Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Delaminating processes adapted for specified product – Delaminating in preparation for post processing recycling step
Patent
1993-05-24
1994-03-29
Powell, William A.
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Delaminating processes adapted for specified product
Delaminating in preparation for post processing recycling step
156654, 156905, B44C 122
Patent
active
052981169
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a process for producing a matted embossing surface for an embossing tool with which the surface of press-formed laminates or the like is made by means of mat chromium plating or by means of sandblasting and subsequent mat chromium plating.
Today, furniture surfaces are made on a large scale with melamine resin coated components. Such surfaces, whether on laminated wooden boards or high-pressure laminated panels, are made in hydraulic presses by applying heat and pressure, using special tools, so-called press plates, which are pressed against the material between them and thereby generate the desired surfaces. The surface configuration of the material being pressed is formed during the pressing step so that the finished surface is a true mirror image of the press plate surface.
Surface laminated wooden boards and laminated panels are demanded in many surface configurations. They include patterned, embossed and smooth surfaces, with gloss grades varying from matte to high-gloss. To produce them, appropriate embossing tools or embossing plates must be made available.
Aesthetically and texturally or haptically satisfactory results are attained when producing smooth surfaces having medium- to high-gloss finishes. However, surfaces pressed with matted press plates have an artificial and cold appearance, and they also feel cold when touched. In the production of press plates having a smooth matted surface, a flat, smooth press plate is first ground and polished, is then matted by means of sandblasting or electrolytic mat chromium plating, and is subsequently hard chrome plated. Besides the unsatisfactory aesthetic and textural characteristics of the surface finish obtained in this manner, matted press plates of this type have the disadvantage that the embossing surface is very sensitive to scratches, and fingerprints cannot readily be removed and remain clearly visible on the finished panels produced in this manner.
The present invention proceeds from the assumption that it is known from German DE-AS 27 06 947 or German Patent Specification 31 20 351, for example, to use embossing rolls and an etching process to generate surface structures on the press plates. With the etching process, single or multiple layered surface structures can be formed by applying the etching material onto the press plate with a patterned engraving roll and etching after each application. As a rule, the surface is subsequently polished and matted by sandblasting. The structured pattern can be freely chosen and includes, for example, fine structures, ribbings, naps, or wood grain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In contrast, the present invention provides a process for the production of a substantially improved matted press surface for such an embossing tool, so that panels having a dull finish manufactured therewith are texturally and aesthetically satisfactory, do not appear artificial and cold, and are insensitive to fingerprints.
This problem is solved according to the invention by giving the embossing surface a fine, non-directional 10 .mu.m to 25 .mu.m deep base or sub-structure and subsequently matting it in such a way that the gloss grade measured on the Lange reflectometer at 60.degree. is 6 to 16 points.
Surprisingly, furniture surfaces can be produced with an embossing surface made in this manner which, despite optically and texturally creating the impression of smooth surfaces, have the desired characteristics. These include that they no longer appear so artificial, they give a warmer impression, they are relatively insensitive to fingerprints, and, indeed, they feel warmer when touched due to air in the indentations of the structure, which has an insulating effect on the surface of the skin.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The depth of the sub-structure and the matting are selected and coordinated with one another so that the substructure is no longer recognizable as such after matting. A shallower depth is inappropriate for the sub-structure because it would lead
REFERENCES:
patent: 4213819 (1980-11-01), Werthmann
patent: 4321105 (1982-03-01), Melanio et al.
patent: 4557778 (1985-12-01), Held
patent: 4582566 (1986-04-01), Grey et al.
patent: 4787837 (1988-11-01), Bell
Posselt Manfred
Werthmann Wilfried
Powell William A.
Standex International Engraving GmbH
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