Process for Producing Metal Flakes
AssigneeDunwilco (1198) Limited
InventorIan Robert Wheeler
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Abstract
The present invention provides a jetting process for the production of flakes with uniform size distribution to be used in pigments comprising the steps of ejecting molten metal from a jet head and collecting droplets of metal on a solid collecting substrate or collecting droplets of metal in or on a collecting substrate.
Claims46
A jetting process comprising the steps of ejecting molten metal from a jet head and either:
- (a) collecting droplets of metal on a collecting substrate, wherein the collecting substrate comprises a solid release layer;
- or
- (b) collecting droplets of metal in or on a collecting substrate and subsequently milling the collected metal droplets.
A process of preparing flattened metal particulates, the process comprising the steps of ejecting molten metal from a jet head and either:
- (a) collecting droplets of metal in the form of metal flakes on a collecting substrate, wherein the collecting substrate comprises a solid release layer;
- or
- (b) collecting droplets of metal in the form of metal particulates in or on a collecting substrate;
- and subsequently treating the metal particulates to provide flattened metal particulates.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A metal pigment comprising metal flakes obtained or obtainable by a process which is either
- (i) a jetting process comprising the steps of ejecting molten metal from a jet head and either:
- (a) collecting droplets of metal on a collecting substrate, wherein the collecting substrate comprises a solid release layer;
- or
- (b) collecting droplets of metal in or on a collecting substrate and subsequently milling the collected metal droplets;
- or
- (ii) a process of preparing flattened metal particulates, the process comprising the steps of ejecting molten metal from a jet head and either:
- (a) collecting droplets of metal in the form of metal flakes on a collecting substrate, wherein the collecting substrate comprises a solid release layer;
- or
- (b) collecting droplets of metal in the form of metal particulates in or on a collecting substrate;
- and subsequently treating the metal particulates to provide flattened metal particulates
A metal pigment comprising metal flakes having a median particle diameter of 100 μm or less and a particle size distribution such that at least 90% by volume of the metal flakes have a particle diameter within ±25% of the median particle diameter.
An apparatus for producing metal flakes, the apparatus comprising:
- (i) a jet head comprising at least one nozzle;
- and
- (ii) a collecting substrate arranged to collect molten metal droplets ejected from the jet head;
- characterised in that the collecting substrate is a solid release layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.