Compositions: ceramic – Ceramic compositions – Glass compositions – compositions containing glass other than...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2002-08-13
Michl, Paul R. (Department: 1714)
Compositions: ceramic
Ceramic compositions
Glass compositions, compositions containing glass other than...
C501S005000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06432852
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of coatings. More particularly, the invention relates to coated glass work, compositions for coating substrates and multilayer coatings.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In the past, finely ground colored glass powders were used for printing images on the surface of glass. To prepare a printing composition, the finely ground colored glass powders are mixed with a liquid phase base and coated on the surface of the glass. The coated glass article can then be fired.
An example of the foregoing is enamel work. Typically, enamel work uses a coating composition that includes the finely ground colored glass powders and an oil (e.g., pine oil) as a liquid phase base.
A problem with this existing technology is that it does not allow firing more than one coating layer at a time. Cofiring a multi-layer coated substrate results in breakage because of the oil base in the enamel composition. Therefore, what is required is a solution that permits cofiring a multi-layered glass coating.
One unsatisfactory approach, in an attempt to solve the multi-layer coating problem is to omit the oil base. However, when the oil base is omitted, the glass powders do not mix and flow well. Glass technicians have been extremely frustrated when the images put onto the glass before firing would disappear when the glass was fired. Therefore, what is also required is a solution that permits omitting, or replacing, the oil base.
Heretofore, the requirements of cofiring a multi-layered glass coating and omitting the oil base referred to above have not been fully met. What is needed is a solution that simultaneously addresses both of these requirements. The invention is directed to meeting these requirements, among others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A goal of the invention is to simultaneously satisfy the above-discussed requirements of cofiring a multi-layered glass coating and omitting the oil base which, in the case of the prior art, are mutually contradicting and are not simultaneously satisfied.
One embodiment of the invention is based on an apparatus, comprising: a glass substrate; and a composition coupled to the glass substrate, wherein the composition, as initially coupled to the glass substrate, includes glass powder, water and methyl cellulose. Another embodiment of the invention is based on a composition, comprising: glass powder; and more than 2 weight percent methyl cellulose based on the total weight of the composition. Another embodiment of the invention is based on an apparatus comprising: a substrate; and a composition coupled to the substrate, the composition defining a multilayer coating coupled to the substrate, wherein each of a plurality of sublayers that compose the multilayer coating include, when initially coupled to the substrate, glass powder, water and methyl cellulose.
These, and other, goals and embodiments of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention with out departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the nonlimiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description of preferred embodiments. Descriptions of well known components and processing techniques are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention in detail.
The below-referenced U.S. Patents disclose embodiments that were satisfactory for the purposes for which they were intended. The entire contents of U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,469,825; 2,225,659; 2,281,909; 2,316,745; 2,321,656; 2,379,507; 2,610,127; 3,356,515; 5,443,669; 5,496,619; 5,632,942; 5,707,907; and 5,783,506 are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application as if fully set forth herein.
A context of the invention includes coating and firing glass work. This context of the invention includes multi-layered printed and fired glass work. In addition to art objects, this context of the invention can also include functional objects and architectural glass.
Another context of the invention includes coating and firing metals and/or ceramics. This context of the invention also includes multi-layer coatings. As above, in addition to art objects, this context of the invention can include functional objects and architectural details.
The invention can include an unfired composition that contains glass powder, water and methyl cellulose. Prefer ably, the composition includes more than 2 weight percent methyl cellulose based on the total weight of the unfired composition. The methyl cellulose does not leave any residue and stays clear.
The water and methyl cellulose are mixed together to form a paste. The methyl cellulose powder should be added into warm water and mixed well. In either event, it is preferable to use distilled water. The methyl cellulose is preferably provided as a powder. The thickness of the paste can be adjusted by controlling the amount of water. A standard thickness water-cellulose mixture can be made with a 4 cc methyl cellulose in a one pound (1 pint) water jar.
In any event, the colored glass powder(s) can be added to the water-methyl cellulose mixture. The resulting composition includes at least one type of glass powder, water and methyl cellulose. The composition can include more than one type of glass powder. A standard composition (e.g., standard printing ink) can be made with approximately 20% water-cellulose paste and approximately 80% colored glass powder.
The relative amounts of water and methyl cellulose in the water-cellulose paste mixture should be from approximately 20 to approximately 24 parts of water; and from approximately 1 to approximately 5 parts of methyl cellulose. Thus, the methyl cellulose can be provided in an amount of from approximately 4.166 to approximately 25.0 weight percent based on the weight of the water-cellulose paste mixture. Of course, the amount of methyl cellulose can be more or less. Consequently, based on a composition containing 20% paste and 80% glass powder, the methyl cellulose can be provided in an amount of from approximately 0.833 to approximately 5.0 weight percent based on the total weight of the unfired composition. Preferred embodiments of the composition include at least approximately 2 (or 3, 4, 5) weight percent methyl cellulose based on the total weight of the unfired composition.
The composition can also include alcohol as an optional addition. If a colored glass powder does not combine well with the water-cellulose mixture, alcohol can be added to the composition to improve dispersion.
The composition can also include mica powder as an optional addition. Mica can be added when the consistency of glass powdered ink is too runny (i.e., viscosity is too low). Mica will add a shiny surface to the finished product.
The composition can also include one or more floculants to assist in the dispersion of the glass powder(s). Such floculants are readily commercially available. The composition can also include one or more of: dextrin; gum arabic; gum tragacanth; gum karaya; hide glue; glar; casein; silicate; and polyvinyl acetate emulsions.
The particular materials used for the paste and/or composition should be readily available. For the studio operation, it is an advantage to employ materials that do not vary substantially from batch to batch as they are shipped from the manufacturer.
However, the particular materials selected for the paste mixture and/or the composition are not essential to the invention, as long as they provide the described func
Hall Priddy Myers & Vande Sande
Michl Paul R.
LandOfFree
Coated glass work and methods does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Coated glass work and methods, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Coated glass work and methods will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2903987