220) of the three-dimensionally structured layer (200), where the optical information of the foil layer (100) provided with optical information represents at least a portion of a two-dimensional projection (500) of the three-dimensionally structured layer (200), where the maximal vertical distance h between a peak (240) and an adjacent valley (250) in the structured side (220) of the three-dimensionally structured layer (200) is ≤ 2 mm, and the manner in which a projection (520) of the at least one surface area (230) is represented on the foil layer (100) provided with optical information differs from the manner in which a projection (530) of the at least one surface area (235) is represented.
  2. Layer arrangement according to Claim 1, where the projection (500) is an orthogonal projection with no offset.
  3. Layer arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, where the thermoplastic polymer is selected from a member of the group comprising polycarbonate inclusive of copolycarbonate, polyester carbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, styrene copolymers, aromatic polyesters, PET-cyclohexanedimethanol copolymer (PETG), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), poly- or copolyacrylates, poly- or copolymethacrylates, copolymethyl methacrylates (PMMA), copolymers with styrene, polystyrene-acrylonitrile (PSAN) .
  4. Layer arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 3, where a straight line n1 perpendicular to the surface area (230) and a straight line n2 perpendicular to the surface area (235) intersect at an angle α of ≥ 5° to ≤ 175°.
  5. Layer arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 4, where the foil layer (100) is provided with optical information by means of laser structuring, inkjet printing, laser printing, digital printing or screen printing.
  6. Layer arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 5, where the projection (520), on the foil layer (100) provided with optical information, of the at least one surface area (230) has a lower tonal value than the projection (530) of the at least one surface area (235).
  7. Layer arrangement according to Claim 6, where the tonal value of the projection (520) of the at least one surface area (230) is selected as a function of the angular deviation of the surface area (230) from horizontal.
  8. Layer arrangement according to Claim 6 or 7, where the tonal value of the projection (530) of the at least one surface area (235) is selected as a function of the angular deviation of the surface area (235) from horizontal.
  9. Layer arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 8, where there is moreover, on that side of the foil layer (100) provided with optical information that faces away from the structured side (220) of the three-dimensionally structured layer (200), a first additional layer (300) present, bonded to said foil layer, and/or there is moreover, on the smooth side (210) of the three-dimensionally structured layer (200), a second additional layer (310) present, bonded to said structured layer.
  10. Layer arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 9, where the thermoplastic polymer from which the three-dimensionally structured layer (200) is formed is a polycarbonate.
  11. Layer arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 10, where the foil layer (100) provided with optical information comprises a polycarbonate.
  12. Layer arrangement according to either of Claims 10 to 11, where the first additional layer (300) and/or the second additional layer (310) is/are formed by a two-component lacquer, by a coextruded foil or by a foil having a scratch-resistant coating.
  13. Layer arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 12, where: the thickness of the foil layer (100) provided with optical information is ≥ 100 µm to ≤ 1000 µm and/or the maximal thickness of the three-dimensionally structured layer (200) is ≥ 1.5 mm to ≤ 6.0 mm.
  14. Process for the production of a layer arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 13, comprising the following steps: - selection of a three-dimensional structure, where the structure has at least one surface area (230) which has angular deviation from horizontal and where the structure has at least one surface area (235) which has angular deviation from horizontal, where the surface area (230) and the surface area (235) include an angle not equal to 180°, - generation, on a foil (100), of optical information which represents at least a portion of a two-dimensional projection (500) of the selected three-dimensional structure, where the manner in which a projection (520) of the at least one surface area (230) is represented on the foil (100) differs from the manner in which the projection (530) of the at least one surface area (235) is represented, - production of a three-dimensionally structured layer (200), corresponding to the selected three-dimensional structure, from a thermoplastic polymer, where the polymer has, at a layer thickness of 4 mm, an optical clarity Ty (D65/10°) of ≥ 10% in accordance with ASTM D1003, in a manner such that the three-dimensionally structured layer (200) has a smooth side (210) and a structured side (220) opposite to the smooth side (210); - bonding of the foil (100) to the structured side (220) of the three-dimensionally structured layer (200).

Description

The present invention relates to a layered arrangement comprising: a film layer provided with optical information and a three-dimensionally structured layer having a smooth side and a structured side opposite the smooth side. The structured side has at least one non-coplanar surface to the smooth side, which faces a previously defined reference location, and the structured side has at least one non-coplanar surface to the smooth side, which faces away from a previously defined reference location. The three-dimensionally structured layer is formed by a thermoplastic polymer which, at a layer thickness of 4 mm, has a visual brightness Ty (D65, 10°) according to ASTM D1003 of ≥ 10%, and the film layer provided with optical information is bonded to the structured side of the three-dimensionally structured layer. WO 2009/083198 A1 This describes a method for the three-dimensional reproduction of a relief and/or image original using a smooth thermoplastic film, particularly a printed one, as the relief base material. The film is provided with a pictorial representation of the relief and/or image original, and a positive relief mold is used. During a thermoplastic deformation step, the film is brought into precise alignment with the positive relief mold and thermoplastically deformed under the influence of heat. It is intended to be used in WO 2009/083198 A1 A solution will be created that provides a simplified procedure for reproducing a relief and/or original image. This will be according to WO 2009/083198 A1 This is achieved by carrying out the following steps: a) presenting the thermoplastic film, b) precisely arranging a relief base material allowing a view through the film on or at a small distance above the image side of the film, with position marking indicating its relative position to each other, c) applying the relief structure to the side of the relief base material facing away from the image side of the film, corresponding to the pictorial representation, by applying a relief form material that shapes and forms the positive relief shape, d) placing the positive relief shape in a heat treatment device, e) precisely placing the side of the film facing away from the image onto the structured upper side of the positive relief shape, corresponding to the position marking from step b), and f) carrying out thermoplastic deformation and/or embossing of the film. DE 10 2011 088 154 A1 describes a layered product, preferably with an optical structure such as a hologram, comprising at least one layer with highly refractive nanoparticles and/or at least one layer with low refractive nanoparticles. DE 10 2004 044 458 A1 This describes a security document with a first transparent area containing a first transparent optical element, and a second area containing a second opaque optical element. The second opaque optical element exhibits a first optical effect. The first and second areas are spaced apart on a substrate of the security document such that they can be superimposed. The transparent optical element incorporates a diffraction relief structure that creates the effect of a convex lens through diffraction optics. US 3,060,611 A describes a method for reproducing texture on a conventional printed image in simulation of an oil painting, which includes the following steps: forming a mold with brushstrokes on it that follow the printed image, then forming a transparent plastic film into which the pigments of the printed image are incorporated, then aligning the mold with the plastic film, applying heat above the film and vacuum pressure from below the mold by conventional means, thereby transferring the texture of the mold to the plastic film, removing the film from the mold, then applying a white water-based pigment to the back of the film, and finally applying the film to a permanent surface. Three-dimensional relief patterns can be aesthetically pleasing decorative elements. However, a disadvantage so far is that the more material that needs to be processed, the more visual "depth" the designer wants to achieve. The present invention aims to provide a layered arrangement which, despite a reduced overall thickness, still allows for a spatially deep impression of the three-dimensional structures contained within the layered arrangement. With such a layered arrangement, aesthetically pleasing decorative elements, for example for vehicle interiors, could be produced without requiring excessive material processing. The problem is solved according to the invention by a layer arrangement according to claim 1. A manufacturing method is the subject of claim 14. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. They can be combined arbitrarily unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. With the layer arrangements according to the invention, appealing, spatially appearing effects can be achieved with reduced construction height and thus with material savings through the optical interaction of the 3D str