Transparent article

Abstract

A method of producing a transparent article comprised of a transparent base substrate and having a thickness of at least 100 microns and a surface costing of a transparent resin wherein the resin is applied to the base substrate by means of a jet printer, preferably an ink jet printer. The transparent article may be a window for a display device, e.g. incorporated in a mobile telephone.

1 . A method of producing a transparent article comprised of a transparent base substrate of a plastics material having a thickness of at least 100 microns and an abrasion resistant surface coating of a transparent resin, wherein the uncoated transparent base substrate has a HAZE value as measured in accordance with ASTM D-1044 in excess of 30% and the coated substance has a HAZE value of less than 10%, characterised in that the resin is applied to the base substrate by means of a jet printer.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the transparent base substrate has a thickness of at least 200 microns.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the transparent base-substrate has a thickness of at least 300 microns.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the transparent based substrate has a thickness of at least 400 microns.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the transparent base substrate has a thickness of 750 microns to 3 mm.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the jet printer comprises an ink-jet printer or a bubble jet printer.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the printer is an ink-jet printer.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein selected areas of the substrate remain uncovered.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein the transparent base substrate has a longitudinal dimension up to 20 cm and a transverse dimension up to 15 cm.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein substrates are fed successively to the jet printer for the coating operation to be effected.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 , wherein the transparent base substrate comprises a plastics material.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the plastics material is polycarbonates, polyacrylic, polyester or allyl carbonate.  
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  12  wherein the resin applied by means of the jet printer is a curable resin and the method further comprises effecting curing of the resin as applied by the printer.  
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in claim in  claim 3  wherein after application of the coating by the printer the substrate is fed successively through a drying station and a curing station.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the resin coating thickness is from 5-50 microns.  
     
     
         16 . A display device incorporating a transparent article produced by the method according to any one of  claims 1  to  15 .  
     
     
         17 . A mobile telephone incorporating a display device as claimed in  claim 16.