3M

About: 3M is a company organization based out in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Layer (electronics) & Coating. The organization has 7603 authors who have published 7907 publications receiving 254227 citations. The organization is also known as: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company & 3M Company.

Transparent coatings for graphic applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to transparent films for use in graphics applications, such as, for example, visual transparencies for overhead projectors. One disadvantage of presently available ink-receptive layers for transparent films for pen plotters and ink jet printers is that their high level of sorption capacity leads to poor dimensional stability, which, in turn, leads to curling of the film whenever moisture content changes, either due to imaging, or due simply to changes in humidity or to drying out due to the heat encountered on the stage of an overhead projector. Curl can be reduced by applying the same image receptive layer to both sides of the film, so that any expansion or contraction will be applied symmetrically to both sides of the film. This adds to manufacturing cost, and still may not completely eliminate curl, especially in cases where moisture content differs on opposite sides of the film. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an ink-receptive layer for transparent films that has good dimensional stability. This invention provides a hydrophilic, polymeric blend which provides improved durability and reduced curl when used as an image-receptive layer on graphic arts films. The blend comprises at least one water-absorbing, hydrophilic polymeric material, at least one hydrophobic polymeric material having acid functionality, and at least one polyethylene glycol. The layer formed from the blend provides high sorption capacity combined with good physical integrity even when wet, along with dimensional stability. The invention also provides sheets suitable for preparing visual transparencies having a backing bearing on at least one major surface thereof an image-receptive layer formed from the aforementioned blend.

Radiation-curable thermoplastic coating

Abstract: A coating composition is provided. The coating composition is a curable blend of ethylenically unsaturated polyester and ethylenically unsaturated thermoplastic polymers. The composition is capable of providing a thermoplastic, soluble, sandable, intermediate-stage coating and, when cured, a final stage coating which is unaffected by acetone placed on the final stage coating for two hours at 22° C., has a percent haze value of 15% or less, and is unaffected when subjected to a Wet Print Test.

Fiber optic connection system with exchangeable cross-connect and interconnect cards

Abstract: A fiber optic connection system having a housing which receives a plurality of novel splice trays which are adaptable for use in either interconnection or cross-connection of the fibers. Each splice tray is formed of an upper tray section (having a reel for storing excess fiber slack in the first group of fibers and a splice area with clips for retaining splice elements) and a lower tray section which is either an interconnect card or a cross-connect card. The interconnect card has another reel for storing excess fiber slack in the second group of fibers, while the cross-connect card has no such reel but rather has walls for guiding the group of second fibers to a common exit point on the cross-connect card. The lower tray section is removably attached to the upper tray section whereby an existing splice tray can be modified from an interconnection configuration to a cross-connection configuration and vice-versa. The housing includes a pair of rails having holes therein for receiving pins on the edge of each splice tray whereby the trays may be pivotally attached to the rails in a page-type array. A stabilizer bar having several tabs is attached to the lower rail to releasably secure the splice trays in one of three predetermined positions.

Pressure sensitive adhesives

Abstract: Pressure sensitive adhesives and tackified pressure sensitive adhesives that are the polymerization product of an acrylic acid ester of a monohydric alcohol whose homopolymer has a Tg less than 0 °C; a non-polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer whose homopolymer has a solubility parameter of no greater than 10.50 and a Tg greater than 15 °C; and 0-5 parts by weight of a polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer whose homopolymer has a solubility parameter of greater than 10.50 and a Tg greater than 15 °C.

Method of aperturing thin sheet materials

Abstract: A method of forming apertures generally greater than about 0.05 square millimeters in a thin sheet material (14). The thin sheet material includes a first side and a second side, at least one side of the thin sheet material is substantially coated with an adhesive (116). The method comprises the steps of (a) placing the adhesive-coated thin sheet material on a patterned anvil (32) having a pattern of raised areas wherein the height of the raised areas is equal to or less than the thickness of the thin sheet material and the adhesive; and (b) subjecting the thin sheet material to a sufficient amount of sonic vibrations to aperture the thin sheet material and the adhesive; and whereby the thin sheet material and the adhesive is apertured in a pattern generally the same as the pattern of raised areas on the patterned anvil (32).