Method of producing photochromic resin body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing photochromic resin bodies result in single-color designs with poor designability and reproducibility, requiring labor-intensive and complex processes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of sublimable photochromic dyes to a base body, followed by sublimation and deposition onto a resin body, with subsequent fixation, allowing for various design patterns and improved reproducibility using spirooxazine, naphthopyran, spiropyran, or fulgide-based dyes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional methods (kneading or immersion) are used to add photochromic performance to resin bodies, then the photochromic resin body can be produced, but the designability is poor and only single-color designs are achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The photochromic dye application is segmented into discrete patterns through printing technology, allowing different design patterns to be applied to different regions of the resin body. This enables multi-color and gradient designs while maintaining precise control over where each color is applied, resolving the contradiction between designability and pattern consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different photochromic dyes with different colors are applied to different local regions of the resin body according to the desired design pattern. This local differentiation enables complex multi-color designs while maintaining precise control over the spatial distribution of each color, achieving both high designability and pattern consistency.
2Productivity
If photochromic performance is added to multiple resin bodies using conventional methods, then production can proceed, but reproducibility of the same design pattern is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The design pattern is copied precisely onto multiple resin bodies using printing technology. The printing process allows the same digital design pattern to be reproduced consistently across multiple units, ensuring high reproducibility while maintaining efficient production. This resolves the contradiction between productivity and reproducibility by using a copyable digital template approach.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional methods are used to add photochromic performance, then production can proceed, but many complex processes and operations are required which cost labor and time
Solution Approach 1:
The conventional mechanical processes of kneading or immersion are replaced with a printing-based system. The printing process directly deposits photochromic dyes onto the resin body surface in the desired pattern, eliminating the need for complex mechanical mixing or prolonged immersion steps. This substitution simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces production time while maintaining ease of manufacture.
4Adaptability or versatility
If photochromic dye is applied to achieve various design patterns, then designability improves, but color unevenness may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The printing process incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor and control dye deposition. By controlling the printing parameters and observing the deposition results, the system can adjust to maintain uniform color application across different design patterns. This feedback control enables diverse design patterns while preventing color unevenness, resolving the contradiction between designability and color uniformity.
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
Enables the production of photochromic resin bodies with high designability and reproducibility, featuring gradation designs and rapid color change, while minimizing color unevenness and process complexity.
Implementation Method 1
heating the function-adding base body to sublimate the sublimable photochromic dye applied to the function-adding base body
Implementation Method 2
heating the resin body on which the sublimable photochromic dye is deposited in the second step to fix the sublimable photochromic dye on the resin body
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of producing a photochromic resin body includes a first step, a second step and a third step. In the first step, a sublimable photochromic dye having sublimability is applied to a base body so as to obtain a function-adding base body. In the second step, the function-adding base body obtained in the first step is set to face a resin body, the function-adding base body is heated to sublimate the sublimable photochromic dye applied to the function-adding base body, and the sublimable photochromic dye is deposited on the resin body. In the third step, the resin body on which the sublimable photochromic dye is deposited in the second step is heated to fix the sublimable photochromic dye on the resin body.