Microcup compositions

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a composition for preparing the microcups and the toughness of the display panel formed from such a composition may be significantly improved. In some cases, the panel may have an elongation at break of more than 10% and it can be completely peeled off from the substrate layer on which it is formed, without causing any damage to the panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panel comprising a plurality of microcups filled with a functional fluid and sealed with a sealing layer, wherein the microcups are formed from a composition comprising at least one difunctional UV curable diacrylate or dimethacrylate material selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, ethoxylated bisphenol A diacrylate, urethane diacrylate, ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate, and polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, wherein the total amount of the at least one difunctional UV curable diacrylate or dimethacrylate material is about 50-99% by weight of the composition, and wherein the panel has a greater than 10% elongation at break. 
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1 , which has a greater than 20% elongation at break. 
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the functional fluid comprises a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 3 , wherein the functional fluid comprises about 0.01 wt % to about 40 wt % of the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 1 , further including an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the difunctional UV curable diacrylate or dimethacrylate material has a molecular weight higher than about 200 Daltons. 
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the microcups are formed from ethoxylated bisphenol A diacrylate or urethane diacrylate. 
     
     
         8 . A panel comprising: (a) a plurality of microcups filled with a functional fluid and sealed with a sealing layer, and (b) a primer layer, wherein the microcups are formed from a composition comprising at least one difunctional UV curable diacrylate or dimethacrylate material selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, ethoxylated bisphenol A diacrylate, urethane diacrylate, ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate, and polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, wherein the total amount of the at least one difunctional UV curable diacrylate or dimethacrylate material is about 50-99% by weight of the total composition, and wherein the panel has a greater than 5% elongation at break. 
     
     
         9 . The panel of  claim 8 , which has a greater than 15% elongation at break. 
     
     
         10 . The panel of  claim 8 , wherein the functional fluid comprises a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         11 . The panel of  claim 10 , wherein the functional fluid comprises about 0.01 wt % to about 40 wt % of the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         12 . The panel of  claim 8 , further including an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         13 . The panel of  claim 8 , wherein the difunctional UV curable diacrylate or dimethacrylate material has a molecular weight higher than about 200 Daltons. 
     
     
         14 . The panel of  claim 8 , wherein the microcups are formed from ethoxylated bisphenol A diacrylate or urethane diacrylate.