JP3169568B2 - Thermoformed article with partial metallic luster - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermoformed article having a metallic luster which can be suitably used, for example, as a display or a signboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Display and signboards have poor design and poor impression and gazing by simply printing on a flat plate. Therefore, thermoforming such as vacuum forming is performed on a printed resin sheet. It has been conventionally performed to give a three-dimensional shape.

On the other hand, for example, a display for a game machine is required to have a three-dimensional shape and partially apply a metallic design to the display in order to further improve the design. I have.

[0004]

However, in order to partially impart a metallic tone to the display, printing is performed using a printing ink containing a metal such as aluminum paste or bronze powder, and thermoforming is performed to perform three-dimensional printing. When formed into a shape, as shown in FIG.
The protruding part (10
0) There is a problem in that the shape becomes uneven and irregularities are formed on the surface, resulting in poor appearance.

The protrusion in the shape of the convex portion (100) has a large heat reflection and thermal conductivity because the metallic glossy printed portion contains metal, and therefore, during thermoforming,
This is because the temperature of the metallic gloss print portion is relatively lower than that of the other print portions, and a difference in elongation occurs in the thermoformed body.

[0006] Since the cause of the poor appearance is the inherent property of a metal such as high heat reflection and thermal conductivity, a thermoformed article having a partially metallic luster and a three-dimensional shape is provided. It was not possible at the moment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical background, and provides a thermoformed article which has a partially sufficient metallic luster, has no unevenness on the surface, and is excellent in surface quality. The purpose is to:

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present inventors have conducted intensive studies and found that as a means for imparting a metallic tone, flaky or scaly inorganic compound particles are replaced with titanium oxide instead of metal. By using a pigment coated with
It has been found that a metallic gloss can be obtained, and that the outer surface of the molded article on the metallic gloss printed portion does not protrude in a convex shape and is excellent in flatness.

That is, the thermoformed article of the present invention having a partially metallic luster is a thermoformed article obtained by thermoforming a transparent thermoplastic resin sheet having a printed layer formed on one side.
A part of the printing layer is laminated on one surface of the resin sheet, an inner printing layer made of a composition containing a pigment in which flaky or flaky inorganic compound particles are coated with titanium oxide, and the inner printing layer And an outer printing layer having a total light transmittance of 15% or less, which is laminated on the surface.

As the pigment constituting the metallic gloss print portion, a pigment in which flaky or flaky inorganic compound particles are coated with titanium oxide is used. Therefore, the metallic gloss print portion and the other print portions during thermoforming are used. , And the elongation of the thermoformed body is equivalent, so that the surface of the formed body is formed flat without irregularities.

Further, since a pigment in which flaky or scaly inorganic compound particles are coated with titanium oxide is used,
A metal pigment was used because the inner printing layer was provided with a gloss close to a metal tone, and on the inner printing layer, an outer printing layer having a high concealing property with a total light transmittance of 15% or less was laminated. A metallic luster close to or equal to the case is provided.

[0012]

1 and 2 show one embodiment of a thermoformed article (1) having a partially metallic luster according to the present invention. This thermoformed article (1) is formed in a shallow box shape by thermoforming a transparent thermoplastic resin (5) sheet having a printed layer (2) formed on one side. Since the resin (5) is transparent, a pattern having a metallic luster partially shown in FIG. 1 is observed through the resin (5) from the opposite side of the print layer (2), that is, from the field of view. It is possible to achieve excellent properties.

In the present invention, the thermoplastic resin (5) constituting the transparent thermoplastic resin sheet is not particularly limited, but may be an acrylic resin, a polyvinyl chloride resin, a polycarbonate resin, an amorphous polyester resin,
Polyester resin, olefin resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin, styrene resin,
Examples include polyamide resin, polysulfone resin, polyethersulfone resin, polyetherimide resin, polyetherketone resin, polyetheretherketone resin, and the like. Among them, it is preferable to use an amorphous polyester resin because of its excellent thermoformability and impact resistance and low price.

The thermoplastic resin (5) has an impact modifier, a stabilizer, a lubricant, a plasticizer, a filler, an antistatic agent, an ultraviolet ray, for the purpose of improving various properties of the thermoformed article. Various additives such as an absorbent and an antioxidant can be appropriately compounded.

In the present invention, a part of the printing layer (2) is formed by adding titanium oxide to flaky or scaly inorganic compound particles laminated on one surface of the resin sheet to form a metallic glossy printed portion. An inner printing layer (3) made of a composition containing the coated pigment, and an outer printing layer (4) laminated on the surface of the inner printing layer (3) and having a total light transmittance of 15% or less. It must be.

The composition for forming the inner printing layer (3) needs to contain a pigment in which flaky or flaky inorganic compound particles are coated with titanium oxide.
It can give a gloss close to a metallic tone.
For example, when the shape of the inorganic compound particles is spherical, cubic, or acicular, gloss close to a metallic tone cannot be imparted. The thickness of the inner printing layer (3) is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 to 15 μm, more preferably 1 to 5 μm. The film thickness can be set by appropriately adjusting the concentration of the pigment in the composition and the printing amount of the composition.

