GB1241419A - Improvements in or relating to decorative articles and processes for the manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

1,241,419. Casting decorative articles. S. TIES, and G. N. TAYLOR. 5 Nov., 1968 [13 Nov., 1967], No. 51421/67. Heading B5A. [Also in Division B6] Decorative articles are produced by temporarily securing a sheet of etchable material by one face to a support, forming a pattern on the opposite face of the sheet in an etch-resistant material, etching away completely those parts of the sheet unprotected by the etch-resistant material to form voids extending completely through the sheet, applying over the opposite face of the sheet a settable bonding material to form a layer over the opposite face, the settable material forming a durable bond to only the remaining pattern parts of the sheet and also filling the voids so that it is level with said one face, ensuring that the applied material is set and then stripping the support from the bonded pattern. As shown in Fig. 1, sheet 1 which may consist of a foil of copper or brass is temporarily secured to support 2, by a double-sided adhesive film consisting of a thin flexible film of synthetic plastics material coated on both sides with a layer of adhesive 4. A design of etch-resistant material 5 is then formed on the sheet 1, e.g. by photographic means or by means of a silk-screen process. The sheet is then etched, the etchant acting to remove only those parts of the sheet unprotected by the etch-resistant design until the entire thickness of the sheet has been removed in the unprotected areas. The sheet 1 is then coated with a layer of setting material 7, as shown in Fig. 5, which is preferably coloured to present a contrasting appearance in relation to the material of the sheet 1 and may be an epoxy resin loaded with a pigmented filler. The resin layer is then subjected to heat in order to set it or alternatively cold-cured. The sheet 1 is then stripped from the support to produce the decorative panel. A preservative lacquer may then be applied or the panel may be subjected to a plating or polishing process. Cylindrical articles may be produced by using a support having a face of a required configuration, the support being supported on that face. In the case of a concave face settable material may then be poured into the interior of the article after the etching step to form a solid core. Alternatively a layer of the settable material may be formed over the inside surface of the etched sheet to form a hollow article. The settable material may be loaded with fibreglass.