Composite foil from which layer areas having metallic luster are transferred onto a base

• US 4,477,312 A
• Filed: 05/31/1983
• Issued: 10/16/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grobena AG Schaffhaustrasse 491 Ch-8052 Zurich
• Original Assignee: Interletter AG
• Inventors: Czichy, Eleonore
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Bruce H.
• Application Number:
  US06/498,668
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 156/654-656, 156/234, 156/241, 156/277, 156/659.1, 156/629-634, 156/664-666, 156/668, 156/233, 156/235, 156/238, 156/240, 156/249, 156/305, 427/146-148, 427/259, 427/264, 427/270-272, 427/282, 427/294, 427/404, 427/419.1, 428/200-202, 428/209, 428/913, 428/914, 428/208, 430/5, 430/11, 430/14, 430/15, 430/18
• US Class Current: 216/39
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/14 Metallic leaves or foils, e.g. gold leaf
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/1737 Decalcomanias provided with a particular decorative layer, e.g. specially adapted to allow the formation of a metallic or dyestuff on a substrate unsuitable for direct deposition
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 3/005 Removing selectively parts of at least the upper layer of a multi-layer article
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/205 using a pattern electroplated or electroformed on a metallic carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/914 Transfer or decalcomania
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24736 Ornamental design or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24843 with heat sealable or heat releasable adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2486 with outer strippable or release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2843 including a primer layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

A method for producing a composite foil which has metallic lustrous layer areas with an image structure for transferring onto a base, comprising

(a) applying at least one continuous lacquer layer on a carrier layer;

(b) applying a continuous metal layer onto at least one lacquer layer;

(c) applying a solvent resistant layer onto the metal layer, said solvent resistant layer being divided into areas which have the shape of the image structure, leaving areas of the continuous metal layer and the at least one continuous lacquer layer thereunder uncovered by the solvent resistant layer;

(d) removing said uncovered areas of the continuous metal layer and the at least one continuous lacquer layer thereunder by treatment with a solvent therefor; and

(e) applying a continuous adhesive layer onto the image structure carrying side of the treated composite foil from step (d), which adhesive layer fills said removed areas between the image structure and covers said areas and said image structure.

This process is advantageous since it does not require embossing to obtain a desired image.

Claims

1. A method for the production of a composite foil from which metallically lustrous layer areas having an image structure are to be transferred onto a base, and having a carrier layer, a lacquer layer on the carrier layer, a metal layer on the lacquer layer and an adhesive layer on the metal layer which comprises

(a) applying at least one continuous lacquer layer on the carrier layer;

(b) applying a continuous metal layer onto the at least one lacquer layer;

(c) applying a solvent resistant layer onto the metal layer, said solvent resistant layer being divided into areas which have the shape of the image structure, leaving areas of the continuous metal layer and the at least one continuous lacquer layer thereunder uncovered by the solvent resistant layer;

(d) removing said uncovered areas of the continuous metal layer and the at least one continuous lacquer layer thereunder by treatment with a solvent therefor; and

(e) applying a continuous adhesive layer onto the image structure carrying side of the treated composite foil from step (d), which adhesive layer fills said removed areas between the image structure and covers said areas and said image structure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the lacquer layer is tinted.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the lacquer layer is untinted and a second continuous tinted lacquer layer is applied onto the lacquer layer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the solvent resistant layer is formed from a photographic emulsion which had been exposed to light or of a printing ink which is based on polyamide.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein after step (c) and prior to step (d), a powder is applied to the surface of the solvent resistant layer and exposed metal layer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the powder is talcum.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said metal layer is aluminum and said solvent for its uncovered areas is soda lye.