Laser-Ablated Matte Resin Surface Without Peeling Coatings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for achieving low glossiness in resin molded articles, such as matte coatings and emboss processing, face limitations in material applicability, shape complexity, and durability, often resulting in uneven coatings, peeling issues, and difficulties in maintaining precision and uniformity, especially in micro-structure parts.

Innovation Solution

A resin molded article with a matte surface is formed by molding a thermoplastic resin composition and treating it with laser light irradiation to achieve a 60-degree glossiness of 1.5% or less, using a laser light absorbent and dark colorants to ensure low glossiness and durability, without the need for coatings that can peel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a matte coating or light shielding coating is applied to reduce glossiness, then the glossiness is reduced, but the coating film may peel off due to large environmental temperature changes and close contact cannot be obtained with all resin materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglossiness controlVSAvoidcoating adhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the problematic coating layer entirely, replacing it with a matte surface formed directly on the resin molded article through laser irradiation. This eliminates the adhesion problems between coating and resin while maintaining the low glossiness effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical coating process with laser irradiation processing. The laser energy directly modifies the resin surface to create a matte finish, substituting the mechanical application and adhesion-dependent coating system with an energy-based surface modification process that is independent of material compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If a metal die is subjected to fine emboss processing to transfer embossment onto resin surface, then the glossiness is reduced, but the resin does not permeate through the embossment due to lack of fluidity and sufficient transfer cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface texture transferVSAvoidmolding process difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical emboss processing system with laser irradiation. Instead of relying on resin fluidity to permeate embossments during molding, the laser directly creates the matte surface texture after molding, eliminating the need for complex die embossing and resin flow control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The matte surface is formed as a preliminary step before final assembly or coating operations. By creating the matte texture through laser irradiation on the molded article itself, the invention prepares the surface in advance without requiring subsequent complex processing or maintenance of embossing dies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method allows for the creation of resin molded articles with low glossiness and reduced material and shape limitations, ensuring easy manufacturing and durability, suitable for use in optical equipment as light shielding members without the issues of peeling or uneven surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

the matte surface is a flat surface from which an entire surface layer portion is removed by laser light irradiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Implementation Method 2

the thermoplastic resin composition contains a laser light absorbent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP4227037B1Resin molded article having matte surface
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 POLYPLASTICS CO LTD
  • EP4227037B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Provided is a resin molded article having a matte surface. The resin molded article is obtained by molding a thermoplastic resin composition, and at least part of the resin molded article has a matte surface having a 60-degree glossiness of 1.5% or less. The matte surface is a flat surface from which an entire surface layer portion is removed by laser light irradiation.