Manufacture of articles that include thermosetting powder coatings

Abstract

In manufacture of a glass architectural panel (FIG. 1) an aluminium foil is bonded to a glass sheet via a layer of thermosetting polyester powder-coating material. The powder is deposited on the foil as the foil unrolls and is melted to provide a fused layer which is then cooled to solidify the layer and arrest progress of curing. The solidified layer is sprayed with a silane adhesion promoter, before being heated momentarily to enable the foil with its adhering and solidified, but uncured, layer, to be rolled up for storage. The rolled foil is transferred nearer to a float-glass production line, where, after being heated to allow it to be unrolled, it is fed onto a hot glass sheet emerging from the line. The fused layer melts as it is brought down with the backing foil to contact the glass sheet and fulfil the cure of the powder material so as to establish the bond. Instead of a single foil, several may be provided overlapping one another (FIG. 3). Decorative effects can be obtained using different pigmentations of powder and partial metallization of the glass (FIG. 4). The technique of interrupting the cure is applicable to provision of a glass window (FIG. 5) and a glass laminate (FIG. 6).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.