Metallization process

• US 4,215,170 A
• Filed: 02/28/1978
• Issued: 07/29/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JT America, Inc. (Japan Tobacco Inc.), Morinaga & Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Eurographics Holding, N.V.
• Inventors: Vilaprinyo Oliva, D. Entique
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Ellis P.
• Application Number:
  US05/882,162
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 428/914, 428/425, 428/208, 428/209, 428/328, 428/457, 428/458, 428/461, 428/463, 428/464, 428/424, 156/230, 156/233, 156/234, 156/241, 427/147
• US Class Current: 428/328
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/80 for aquatic animals, e.g. fish, crustaceans or molluscs
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/085 comprising polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/10 of wood
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/12 of paper or cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/04 Gold
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/06 Platinum
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/08 Silver
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/12 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/16 Tin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/22 Nickel or cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/24 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2323/04 Polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2323/10 Polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2327/06 PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2377/00 Polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/16 : characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder or granules layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/14 : Metallic leaves or foils, e.g. gold leaf
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0005 : Separation of the coating from the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: D06Q 1/04 : by metallising transfer of metal particles D06Q1/12
• CPC Class Codes: D06Q 1/12 : by transferring a chemical agent or a metallic or non-metallic material in particulate or other form, from a solid temporary carrier to the textile for uniform treatment D06M23/02
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 19/04 : applied as foil
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 19/08 : applied as vapour, e.g. in vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/914 : Transfer or decalcomania
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24909 : Free metal or mineral containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 : including metal layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/256 : Heavy metal or aluminum or compound thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 : Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31591 : Next to cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31605 : Next to free metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 : Of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31681 : Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31699 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31703 : Next to cellulosic

Abstract

A process for the metallization of a substrate and the product formed thereby. An extremely thin (substantially less than the wavelength of light) coat of metallic particles is deposited on a transfer agent. A thin coat of varnish is applied to either the substrate or the transfer agent, the substrate and the transfer agent are laminated together and the varnish is cured. The metallic particles will become absorbed within the varnish and the substrate and transfer agent are then separated. The substrate is provided with a highly polished specular metallic finish.

Claims

1. A process for the metallization of a substrate employing a reusable transfer agent comprising the steps of;

depositing on the transfer agent a film of metal particles of the order of magnitude of substantially less than 1000 Angstroms in thickness;

coating a portion of at least one of said substrate and said metallized transfer agent with varnish;

laminating said substrate and said transfer agent together before said varnish is cured so that said metal particles are embedded in said varnish;

curing said varnish;

separating said transfer agent from said substrate, whereupon said substrate is provided with said film of metallic particles which film permits some light transmission, appears continuous and smooth and exhibits a specular metallic finish; and

reusing said transfer agent in the metallization process.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said metal particles minimally adhere to said transfer agent upon deposition thereon with an adherence less than the removal force of the cured varnish.

3. The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the thickness of the deposited metal is less than 500 Angstroms.

4. The process claimed in claim 2 wherein the metal is aluminum and the thickness is between 50 and 250 Angstroms.

5. The process is claimed in claim 2 wherein at least one of said transfer agent and said substrate is flexible.

6. The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least one of said substrate and said transfer agent is an elongated web.

7. The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said varnish is a polyurethane varnish.

8. The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said varnish is an ultraviolet radiation cross-linkable resin.

9. The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said transfer agent is a resin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, polyamide and regenerated cellulose.

10. The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said varnish is coated in a particular design not covering the entire surface of said substrate.

11. The product formed by the process of claim 1.

12. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said metal particles are of metals selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, gold, copper, nickel, tin and platinum, and alloys of said metals.

15. The article as claimed in claim 2 wherein said metal is aluminum of a thickness of 50 to 250 Angstroms.

16. The article as claimed in claim 12 wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, wood, leather and plastic.

17. The article as claimed in claim 12 wherein said coating of varnish is a coating of polyurethane varnish.

13. A specular metallic coated article of manufacture comprising a substrate, a coating of cured varnish on at least a portion of said substrate, a metallic film in the form of particles embedded in said varnish, said film being on the order of magnitude of less than 1000 Angstroms in thickness such that said film permits some light transmission, appears continuous and smooth and exhibits a specular finish.

14. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 13 wherein said film is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, gold, copper, nickel, tin, platinum and alloys of said metals.