The inorganic compound particles are not particularly limited as long as they have a flaky or scaly shape.
Among these, it is preferable to use layered clay mineral particles such as mica, talc, and kaolinite, from the viewpoint that a gloss closer to the metallic gloss of the actual metal material can be imparted,
Among them, mica is more preferably used.

The size of the inorganic compound particles is preferably 5 to 200 μm, more preferably 10 to 200 μm.
More preferably, it is 100 μm.

The inorganic compound particles have an aspect ratio of 5
To 300, and an aspect ratio of 1
More preferably, it is 0 to 200. If the aspect ratio is less than 5, the appearance of the metallic luster deteriorates, while if the aspect ratio exceeds 300, the price of the inorganic compound particles increases and the cost increases, which is not preferable. The aspect ratio is a ratio between the major axis (L) and the thickness (T) of the particle, and is a value represented by L / T.

On the other hand, the coating amount of titanium oxide is preferably from 5 to 60% by weight, more preferably from 15 to 40% by weight, based on the inorganic compound particles. If it is less than 5% by weight or more than 60% by weight, the appearance of metallic luster is undesirably reduced.

The outer print layer (4) laminated on the surface of the inner print layer (3) must have a total light transmittance of 15% or less. Although the inner printing layer (3) having the above-described configuration can provide a metallic glossiness, the concealing property of the inner printing layer (3) is not sufficient, so that the inner printing layer (3) cannot provide a sufficient metallic gloss. Absent. Therefore, by laminating a printing layer having an excellent concealing property with the total light transmittance set to 15% or less on the surface of the inner printing layer (3), sufficient metallic luster, that is, close to the case where a metallic pigment is used. Alternatively, it is possible to give the same metallic luster.

The total light transmittance of the outer printing layer (4) is 15%.
When the value exceeds, the amount of light transmitted through the entire metallic gloss print portion (the inner print layer + the outer print layer) increases, so that sufficient metallic gloss cannot be exhibited. In particular, in internally illuminated signboards and displays, the expression is significantly reduced. Above all, the total light transmittance of the outer printing layer (4) is preferably set to 10% or less, more preferably 5% or less.

As the ink composition for forming the printing layer (2), it is necessary that the printing layer (2) follow the elongation of the transparent thermoplastic resin (5) sheet during thermoforming. Any type can be used as long as it is an evaporative drying type using a. The thermoplastic resin constituting the composition is not particularly limited, but an acrylic resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a vinyl acetate resin, a polyester resin, or the like is preferably used.

The composition for forming the inner printing layer (3) includes, in addition to the pigment in which flaky or scaly inorganic compound particles are coated with titanium oxide, other pigments as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired. Can also be used in combination. The inner printing layer (3) may have a single-layer structure or a multilayer structure.

Further, the composition for forming the outer printing layer (4) contains, in addition to the metal pigment, a total light transmittance of 15%.
Any colorant may be blended as long as the following can be achieved. Further, the outer printing layer (4) may have a single-layer structure or a multilayer structure. The multi-layer configuration is not limited to the same color, but may be a multi-layer multi-color configuration.

In the present invention, the thermoformed article (1) is obtained by thermoforming a transparent thermoplastic resin (5) sheet having the printed layer (2) having the above-mentioned structure formed on one surface. The method is not particularly limited, and a known thermoforming method such as vacuum molding, compressed air pressure molding, blow molding, and press molding can be employed, but it is particularly preferable to use vacuum molding.

The pattern provided by the printing layer (2) is not limited to the above embodiment, but may be any of various figures, symbols, patterns, kanji, kana characters, numbers, alphabets, etc. It is assumed that all patterns, such as characters, written on a display or a signboard are included. Similarly, the colors of the symbols are not limited, and various types can be set.

[0028]

Next, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described. The following inks were used for screen printing.

Silver ink A: "STR703" manufactured by Seiko Advance Co., Ltd. (acrylic ink containing pigment (36) in which flaky mica is coated with titanium oxide) Silver ink B: titanium oxide on flaky talc Acrylic ink containing pigment coated with silver Silver ink C: "STR606Z" manufactured by Seiko Advance Co., Ltd. (acrylic ink containing aluminum paste (105)) Gray ink: Acrylic ink "STR610 manufactured by Seiko Advance Co., Ltd." Blue ink: Acrylic ink “STR440” manufactured by Seiko Advance Co., Ltd. Red ink: Acrylic ink “STR510” manufactured by Seiko Advance Co., Ltd. White ink: Acrylic ink “STR120” manufactured by Seiko Advance Co., Ltd.

