Method of providing durable, matte images on stone and masonry

Abstract

A method for rendering durable, matte-finish images on a stone or masonry substrate, comprising: providing a stone or masonry substrate presenting a substantially flat image-receiving surface or otherwise shaped to accept an image, the image-receiving surface having a specular reflectivity suitable for accepting an image; applying a polymer to the image-receiving surface and curing the polymer thereto, the polymer being characterized by an avoidance of coloration or discoloration over time and a degree of clarity sufficient that the specular reflectivity of the image-receiving surface of the stone or masonry substrate is substantially unaltered, and the natural appearance thereof substantially unchanged, after cure of the polymer thereto, the polymer further being characterized by a cure hardness such that a transferable sublimable ink image carried on the image-receiving surface after transfer of the image into the cured polymer, is not eroded from the image-accepting surface by effects of weather, wear, abrasion or UV radiation, but erodes at a same rate as the image-receiving surface; providing a transferable sublimable ink image on an image transfer substrate suitable for transfer of the image to the stone or masonry substrate; and applying the image transfer substrate carrying the transferable sublimable ink image to the cured polymer and transferring the image thereinto via sublimation; such that the image becomes substantially fused to the image-receiving surface of the substrate, the image-receiving surface of the substrate retaining a natural, matte appearance following transfer of the image, and the transferred image being durable and resistant to abrasion, wear and the effects of weather and UV radiation. Preferably, the polymer is a polymer manufactured by PPG Industries and identified as Flexed ‘N’ Flat™ (DCU 2060).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.