Process for forming an image on ceramic substrates

Radiation imagery chemistry: process – composition – or product th – Electric or magnetic imagery – e.g. – xerography,... – To produce color reproduction

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Details

430110, 430115, 430126, 430137, G03G 1301, G03G 909, G03G 1322

Patent

active

059725486

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrostatic process for coating ceramic substrates with ceramic coatings. It also relates to a method of preparing toner containing ceramic pigments. The invention specifically relates to a versatile and efficient method to achieve ceramic images or designs on ceramic substrates and surfaces.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ceramic materials have wide use in applications where it is desirable to coat them with decorative or functional colored or multi-colored designs and images that also possess the usual ceramic properties, such as chemical and mechanical stability.
Present conventional processes for coating ceramic surfaces with decorative or functional designs and images comprise forming an image using lithographic inks containing ceramic pigments on an intermediate structure, namely a starch coated paper, transfer of the printed images to a ceramic blank and firing of the image to melt the pigments and vaporize any organics left in the image. However, such processes are not suitable for short run ceramic printing or for printing ceramic tiles or other products in serial fashion.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of certain aspects of the present invention to produce high quality color images and designs on ceramic substrates. The present application discloses a novel charged toner pigmented with ceramic pigments, methods of manufacturing the toner and processes for forming images on ceramic substrates.
There is therefore provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a toner suitable for forming images on a ceramic substrate comprising:
There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, a process for forming high quality colored or multi-colored ceramic images or designs on ceramic surfaces comprising: incorporating a ceramic pigment and a carrier liquid, on an imaging surface; temperature at which the ceramic pigment sinters and fuses to the ceramic substrate surface.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, transferring the image to the ceramic surface comprises: substrate.
Preferably, transferring the image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate comprises: sheet; and
In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, transferring the image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate comprises: sheet; and the ceramic substrate and the transfer sheet together to cause said sintering and fusing and also volatilization of the sheet.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the forming of the liquid toner image and its transfer to the intermediate transfer member are repeated sequentially for a plurality of pigment colors and a composite color image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate.
There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a process for preparing ceramic pigmented toner inks comprising: stirring the mixture;
There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a method for producing toner suitable for forming images on a ceramic substrate comprising: elevated temperature; size suitable for wet grinding; material; extending therefrom.
The polymer toner may be an ionomer, preferably a low molecular weight ionomer, a ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer such as Nucrel 599 (duPont) or other polymer which volatilizes cleanly at or below the sintering temperature of the ceramic pigment.


DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Fired ceramic images in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention are achieved by forming colored or multi-colored images or designs, preferably electrostatically, using charged toner inks containing ceramic pigments, and transferring the thus formed image to the surface of a ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate, having the ink image thereon is heated to an elevated temperature, usually in the range of 700.degree. C.-1800.degree. C., to cause sintering of the respecti

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