# US 2008/0187729 A1 · Method of printing a data carrying mark on an unfinished ceramic structure, and structures marked thereby > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0187729 A1 - Document ID: US20080187729A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/998,599 - Filed: 2007-11-30 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-11-30 - Inventors: L. Urdenis Johnson; Joseph James McIntosh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187729A1 ## CPC - C04B 41/85: with inorganic materials - B28B 23/0031: {with product identification means, e.g. labels on test products or integrated circuit tags inside products RFID} - B41M 5/0047: {by ink-jet printing} - B41M 5/007: {on glass, ceramic, tiles, concrete, stones, etc.} - C04B 41/009: {characterised by the material treated} - C04B 41/4572: {Partial coating or impregnation of the surface of the substrate} - C09D 11/36: based on non-aqueous solvents - B41M 7/009: {using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat} - C04B 2111/00793: {as filters or diaphragms} - C04B 2111/0081: {as catalysts or catalyst carriers} - F01N 3/2828: {Ceramic multi-channel monoliths, e.g. honeycombs} - F01N 2330/06: Ceramic, e.g. monoliths - F01N 2450/00: Methods or apparatus for fitting, inserting or repairing different elements - Y10T 428/24926: including ceramic, glass, porcelain or quartz layer - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE - B28B: SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (foundry moulding B22C; working stone or stone-like material B28D; shaping of substances in a plastic state, in general B29C; making layered products not composed wholly of these substances B32B) - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method for printing a data-carrying mark on a portion of an unfinished ceramic structure, such as the green body Of a ceramic honeycomb structure; is disclosed that is capable of producing a mark that maintains legibility even after being fired to temperatures above 1100° C. or higher, or even 1300° C. or higher. The data-carrying mark is formed from a deposit of colorant solids overlying a portion of the unfinished ceramic structure. The volume of colorant solids per unit area of marked wall portion that is at least twice as much as that required to obtain maximum pre-fired visual contrast between marked and unmarked portions of the structure (i.e., prior to firing). The colorant solids may include one or more of cobalt, nickel, iron, chromium, copper, manganese and titanium, either in metallic or oxide form, and are preferably deposited in particulate form via a high temperature ink composition that prints the data-carrying mark by way of an ink jet print head. The data-carrying mark may be a digital pattern of marked and unmarked wall portions such as a bar code. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for marking a ceramic structure with an ink including particulate colorant solids mixed with a fluid, comprising the steps of: forming a mark by depositing said ink on a portion of an unfinished ceramic structure until the volume of particulate colorant solids per unit area of the mark is at least about twice as much as is necessary for a pre-fired maximum visual contrast between said mark and an unmarked portion of said portion, and firing said unfinished ceramic structure at a temperature of at least about 1000° C. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of providing a loading of the particulate solids of said ink forming said mark of at least about 50%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of firing is at a temperature of at least about 1300° C. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the mark includes a deposit of the ink by two or more applications of an ink having a loading of particulate solid colorants less than 25%. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the mark includes forming a pattern of marked portions and unmarked portions of the unfinished ceramic structure, and wherein the unmarked portions include substantially no ink. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the step of forming the pattern of marked portions comprises forming bars of a bar code. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the step of forming the pattern of marked portions comprises forming a two-dimensional bar code. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the depositing of said ink on said portion defines at least one alpha-numeric character. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ink is a mixture of said particulate colorant solids and a liquid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said ink is deposited by way of an inkjet printer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the particulate solids of said ink form no more than about 25% of the volume of the ink. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the step of forming the mark includes a first application of the ink, and then a re-application of the ink overtop the first application. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of formulating the particulate colorant solids include one or more of the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, iron, chromium, copper, manganese and titanium, either in metallic or oxide form. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein upon completion of the firing step, the ceramic structure formed is one of cordierite, aluminum titanate, and silicon carbide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ceramic structure is formed as a ceramic honeycomb structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate colorant solids is selected to have an average particle diameter of between about 0.1 and 8 microns. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a viscosity of the ink at ambient temperature is formulated to be between about 5-20 pascal-seconds. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said volume of particulate colorant solids per unit area is achieved with said ink jet printer by one of: multiple printing passes over said portion, angling a print head of a printer relative to said portion to increase a density of ink droplets per unit area of said portion, and adjusting a rate of ink droplets ejected from a print head of a printer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the volume of particulate colorant solids per unit area of the mark is at least about three times the amount needed to obtain a maximum pre-fired contrast between said mark and an unmarked portion. ### Claim 20 A finished ceramic structure, comprising: a mark on a portion thereof, wherein said mark comprises a deposit of fused, solid particulate colorants, and wherein the thickness of the mark is at least twice as thick as a thickness necessary to obtain a maximum pre-fired visual contrast when the unfused solid particulate colorants are deposited on the ceramic structure in an unfinished state. ### Claim 21 A marked unfinished ceramic structure, comprising: an unfinished ceramic structure, and a mark on a portion of the structure, wherein said mark comprises a deposit of solid particulate colorants wherein a volume of particulate colorant solids per unit area of the mark is at least about twice as much as is necessary for a pre-fired maximum visual contrast between said mark and an unmarked portion of said structure.