GB2244012A

GB2244012A - A method of applying a thermo-sensitive coating

Info

Publication number: GB2244012A
Application number: GB9011004A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hsueh Hu Liao; Kvomg Nimg Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-15
Filing date: 1990-05-16
Publication date: 1991-11-20
Also published as: DE4008190A1; GB9011004D0

Abstract

Involves applying a layer of glue followed by a layer of the thermo-sensitive material and a dye in powder form, and applying pressure to distribute the powder evenly in the glue. Preferably, consecutive layers of mica powder and a fixative oil are applied to finish the surface. When thus treated, a surface exhibits changes in colour with temperature changes. An example of a colour changeable model Christmas tree is disclosed.

Description

-al j-3 ? - 1 - A METHOD OF APPLYING A THERMO-SENSITIVE COATING is The

invention relates to a method of applying a thermo-sensitive material coating and in particular to a method for applying a thermo-sensitive material powder mixed with dye onto a surface without altering the physical properties of the material and retaining its color-changing characteristics.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of applying a thermo-sensitive coating to a surface comprising the steps of:

preparing the surface; applying an adhesive medium to the surface; dispersing on the adhesive medium a powdered mixture of a thermosensitive material and a dye; and applying pressure to said powdered mixture to cause immersion of particles of the powder in the adhesive medium.

The method of thermo-sensitive coating is a procedure of manufacturing, which ultilizes a newly developed material denoted as (R'C6H2OHCOOR)3 P04. to any of the desired working surface.

The material is sensitive to temperature, so that the special visual effect can be made.

The cited color-changing material had been found and granted with, by Japanese Patent number 63-210184, the published literature shows that the Molecular Formula is as follow:

CH L=R R' A. Y--o[ R' P04 n COOR COOR -- R 1 0H is one of the major characteristic of this matter is that when temperature change, the crystal structure of the matter will change with its physical property, that is, the color will disappear, even if dye were added into material to obtain the desired color as it is in normal temperature (room temperature). The temperature of changing color is termed critical temperature, when the temperature reaches at this point the color will disappear, only background color will show up.

The above invention, although, can achieve the purpose of color-changing, its practical application, however, is still limited by its property, for the main problem is the material being extremely thermo-sensitive and remaining unstable, result in the failure of finding a media to combine with the base material (such as paper, clothing fabrics, and pvc., etc.), meanwhile, some effects are made by dyeing the thermo-sensitive material without success, therefore, result in the uselessness of the 8 ik materials, therefore, upon the discussion, the present invention provides a means to overcome the bottle neck at this point of time.

Hitherto, it has been found that the above identified material is thermally unstable, and various attempts at applying the material to surfaces have been unsuccessful since no effort has been directed at identifying a medium in which the material may be applied in a stable form.

on the above statement, the inventor based on his professional printing experiences and years' experiments, finally, the fact can be concluded that glue can act as the media to combine the base and the thermosensitive material and dye mixture.

In other word, the color-changing material can be applied to any kind of material via the glue, then use roller to apply a pressure on the surface followed by mica powder and shining oil, such that the unstable material can be adhered on the surface, and the property of changing-color via temperature can be controlled. So that at room temperature, colorchanging material is not acting, when temperature reaches its critical point, the material will be transparent (color disappear), then only the background color will show.

There now follows a description of a specific emobdiment of the invention, by way of example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a block diagram summarising the method steps of the invention; and Figures 2 to 5 show an example of an article to which the method of the invention has been applied.

Based on the flow chart (shown in Figure 1), the detailed procedure of manufacturing can be expressed in a fashion as what comes followed.

The present invention, firstly has base material (such as paper, pvc, clothing fabrics, etc.) prepared and spray a layer of glue on the desired working surface of the base material. And then, proceed to spray a layer of thermo-sensitive material powder. After cleaning up unused powder, then apply a pressure to the working surface by using a roller to ensure all the coatings are well-organized and adhered on the surface as desired; secondly, cover another layer of mica powder on the surface, and clean up the extra power which is not of used, then spray a layer of shining oil to form a protection film, so that the thermo-sensitive material can be protected while keeping its color-chanign characteristic.

The above described method has been proved that can be applied on any kind of material base and the color-changing can be kept in a good order.

In which mica powder is used to eliminate the stickness on the working surface after applying glue, and to increase to durance of fire-proof ability to preventing the possible damage to thermo-sensitive material. And the final coating is shining oil which is the ordinary surface finishing oil that can be seen in printing shop.

There is a good example (as shown in Figures 2 to 5) to illustrate this elegant method. It can be seen that the picture show the Christmas tree with some white portion started on the top. According to the invention, the tree is formed by using paper or plastic material as base material covered by layers of coatings which are glue, thermo-sensitive material mixed with green dye, mica, and shining oil in sequence from its base.

The tree connected with a resistance to perform as a heat source, which make color-changing possible h is since the thermo-sensitive material is functioning, then the white portion increase as heat progressing. Finally, when power is shut off the tree is back to the original color (green).

As state above, the present invention provides a versatile method of processing color-changing materials, and has been proven that has a great industrial value.

6

Claims

A method of thermo-sensitive material coating comprising pvc using a prepared base material (such as paper, pvc, clothes, etc.), covering a layer of glue on the desired working area of the base material, followed by a layer of thermo-sensitive material mixed with dye, cleaning up the unused materials of coatings, applying a pressure to ensure the materials are evenly adhered on the working surface, and then finishing the surface with a layer of shining oil such that, the thermo-sensitive material will stick on the base material, while performing its normal function the mica powder eliminating the stickness of the surface after the use of glue and increasing the endurance of fire-proof ability and the finishing oil forming a protection film.
2. A method of applying a thermo-sensitive coating to a surface comprising the steps of: preparing the surface; applying an adhesive medium to the surface; dispersing on the adhesive medium a powdered mixture of a thermo-s--nsitive material and a dye; and applying pressure to siad powdered mixture to cause immersion of particles of the powder in the adhesive medium.
3. A method according to Claim 2 including the final step of applying a layer of shining oil to the surface to form a protective film thereon.
4. A method according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the thermo-sensitive material is of the general formula (R'C6 H20 COOR)3 P04.
1k fl is A method according to any preceding claim including the step of cleaning the surface of excess, powdered mixture after dispersal of said powdered mixture on the dye.
6. A method according to any of Claims 2 to 5 including the step of dispersing on the surface, after applying pressure to the mixture and before applying a layer of shining oil, particles of mica in powdered form.
7. A method according to Claim 6 including the step of cleaning the surface of excess particles of mica before applying a layer of shining oil to the surface.
8. A method of applying a thermo-sensitive coating to a surface generally as herein described.
9. An article including a surface having a thermo-sensitive coating generally as herein described, with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings Published 1991 at The Patent Office, Concept House. Cardiff Road, Newport, Gwent NP9 I RH- Further copies maybe obtained from Sales Branch, Unit 6, Nine Mile Point, Cwmfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport, NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray. Kent.