Digital decoration and marking of glass and ceramic substrates

A process for forming a decal assembly comprising the steps of

• a. thermally printing an imaged section onto a covercoated transfer sheet with a thermal transfer ribbon, thus producing an imaged, covercoated transfer sheet, wherein
• a. said covercoated transfer sheet is comprised of a decal support and a releasable covercoat disposed on said decal support,
• b. said imaged section is comprised of an ink layer comprised of an ink selected from the group consisting of a ceramic ink, a frit ink, and combinations thereof, and
• c. said ink layer forms a digital image,
• b. applying a first heat activatable layer over said imaged section of said imaged, covercoated transfer sheet, thus producing a decal comprising
• a. said decal support,
• b. said releasable covercoat disposed on said decal support, and
• c. said imaged section is comprised of
• 1. said ink layer comprised of said ink, wherein said ink layer forms said digital image, and
• 2. said first heat activatable layer has a first adhesion to a glass substrate at a first temperature and a second adhesion to said glass substrate after being heated to a second temperature, wherein said first temperature is lower than said second temperature and said first adhesion is lower than said second adhesion.

A substrate assembly comprising

• a. a decal comprising
• a. a decal support,
• b. a releasable covercoat disposed on said decal support,
• c. an imaged section comprised of an ink layer comprised of an ink selected from the group consisting of a ceramic ink, a frit ink, and combinations thereof wherein said ink layer forms a digital image and
• b. a rigid substrate comprised of glass or ceramic,
• c. a heat activatable layer comprising at least about 75 weight percent of a solid, carbonaceous binder disposed between said rigid substrate and said decal wherein said heat activatable layer has a first adhesion between said rigid substrate and said decal at a first temperature and a second adhesion between rigid substrate and said decal after being heated to a second temperature, wherein said first temperature is lower than said second temperature and said first adhesion is lower than said second adhesion.

A substrate assembly comprising

• a. a decal comprised of
• a. a flexible substrate,
• b. a releasable covercoat disposed on said flexible substrate, and
• c. an imaged section on said releasable covercoat comprised of an ink layer comprised of an ink selected from the group consisting of a ceramic ink, a frit ink, and combinations thereof, wherein said ink layer forms a digital image, and
• b. a rigid substrate comprised of
• a. glass or ceramic, and
• b. a heat activatable layer on at least one surface of said rigid substrate wherein said imaged side of said decal is placed in direct contact with said heat activatable layer on said rigid substrate such that said decal has a first adhesion to said rigid substrate at a first temperature and a second adhesion to said rigid substrate after being heated to a second temperature, wherein said first temperature is lower than said second temperature and said first adhesion is lower than said second adhesion.