Ceramic marking system with decals and thermal transfer ribbon
AssigneeNEC Corporation
InventorsMichael A. Lorenz, Joseph D. Roth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided by the present invention a coating formulation and thermal transfer ribbon and printer which provide printed images that will permanently mark ceramic material when the printed image is applied to the surface of a ceramic article and fired. These formulations and ribbons contain ceramic pigments that will fuse to the surface of a ceramic material when fired. The printed images can be applied to ceramic materials using the decals of this invention which comprise a printed image on a sacrificial receiving substrate that vaporizes or decomposes when fired. Methods for permanently marking ceramic articles are also provided as are permanently marked ceramic articles.
Claims16
A method for permanently marking ceramic articles with an image which comprises:
- a) depositing an image layer which contains 20-60 wt. % ceramic pigments, 20-85 wt. % wax and 5-60 wt. % binder resin all based on dry components on a sacrificial receiving substrate by thermal transfer printing to form a decal,
- b) applying said decal to a surface of a ceramic article and
- c) firing said ceramic article having said decal applied to the surface thereof to vaporize and/or decompose the sacrificial receiving substrate and the wax and binder resin of the image layer and fuse the ceramic pigments to the surface of said ceramic article in the shape of said image.
A method for permanently marking ceramic articles with an image which comprises:
- a) depositing an image layer which contains 20-60 wt. % ceramic pigments, 20-85 wt. % wax and binder resin 5-60 wt. % on all based on dry components on a sacrificial receiving substrate by thermal transfer printing to form a decal,
- b) applying said decal to a surface of a ceramic article and,
- c) firing said ceramic article having said decal applied to the surface thereof to vaporize and/or decompose the sacrifical receiving substrate and the wax and binder resin of the image layer and fuse the ceramic pigments to the surface of said ceramic article in the shape of said image,
- wherein the image layer comprises thermoplastic polymer resin as binder resin, and said thermoplastic polymer resin and wax are vaporizable without carbonizing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.