US2069470A - Process of finishing surfaces in simulation of napped cloth - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Guido Ariotti, Stamford, Conn.,

assignor to Atlas Powder Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware I No Drawing. Application June 1,

Serial No. 673,929

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a new method of finishing, wherein metal, wood or composition surfaces are coated in such manner that they appear to be covered with a finely napped cloth.

5 My invention is particularly adapted to the finishing of small or irregular objects which can be covered with cloth only with great difficulty and at a relatively high cost. My process is equally well adapted for finishing large surfaces such as burial caskets, the interior of automobile bodies and even the walls of a room. Other articles which have been successfully finished according to my process are cast iron toys, vanity cases, clock cases, lip stick holders, handbag frames and radio cabinets. My process is particularly adapted for finishing relatively rough surfaces such as castings and the like as I can obtain a smooth finish of excellent appearance without the necessity of first filling and sanding, which operations are frequently necessary when enamel, paint or lacquer are employed as the finishing mediums.

In carrying out my process I first-apply to the surface a coating of adhesive of a nature hereinafter set forth. While the surface is still wet or tacky I apply cotton rayon, silk, mohair, or other suitable flock. The flock may be applied by first sprinkling a quantity on the wet surface and then shaking or vibrating the coated article in such manner as to thoroughly embed the flock in the wet surface of the lacquer or other finishing material used. However, the preferred method of applying the flock is by blowing it on by means of compressed air by use of a specially constructed spray gun. When this method is employed there is no necessity. of vibrating the coated object to embed the flock as the velocity of the compressed air may be so regulated that the flock impinges on the wet surface withsufiicient force to become thoroughly embedded therein.

The cotton rayon, silk or mohair flock may be previously dyed to any desired color. After the coating has become thoroughly dry or set the excess flock may be readily removed by brushing or may be blown off by means of compressed air. The finished surface will now have the general appearance of having been covered with felt, duveteen or similar fabrics.

Under some conditions it is advantageous to use an adhesive, or other base coat, which has been pigmented to approximately match the color of the flock. This is particularly desirable where the original color of the article differs considerably from that of the flock to be applied. When transparent varnishes or lacquers are used the original color of the article may show through to such an extent as to throw the flock'off shade so that the desired color is not obtained. The necessary pigment may be incorporated into the adhesive material by any of the well known methods.

The adhesive material may be applied by brushing, dipping or spraying. The spraying method is preferred, due to the fact that a large object can be quickly coated and the flock deposited thereon before any portion of the surface may have become sufficiently dry to prevent the flock from adhering.

Where it is desired to apply my finish to large surfaces, such as burial caskets, interior of automobile bodies and the like, it is necessary to use a slow drying finish adhesive such as a synthetic resin solution. By using a slower drying finish than lacquer it is possible to coat the entire surfaceand then apply the flock and avoid the possibility that part of the surface may have become so dry that the flock will not adhere. I find synthetic resin solutions particularly satisfactory as they dry sufficiently slowly to allow time for the flocking operation yet do not dry so slowly that production is held up. Synthetic products of the character indicated will air dry sufficiently to allow packing and shipping within two to six hours whereas paint, varnish and similar materials will require eight to twenty-four hours. Synthetic resin finish may also be baked at temperatures around 200-250" F. and thoroughly dried in A,; to 1 hours. The formula of a satisfactory pigmented synthetic resin solution is shown below:

Percent Polyhydric alcohol-polybasic acid resin 30 Pigment 18 Cobalt naphthenate .1 Mineral spirits 11.9 Turpentine 20.0 Xylol 20.0

A typical formula for the polyhydric alcoholpolybasic resin described above would be as follows:

Percent Glycerol 23 Phthalic anhydride 46 Linseed oil fatty acids L i 31 It will be evident from these examples that practically any type of finishing material can be used as long as its drying time may be regulated to allow the application of the flock to the surface while it is still sufficiently wet and tacky to secure proper adhesion. It is also desirable that the finishing material have sufficient adhesion to the surface to which it is applied in order that the entire finish be sufiiciently bonded" or adherent.

The process herein described lends itself to the ornamentation of the surfaces of-articles of various kinds in a highly economical but extremely pleasing fashion. For example, ordinary metal buttons may be made to have every appearance of a cloth button. Toy metal furniture may be made to have the appearance of an upholstered piece of furniture. Vanity cases, pocket books, and other articles too numerous to mention may be finished in all sorts of pleasing designs by coatin: one part of the article with a fiock of one color, and then through the medium of a stencil applying a flock of a different color to produce designs of many sorts. The extent of application of this method is almost limitless, and it ofi'ers marked economies in many fields of manufacture.

I do not limit myself to any particular type of adhesive finishing material so long as it is of a nature to dry much faster than ordinary paints and varnishes to permit thereby of packing and shipping in much less time than wouldbe possible where paints and varnishes are used, while at the same time dryingslow enough to permit the coating of relatively large surfaces before any part of .the surface has become so dry that the flock will not adhere.

The herein described method of finishing large surfaces such as burial caskets, interior of automobile'bodies and the like, which consists of applying thereto a coating of a viscous material consisting of the following ingredients:

. Percent Polyhydric alcohol-polybasic acid resin 30.0 Pigment 18.0 Cobalt naphthenate' .1 Mineral spirits 11.9 Turpentine 20.0 Xylol 20.0

Having described my invention, what I claim