Painted metal sheet for printing with a sublimation dye

Abstract

A colored metal sheet useful as a decorative member, a multi-colored signboard, etc. is provided by transfer-printing a topcoat or clear paint layer 4 formed on a substrate metal sheet 1 with a sublimation dye. A basecoat paint layer 2 and a primer paint layer 3 may be formed between the substrate metal sheet 1 and the paint layer 4. A sublimation dye penetrates into the paint layer 4 to form colored parts 5 extending along thickness direction of the paint layer 4. Glass flakes 6 (of 8 μm or less in thickness and 10-70 μm in length) and calcium silicate (of 1-8 μm in primary particle size) may be dispersed in the paint layer 4, to improve slippage-proof property and wear-resistance. Powdery silica (of 0.5-8 μm in particle size) may be dispersed in the paint layer 4, to improve anti-scratching property and wear-resistance. Light-resistance of the paint layer 4 is improved by using a topcoat or clear paint mainly composed of a melamine-containing thermosetting polyester resin having number average molecular weight of 1000-10000 and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 20-60° C.

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