US 4,202,663 A · Method of dye absorption into the surface of plastic

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 through 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 are also disclosed. Further, post-pressure dye transfer to plastic sheets and plastic articles is disclosed.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method for rapid and continuous transfer of dye patterns to at least one plastic dye receptor comprising contacting a dye transfer web and a polyolefin dye carrier web in close contact;

contacting the other side of said dye carrier web with said dye receptor and passing the same to a heat and pressure zone, applying heat and pressure thereto sufficient to releasably bond said dye receptor and said webs together in a tri-laminate;
passing said tri-laminate from said pressure zone into a post-pressure heating zone which is heated to a temperature sufficient to sublime the dyes from said dye transfer web through said dye carrier web and into the surface of said dye receptor, cooling said tri-laminate below the softening temperatures of the components thereof and separating said webs from said decorated dye receptor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of dye absorption into the surface of plastic

Life of this patent

Method of dye absorption into the surface of plastic

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7