FR2584021A1 - Process for manufacturing articles exhibiting artistic effects generated by sheets of genuine gold, applied within the bulk of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) esters - Google Patents

Abstract

Process for manufacturing articles exhibiting artistic effects is characterised in that the artistic effects are generated by the application under heat of one or more sheets of genuine gold on a first layer of a thermoformed PMMA body, and to cover this first surface, already partially or totally covered by sheets of genuine gold, with a second transparent PMMA layer and in that the assembly of the layers is heated to 160-170 DEG C and subjected to a thermoforming operation by melting and in that, during this operation, the homogenous adhesive bonding of the sheets is achieved and the final object is obtained.

Description

Method for making articles with artistic effects
created by real gold leaf applied in the interior
of the mass of metacrylic esters (PMMA).

In the present invention, a high-range resin, polymethyl methacrylate, known as
PMMA and, according to the different producers, designated by the marks "ALTUGtA""PEflLAS","PLEXIGLAS","LUCITE","PARAGLAS",'PERSPEX"etc.

Given its technical and optical qualities it is also called organic glass and it is increasingly replacing the mineral appearance. Other thermoformable resins having similar qualities can be used.

 To increase the artistic effects of objects, we add to the mass of P.M.M.A. real gold leaf.

 Until now, the sheets have been applied to the surface of the plates by the well-known technique of hot printing.

 In this case, the gold leaf, always of a very reduced thickness, remains exposed to direct contact with external agents and ends up being erased.

To overcome these drawbacks, in the technique of this invention (ROXYL), one or more sheets of gold, of thickness O, - to 2, are applied hot to the surface of a PMMA plate. microns.

 On this surface partially or completely covered with gold leaf, apply a second plate of P.M.M.A. transparent, from 2 to 8 mm.

thick and we continue to heat all the sheets to a temperature of 1600 to 1700C. At this temperature, bonding and pressure-forming in a mold are carried out in a mold, so that the desired model is obtained.

By the "ROXYL" technique the brilliance of the gold leaf is appreciably improved by the light effects of the rays which penetrate into the transparent surface layer and which are reflected according to the nature and the incidence of the light source and the angles of the reflective surfaces of the reliefs favorably created by the forming operation
The artistic effects thus obtained are at least identical to those obtained by the technique which uses mineral glass, but which implies, consequently, a more difficult working regime by the fact that one is forced to work at the melting temperature of the mineral glass (around 900 C, at 1400 C.).

 To obtain even more varied effects, P.M.M.A. dyes or colored pigments or pearlescent dforgine natural or synthetic.

 Considering its qualities of ease of work, range of colors, pleasant touch, resistance to humidity and shock, the P.M..M.A. used by the ROXYL process constitutes a first class material for the manufacture of bathroom accessories, hairdressing salons, light fixtures, frames, mirrors, mirrors etc.

 The technique of work comprising ur.e series of current operations of marquetry, cutting, assembly, finishing etc. is very likely to industrialize in small or large series.

 It is possible to pass, on the finished objects a layer of varnish based on polyxyloxane or polymetacrylic resins, to improve the shine or the resistance to scratches.

 It is worth mentioning the possibility of using imitations of real gold (lacquered aluminum, metallic sheets, etc.) but in this case the results obtained may be mediocre from an artistic point of view.

Claims (3)

 R E V E N D I C A T I O S  1) process for the manufacture of articles with artistic effects characterized in that the artistic effects are created by the hot application of one or more sheets of real gold for a first layer of a thermoformable body, PXM .A and to cover this first surface already partially or totally covered with real gold sheets, with a second transparent layer of PMMA and that all of the layers are heated to 160-1700C. and subjected to a thermoforming operation by fusion and that during this operation the homogeneous bonding of the sheets is carried out and the finished object is obtained.  2) Method according to claim NO 1 - characterized in that it is coated in the sheets of P.M.M.A dyes or colored or pearlescent pigments of natural or synthetic origin.  3) Method according to claim NO 1 - characterized in that imitation gold can be used in place of real gold sheets, for example: lacquered aluminum, metal sheets, etc.  Method according to claims 1, 2 and 3 characterized in that for improving the gloss or the scratch resistance, a layer of varnish based on polyxyloxane, - acrylic resins, etc., is passed over the surface of the objects.