POLYMERIC ARTICLE HAVING IMPROVED HYDROPHILICITY AND A METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

摘要

A hydrophilic polymeric article (10) has metal oxide particles dispersed throughout a polymeric binder material (12). A major surface (18) of the polymeric material (12) is treated so as to remove polymeric binder to provide a higher ratio of metal to carbon atoms on the major surface (18) of the polymeric article (10) relative to its interior. The polymeric article (10) provides extraordinary water-spreading effects on the major surface (18), making the article (10) particularly suitable for use as a surface covering on a retroreflective sheeting (16).