Method for producing a profile body

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a decorated profile body (1), comprising the steps of: providing a substrate (2); optionally providing a decorative base material (4, 5); applying a decorative enhancement (6) in the form of ink droplets (100) to the substrate (2) or the decorative base material (4, 5) using the digital printing process. According to the invention, the profile body (1) is matted physically by means of excimer technology after the application of the ink droplets (100).

Description

[0001] Process for producing a profile body

[0002] The invention relates to a method for producing a decorated profile body with a decoration, comprising the steps:

[0003] - Providing a substrate;

[0004] - optional provision of a decorative base;

[0005] - Application of a decorative finish in the form of ink droplets onto the substrate or the decorative base using the digital printing process.

[0006] In the furniture industry, conventional printing processes such as gravure printing are generally used to decorate table tops and kitchen worktops. These printing processes are also used as standard for the production of profiles for covering the narrow sides of the panels in the form of edgebands, which are usually based on polymer material. For some time now, however, non-contact processes have also been used to print on these edgebands, in particular digital printing processes for applying ink droplets to the edgeband surface. The ink droplets are generally UV-curing and are dried using UV or LED curing in the wavelength range > 200 nm. During the production of the profile body, the ink droplets can particularly contribute to the coloring of the decor and can be colored accordingly. For example, the ink droplets can have the standard colors CMYK.Alternatively, or in addition, it is also possible for the ink droplets to imprint the profile body with an embossing—for example, with an average depth of at least 10 μm—to create a depth effect on the profile body. The ink droplets can also be used to provide a lacquer layer for the profile body.

[0007] A process with the features described above is known, for example, from EP 2 247 451 B1. The digital printing process is capable of printing all areas of a surface to be imaged. The ink droplets then tend to cure with a very glossy finish. Therefore, after digital printing, a matte topcoat is usually applied conventionally with a roller to meet the gloss requirements of the profile body. If the substrate and / or the decorative base is provided with a comparatively deep embossing, it is no longer technically possible to wet the embossing base with the topcoat. In particular, as the degree of matting of the varnish increases, an undesirable two-gloss effect then arises.

[0008] The invention is based on the object of specifying a method with the features described above, which enables a simplified adjustment of the desired degree of gloss of the profile body.

[0009] According to the invention, this object is achieved by physically matting the profile body after the ink droplets have been applied using excimer technology. An excimer is a short-lived particle consisting of at least two atoms or molecules. The excimer can only form if one bonding partner is in an excited state. If this particle loses its energy, the bonding partners separate and return to their lower-energy ground state, usually emitting monochromatic light upon this return. This light can be used for the targeted irradiation of objects. This makes it possible to physically mat the ink droplets on the object's surface, which is usually accompanied by a simultaneous curing of the ink droplets and their permanent, secure fixation on the underlying layer.Physical matting is preferably performed with monochromatic light with a wavelength of p < 200 nm. A 172 nm xenon lamp, a 157 nm fluoride lamp, or a 193 nm argon fluoride lamp are preferably used as the emitter for physical matting, although this does not preclude the use of other emitters.

[0010] As already explained at the beginning, the ink droplets can contribute in particular to the coloring of the decoration during production of the profile body and can be colored accordingly, for example with the standard colors CMYK. In this case, the decorative finish expediently forms a decoration of the profile body together with the decorative base or the substrate itself. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible for the ink droplets to impart an embossing to the profile body - for example with an average depth of at least 10 pm - so that a depth effect of the profile body is created. In this case, it is of course within the scope of the invention that, for example, the decoration of the profile body is formed by the decorative base or the substrate itself, e.g. by means of conventional printing on the decorative base or substrate, and the digital application of the, for example, transparent or colorless translucent (if applicable)The ink droplets (also colored) serve to create an embossed look—e.g., alone or in combination with additional coloring by the ink droplets. Likewise, the ink droplets of the decorative finish can generally serve to provide a lacquer layer for the profile body, which, for example, protects an underlying decoration. The decoration can generally have a pattern, e.g., a wood or marble look, but alternatively, it can also be a single color.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the physical matting reduces the gloss value of the profile body according to DIN EN ISO 2813:2015-02, 60° by at least 10 gloss units, preferably by at least 20 gloss units, in particular by at least 30 gloss units, possibly by at least 50 gloss units. The aforementioned DIN standard describes, among other things, technical processes for determining the visual gloss impression. Figure 1 of the DIN standard shows gloss values ​​Y - measured in gloss units (GU) in the range from 0 to 100 - as a function of visual gloss impressions X = 1 to 13, which can be measured in different ways depending on the angle of incidence of the light source using a suitable gloss measuring device, for example the "Micro-gloss 60°" device from BYK (ALTANA) or the "Rhopoint IQ" device from Rhopoint Instruments Limited, St. Leonards-on-Sea, UK.According to Figure 1, the visual gloss impression 9 corresponds, for example, to 35 measured gloss units (GU) at a measuring angle of the measuring device (see Figure 2) of 20°, 70 GU at 60° and 95 GU at 85°. A gloss impression of 11, on the other hand, corresponds to 64 GU at 20°, 90 GU at 60° and 98 GU at 85°. The visual gloss impression X, which ranges from 1 = dull matt to 13 = high gloss, can thus be determined with technical precision in accordance with the standard using suitable gloss measuring devices. Using the method according to the invention, it is therefore preferably possible to significantly reduce the visual gloss impression of the profile body (e.g. at 60° by at least one unit, preferably by at least two units, e.g. from X = 9 to X = 6), for example to achieve a so-called noble matt appearance of the profile body.

