Colorized Retroreflective Material and Method

Abstract

A colorized retroreflective materials for use on clothing are colorized by including a substantially transparent colorizing overlayer composition applied to a retroreflective layer, the overlayer further comprising an amount of a suitable pigmented ink; an amount of at least one species of polyurethane material; and an amount of a silane material.

1 . A method of colorizing retroreflective material comprising:
 (a) providing a retroreflective material suitable for colorizing; and   (b) applying a substantially transparent colorizing overlayer composition to said retroreflective material wherein said colorizing overlayer comprises:
 1) an amount of a suitable pigment; 
 2) an amount of at least one species of polyurethane material; and 
 3) an amount of a silane material. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method of colorizing retroreflective material as in  claim 1  further comprising forcing said colorizing composition into said retroreflective material and removing excess overlayer material. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 2  wherein said excess overlayer material is removed using a squeegee-type device. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said polyurethane materials are selected from the group consisting of water-based polyester-based, polyether-based and polycarbonate-based polyurethanes. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said silane is selected from the group consisting of an epoxide-functional, amine-functional silane and glycidoxy-functional silanes. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 4  wherein said polyester-based polyurethanes comprise at least one crystalline and at least one amorphous polyester-based polyurethane material. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 6  wherein said crystalline and amorphous polyester-based polyurethanes are provided in generally equal amounts. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said pigment is contained in a pigmented ink. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 4  including a plurality of polyurethane materials. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 5  wherein said silane is a glycidoxy-functional silane. 
     
     
         10 . A colorizing composition as in  claim 9  wherein said pigment is contained in a pigmented ink. 
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 1  further comprising heat treating the colorizing coating composition. 
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said colorizing overlayer is applied as a heat transfer film. 
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said colorizing overlayer is heat treated after application. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the retroreflective material is segmented prior to application of the colorizing overlayer. 
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said retroreflective material is on material selected from laminated and unlaminated fabrics. 
     
     
         16 . A method of colorizing retroreflective material on a fabric comprising:
 (a) providing a retroreflective material comprising micro-reflective elements suitable for colorizing; and   (b) applying a substantially transparent colorizing overlayer composition to said retroreflective material wherein said colorizing overlayer comprises:
 1) an amount of a suitable pigment comprising an amount of a pigmented ink of selected hue; 
 2) an amount of at least one species of polyurethane material; 
 3) a minor amount of a silane material; and 
   (c) subjecting said colorizing overlayer composition to a heat treatment.   
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 16  wherein said colorizing overlayer is applied as a heat transfer film. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 16  wherein said colorizing overlayer is heat treated after application. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 18  wherein said retroreflective material is a laminated fabric. 
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 16  wherein the retroreflective material is segmented prior to application of the colorizing overlayer.