Moving polymer carrier

Some production machines use a synchronized moving polymer loop carrier as the support under the polymer casting substrate. This polymer carrier transports the tape-cast film on its polymer substrate through the dryer with a minimum amount of friction. The transport carrier rides on a series of precision-ground rollers through the drying chamber (or chambers) in the same manner as the steel conveyor. 

The pigment flakes can typically be manufactured sequentially in a series of specialized roll-coating machines. In the first machine a carrier film, the sorelease layer, is deposited on a moving polymer web (transfer foil). This release layer is soluble in organic solvents so that the later formed multilayer film can be removed from the web at the end of the process. After depositing this release layer, the transfer foil is placed in a vacuum deposition roll coater and the first metal layer (e.g., chromium) as the semitransparent absorber metal is deposited followed by the first dielectric layer (e.g., magnesium fluoride) and the opaque metal layer (e.g., chromium). The second dielectric layer and the second semitransparent absorber... 

There are variations on the above approach. For instance, the hopper may move over a stationary carrier film. It is also possible to draw a polymer ribbon through a slip so as to pick up thin layers on both surfaces. 

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