<Example 1> A transparent amorphous polyester resin plate (Sunroid Pet Ace manufactured by Tsutsunaka Plastics Industry Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 5 mm was silver-colored with silver ink A by screen printing on the center of one surface. After forming the printing layer (37), a gray printing layer (34) is laminated thereon with gray ink, and on both sides thereof a blue printing layer (31) with blue ink and a red printing layer with red ink, respectively. (32) was formed, and a white print layer (33) was further laminated on the entire surface of one side with white ink to obtain a pattern shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a shallow box-shaped thermoformed body (1) for a display having a peripheral frame portion formed on the printing surface side was obtained by vacuum forming. In addition,
The total light transmittance of the outer printing layer (4) composed of the gray printing layer (34) and the white printing layer (33) was 0.1%.

<Example 2> A thermoformed product was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that silver ink B was used instead of silver ink A.

Example 3 A thermoformed product was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the thickness of the gray print layer was set small and an outer print layer having a total light transmittance of 11% was formed. .

<Comparative Example 1> Example 1 was repeated except that the printing of the central portion of the resin plate before white printing was performed over the entire surface was only silver printing (37e) using silver ink C.
A thermoformed article (101) was obtained in the same manner as described above (FIG. 3 (a)).

<Comparative Example 2> The same procedure as in Example 1 was carried out except that the printing of the central portion of the resin plate before white printing was performed over the entire surface was performed only by silver printing (37) using silver ink A. Thus, a thermoformed body (102) was obtained (FIG. 3B).

[0035]

[Table 1]

<Evaluation Method> Each thermoformed body produced as described above was evaluated according to the following evaluation method. Table 1 shows the results.

A. Surface flatness evaluation Measure the difference in thickness between the maximum thickness part and the minimum thickness part of the molded body,
The determination was made based on the following criteria.

(Judgment Criteria) Thickness difference is less than 0.05 mm ... "" Thickness difference is 0.05 mm or more and less than 0.1 mm ... "○" Thickness difference is 0.1 mm or more and less than 0.5 mm … "△" The difference in thickness is 0.5mm or more ... "×"

B. Evaluation of Metallic Gloss The molded product was evaluated for metallic gloss based on the following criteria.

(Judgment criteria) Excellent metallic luster equivalent to the case of using a metal pigment is obtained .... "◎" Sufficient metallic luster close to the case of using a metal pigment is obtained. Can be obtained but not enough ... "△" Metallic luster cannot be obtained ... "x"

<Evaluation Results> As is evident from Table 1, the thermoformed articles of Examples 1 to 3 of the present invention have excellent metallic luster and have no surface irregularities and excellent surface quality. is there.

On the other hand, the thermoformed article of Comparative Example 1, which deviates from the scope of the present invention, is excellent in metallic luster, but has remarkable unevenness on the surface and is inferior in surface quality. Further, the thermoformed article of Comparative Example 2 in which the total light transmittance of the outer printing layer is out of the range of the present invention has good surface quality but insufficient metal gloss.

[0043]

As described above, the thermoformed article having a partially metallic luster of the present invention is not a metal having high heat reflection and thermal conductivity, but a flake or pigment, as a pigment constituting a metallic gloss printed portion. Since the pigment coated with titanium oxide on the flaky inorganic compound particles is used, there is no temperature difference between the metallic gloss printed part and other printed parts during thermoforming, and the elongation of the thermoformed body is equivalent, Unevenness does not occur on the surface of the molded body, and excellent surface quality can be ensured.

Further, since a pigment in which flaky or flaky inorganic compound particles are coated with titanium oxide is used, it is possible to impart a metallic-like gloss to the inner printing layer, and to apply In addition, since an outer printing layer having a high concealing property with a total light transmittance of 15% or less is laminated, excellent metallic luster close to or equivalent to the case where a metal pigment is used can be obtained.

In the above, when the inorganic compound is a layered clay mineral, a glossiness closer to the metallic luster of an actual metallic material can be imparted.

The inorganic compound particles have an aspect ratio of 5
In the case where the molecular weight is from 300 to 300, even more excellent metallic luster can be provided at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a thermoformed product according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a thermoformed body according to a comparative example, and FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the thermoformed body of Comparative Example 1, and FIG.
2 shows cross-sectional views of the thermoformed body of Comparative Example 2, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Thermoformed body 2 ... Printing layer 3 ... Inner printing layer 4 ... Outer printing layer 5 ... Resin

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A thermoformed article obtained by thermoforming a transparent thermoplastic resin sheet having a printed layer formed on one side thereof, wherein a part of the printed layer is laminated on one side of the resin sheet, An inner printing layer made of a composition containing a pigment in which flaky inorganic compound particles are coated with titanium oxide, and a total light transmittance of 15 laminated on the surface of the inner printing layer.
% Or less of the outer printing layer. 2. The thermoformed product having a partial metallic luster according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic compound is a layered clay mineral. 3. The thermoformed article according to claim 2, wherein the layered clay mineral is mica. 4. The thermoformed product having a partial metallic luster according to claim 1, wherein the particles have an aspect ratio of 5 to 300.