Transfer dyeing of plastic surfaces which may be combined with lamination or molding procedures
OwnerJohn M. Haighinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method of dye absorption into the surface of plastics is accomplished by placing polyolefin film between a dye transfer paper and a sheet of thermoplastic and applying pressure and heat thereto. The heat applied is sufficient to sublime the dyes though the film to the plastic sheet. The dyes are absorbed into the surface of the plastic with the design intact. The materials are then cooled and separated and a decorated plastic sheet or article with wear-proof design is obtained. Thermoset plastics are similarly dye penetrated in this manner during the curing thereof. In mold dye decoration and penetration of thermoplastics and thermoset plastics is also disclosed. Further, post-pressure dye transfer to plastic sheet and plastic articles is disclosed.
Claims19
A method for transferring dye patterns to dye receptor plastic web comprising, interposing a polyolefin carrier web between a transfer web containing dispersed dyes and said dye receptor plastic web, pressing said webs together to obtain close contact therebetween;
- heating the pressed webs to a sublimation temperature for the dyes;
- maintaining said webs at said temperature until a substantial portion of said dyes have sublimed and transferred through said polyolefin web to said dye receptor web;
- cooling said webs below the softening temperature of the dye receptor web and separating the dye receptor web from the other webs.
A method for dye transfer and lamination of webs comprising interposing a polyolefin dye carrier web between a transfer web containing dispersed dyes and a plastic dye receptor web;
- placing a laminating web adjacent said dye receptor web on the reverse side thereof;
- pressing all of said webs together at a laminate pressure for said dye receptor web and said laminating web;
- heating the pressed webs to a sufficient temperature for sublimation of said dyes and for lamination of said dye receptor web and said laminating web, cooling the pressed materials to complete said lamination, releasing said pressure and separating the resulting laminate of dye receptor web and laminating web from the dye transfer web and the polyolefin carrier web.
A method for in-mold dye penetration and decorating of plastic articles comprising placing a dye transfer web, a polyolefin dye carrier web and a dye receptor web in said mold such that the dye carrier web is between the other webs, closing the mold, applying sufficient heat and pressure to force said dye receptor web into close contact with said dye carrier web and any adjacent mold walls, said heat being also sufficient to cause the dyes in the dye transfer web to sublime through said dye carrier web to penetrate and decorate the adjacent surfaces of said dye receptor web, to thus mold and decorate a plastic article, cooling said article below its softening point and opening said mold to eject the molded and decorated article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.