Method of producing iridescent coatings

Abstract

A method of producing an iridescent reflecting surface on an object is presented. Flakes of dry non metallic reflecting material such as cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material are applied to the surface so that the flakes are parallel with the surface and bound with a binder to the surface.

1 - 54 . (canceled)  
     
     
         55 . A method of producing a pattern on a surface of a substrate, the method comprising: 
 applying a patterned coat of a binder material to the surface of a substrate using a printer selected from the group consisting of flexo press, off-set, gravure and screen; and    applying a dry pigment material to the surface of the binder material, the pigment material adhering to the binder material;    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising: 
 repeating application a patterned coal of a binder material and a dry pigment material a plurality of times to build up a multipigmented pattern.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the binder material comprises a fluid material.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the binder material comprises a fusible material.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the binder material comprises a radiation curable material.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the binder material comprises a mixture, the mixture comprising a non-volatile and a volatile solvent.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising: 
 mechanically working the surface of the binder to align the flakes in a direction that is substantially parallel thereto.    
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61  wherein mechanically working comprises rolling the surface of the binder material.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61  wherein mechanically working comprises buffing the surface of the binder material.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the dry pigment material comprises flakes of cholesteric liquid crystal material.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the flakes of cholesteric liquid crystal material comprise a non-linear pitch distribution to reflect a broad band of light.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising: 
 applying a protective coating over the dry pigment material.