DE102010022714A1 - Method for surface design of two or three-dimensional components with base layer applied as powder coating layer, involves preparing two or three-dimensional component with base layer applied as a powder coating layer - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves preparing a two or three-dimensional component with a base layer applied as a powder coating layer and optionally applying an intermediate layer accommodates a surface decoration. The surface decoration is directly applied by a printer under utilization of specific color, where the surface decoration is provided in digital form. A transparent power coating layer is applied for protecting the surface decoration. An independent claim is also included for a component provided with a surface design, which has a metallic base body.

Description

The invention relates to a method for the surface design of components and a component produced thereafter, wherein the component is provided with a base layer and is applied to this formed as a decor layer.

Is known from the EP 0 839 673 a method and a device for applying a decoration to an object, wherein for application to the object the decoration with a support film on the surface of a liquid arranged in a basin and there as needed, depending on the shape of the object to be printed parallel to the surface expanded and / or condensed.

The article is dipped in the liquid to transfer the decoration to the article. To widen and / or densify the decoration on the liquid surface, nozzles are positioned below the liquid surface to create flows in the water.

Furthermore, the water transfer printing method for the application of decors on objects in the EP 1 022 158 ; EP 1 526 001 as well as the EP 1 552 961 described.

The US-A-4,348,246 describes a transfer printing technique in which the film with the decoration to be transferred is placed on a granular layer which is so fine-grained that the decoration can be transferred to the curved surface of the object to be printed adapted.

The US-A-4,388,866 also describes a similar transfer printing in which the film with the decoration to be transferred is placed on a deformable layer of pins, which are adaptable to the shape of the body to be printed.

The US Patent No. 4,436,571 describes a transfer printing of the type mentioned, in which the object to be printed is immersed in a certain way in the liquid with the floating decoration on, namely in a continuous movement obliquely downward in the direction of flow and then obliquely upward, also in the direction of Flow of the liquid.

The US-A-4,229,239 describes for the aforementioned transfer printing technique a special embodiment in which the decoration is prepared before the transfer by means of a solvent, so that it dissolves easily from the support film.

The US-A-4,407,881 (corresponding DE-A-32 19 992 ) describes for the above-mentioned transfer printing a particular embodiment of the support film, which has a hydrophilic, deformable layer which can swell by absorption from the water, and another layer which is placed over the hydrophilic layer and which is different permeable to water, so that the hydrophilic layer expands more or less strongly.

The US-A-4,231,829 describes a development of the aforementioned transfer printing technology to the effect that the decor on the liquid supporting PVA film or the water itself boric acid or a salt thereof is added to promote the transfer process.

Also the US-A-4,269,650 describes the addition of a solvent to facilitate peeling off the decorating film.

In transfer printing, the colored decoration (also called printing pattern = printing pattern) on a film that supports the decor, applied to a water surface and there widened (stretched) and / or compressed (compressed). The prior art knows for this expansion of the floating support film with decor air blowers, which are arranged above the film with decor to expand by means of air flow decor with the film and / or compress, that is, in certain directions, depending according to the shape of the object to be printed, expand and optionally compress in other directions.

The process steps to be considered as state of the art assume that the underlayer for the decoration to be applied is applied as an at least single-layer wet paint layer. The layer structure can be as follows: An anticorrosive metal layer is applied to the clean metal workpiece; For example, a layer on zinc is applied to the steel sheet workpiece by means of a galvanic process.

An adhesion layer (primer) for the wet paint layer is applied to this layer in a manner known per se. For example, electrophoretically a wet paint layer is applied to this adhesive layer, which is then baked in the passage in an infrared drying oven.

For special conditions of use, a second wet paint layer can be applied by means of spray technology and also baked again.

This thus pre-coated workpiece is now provided by means of the water transfer printing process with an additional decorative motif.

To protect environmental influences and partly against mechanical damage to the decorative motif, at least one covering layer is finally applied with a transparent wet paint.

The disadvantages of the wet paint coating are seen in the fact that the use of the solvent for the application of the wet paint layer (s) is harmful to the environment.

Since the crosslinking density of a wet paint layer is lower than in the case of a powder coating layer, the achievable diffusion tightness is inevitably lower.

When applying several Naßlackschichten must be worked with a smaller layer thickness per order.

The curing times are longer with wet paint.

The invention has for its object to provide a component with at least one applied to the surface decoration and a method for producing such a component that meets the requirements in optical, haptic and safety terms in a simple manner and in addition in optical terms new accents results.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a method for surface design of two- and / or three-dimensional components with at least one applied as a powder layer base layer, the process steps - providing a two- and / or three-dimensional component with a powder applied as a base layer, to the optionally, applying a surface decoration receiving intermediate layer, directly applying a digital decoration surface decoration by means of a printer using a specific color, applying at least one transparent powder coating layer to protect the surface decoration.

The cover layer may have moisture, dust and / or dirt repellent properties and contain nanoparticles and translucent color pigments.

The component may consist of several individual components, wherein the individual components have portions of the surface decoration and these are assembled into an overall picture.

The surface decoration may consist of ornaments, pictures or the like. As components for the surface decoration are metallic components such as vehicle parts, especially interior parts, panels for the design of murals or cladding, housings of household appliances, household items, lamp housings, ornaments and the like in question.

Reference to an embodiment, the invention will be explained in more detail.

The component produced by the method is, for example, a facade cladding, which are composed of a plurality of individual plates - similar to a puzzle - to form an overall picture and mounted on the outside of a building.

The overall picture can be a certain figure, an image of a landscape or the like or have an ornamental character.

Since it is very difficult to make facade cladding in one piece, this is divided into individual composable plates. These are preferably made of metal and provided in a first step with a base layer applied as a powder coating layer.

The surface decoration - here a specific image - is available as a digital file and can be changed on the computer according to customer requirements in color, brightness, size and other parameters.

According to the number of panels of the cladding that are to carry the image, the overall image is divided into sub-images, which are then applied to the surface of the individual plates by means of a printer using a special color. After drying, the surface is then sealed with a transparent powder coating layer.

The cover layer formed by applying a transparent powder coating has moisture, dust and / or dirt repellent properties.

The individual panels thus produced are then assembled on the outside of a building to form a cladding, resulting in a surface decoration.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 0839673 [0002]
• EP 1022158 [0004]
• EP 1526001 [0004]
• EP 1552961 [0004]
• US 4348246 A [0005]
• US 4388866A [0006]
• US 4436571 A [0007]
• US 4229239 A [0008]
• US 4407881 A [0009]
• DE 3219992 A [0009]
• US 4231829 A [0010]
• US 4269650A [0011]

Claims (7)

Process for the surface design of two- and / or three-dimensional components having at least one base layer applied as a powder coating layer, characterized by the following process steps: a) provision of a two- and / or three-dimensional component with a base layer applied as a powder coating layer and, if appropriate, application of a surface decoration receiving intermediate layer, b) directly applying a digital decoration surface decoration by means of a printer using a special color, c) applying at least one transparent powder coating layer to protect the surface decoration. Component with a surface design produced according to the method of claim 1 comprise a metallic base body with a base layer applied as a powder coating layer, optionally an intermediate layer, a surface decoration printed surface design and at least one applied from a transparent powder coating topcoat. Component according to claim 2, characterized in that the surface decoration is formed as ornaments, pictures or shape-free color design. Component according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover layer has moisture, dust and / or dirt repellent properties. Component according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover layer contains nanoparticles. Component according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover layer contains translucent color pigments. Component according to claim 2 and at least one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the component consists of at least two individual components, wherein the individual components have portions of the surface decoration and these are combined to form an overall image.