World's First Anti-Glare, Anti-Graffiti Film

MacDermid Autotype has introduced what is believes are the world's first films for display applications that combine anti-glare and anti-graffiti properties in a single material.

MacDermid Autotype has introduced what is believes are the world's first films for display applications that combine anti-glare and anti-graffiti properties in a single material.

The Sigmagraf Anti-Glare films incorporate a polyester base protected by a hardcoat upper, or outer, surface layer with an inkjet printable underside layer, for reverse printing.

That is said to create a material that is dimensionally stable under a variety of storage, production and end-use environments, yet which can be handled and printed using standard equipment.

The company said that two different inkjet primers are offered, with the Plus coating suitable for aqueous pigment inkjet, and the UVjet primer is recommended for UV curing inkjet printers.

As the hardcoat layer is formulated to eliminate the need for filler materials, levels of image definition and colour rendition are higher and brighter than other materials, claimed MacDermid Autotype.

The formulation of the hardcoat layer also plays a role in providing the combination of anti-glare and anti-graffiti properties.

To eliminate the problem of glare, which is a common phenomenon with many display films, MacDermid Autotype has modified the surface characteristics of the hardcoat, producing a nano-roughened finish that reflects less that 55 per cent of light at 60 degrees angle.

The company said that other materials will reflect 90 per cent of light at 60 degrees, creating glare that effectively 'blinds' the viewer from the image.

Similarly, the hardcoat surface layer has been developed to be scratch, scuff and abrasion proof.

Graffiti paint can be cleaned with conventional isopropanol solvents, or aqueous detergents, which can be used without leaving any cleaning stain residues or marks.

It is claimed that although graffiti can be removed from some films, the cleaning process often scratches the surface, and repeated cleaning would require the display to be replaced.

Sigmagraf Anti-Glare has been awarded anti-graffiti resistance accreditation to the standard ASTM D 6587 test, based on laboratory tests.

MacDermid Autotpye said that testers were impressed that even with repeated cleaning cycles the films were left graffiti and scratch-free throughout.

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