[0012] It is particularly within the scope of the invention that, during the production of the profile body, no application of a varnish to the decorative finish is permitted. According to the invention, the excimer technique already makes it possible to adjust the gloss level of the profile body as desired without the need for a matting varnish. However, this does not preclude the application of a varnish in addition to the inventive measure. This varnish can be a transparent clear varnish or, for example, contain small amounts of a matting agent to further enhance the matting effect according to the invention.

[0013] It is further within the scope of the invention that the substrate and / or the decorative base is provided with an embossing prior to the application of the decorative finish. The average depth of the embossing is expediently at least 10 μm, preferably at least 50 μm.

[0014] A primer layer is expediently applied between the substrate and the decorative base, or between the decorative base and the decorative finish, which is preferably also physically matted. The primer layer can serve, for example, to ensure sufficient adhesion between the corresponding adjacent layers, e.g., between the substrate and the printed decorative base. The physical matting of the primer layer can, of course, also be carried out using excimer technology, e.g., in the same process step as the inventive physical matting of the decorative finish, or alternatively, in a separate upstream process step.

[0015] The substrate can be made of a polymeric material (e.g., PP, PE, PMMA, PVC, ABS copolymer, PET, etc.), which does not exclude other materials. The decorative base can be formed as a printed color layer, or alternatively as a colored polymeric layer. In the latter case, it is within the scope of the invention for the substrate and decorative base to be produced by coextrusion, as described, for example, in EP 3 365 171 B1. The substrate can, in particular, be formed as an extruded or calendered profile, preferably as an edgeband profile or wall connection profile.

[0016] The invention is explained in detail below with reference to a drawing that represents only one exemplary embodiment. The drawings schematically show:

[0017] Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a decorated profile body produced according to the invention in a scale distorted for the purpose of clarity,

[0018] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the profile body according to Fig. 1, also in a scale distorted for the purpose of clarity, Fig. 3 is the profile body shown in Figs. 1 and 2, mounted on an object,

[0019] Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the process step of physical matting according to the invention.

[0020] The exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and explained below relates to a method for producing a decorated profile body 1, comprising the steps: a) providing a substrate 2; b) applying a decorative base 4, 5; and c) applying a decorative finish 6 in the form of ink droplets 100 (see Figs. 2, 4) covering the decorative base 4, 5 at least in sections using a digital printing process, wherein in the exemplary embodiment the decorative base 4, 5 and the decorative finish 6 together form a decoration of the profile body 1. The decorative base 4, 5 contains two - for example differently colored - base layers 4, 5, which are referred to as the universal base layer 4 and the individual base layer 5. However, it is also within the scope of the invention, in particular, for the decorative base to consist of only one layer, for example the individual base layer 5.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of the decorated profile body 1 produced according to the invention, on a scale distorted for the purpose of better illustration. The decorated profile body 1 comprises a polymeric substrate 2 with a bottom side 21 and a top side 22, optionally a primer layer 3 to improve the adhesion of subsequent layers to the substrate 2, a universal base layer 4, an individual base layer 5 with depressions 51 and elevations 52, which were produced by means of an embossing process, a decorative finish 6, which preferably fills the depressions 51 of the individual base layer 5, and a clear lacquer layer 7 applied over the entire surface. The depressions 51 have an average depth t of 10 to 50 pm. In the illustrations of Figs. 1 to 3, the decorated profile body 1 is an edge band for covering the narrow sides of a furniture panel 8. The decorated profile body 1 is attached to the furniture panel 8 with the underside 21 (see

[0022] Fig. 3), which can be designed, for example, as a kitchen worktop or as a tabletop. The profile body 1 with the substrate underside 21 can be attached to the furniture panel 8 by means of a hot melt adhesive layer (not shown), or else with an adhesive-free functional hot melt layer, as described, for example, in DE 20 2007 011 911 U1. To improve the visual appearance of the decorated profile body 1, the thickness of the individual base layer 5 is inversely related to the thickness of the decorative finish 6, so that the total thickness (sum of the thicknesses) of the individual base layer 5 and the decorative finish 6 remains constant. Primer layer 3 and universal base layer 4 can also be combined to form a single layer, which assumes both functions of layers 3 and 4. In the embodiment, the substrate 2 is designed as an extruded or calendered edge band profile and has a layer thickness s of 1 to 3 mm.

[0023] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the decorated profile body 1 produced according to the invention, also on a scale distorted for the purpose of better illustration. On the upper side of the profile body 1, the decoration of the profile body 1 is visible through the clear varnish layer 7. The decoration of the profile body 1 represents, for example, a wood grain or marbling, but is not subject to any restriction and can alternatively also be, for example, single-colored. A transparent or translucent varnish is applied as the clear varnish layer 7. If the clear varnish is colored, the clear varnish layer 7 can form part of the visible decoration of the profile body 1. According to the invention, the ink droplets 100 are physically matted using excimer technology after they have been applied to the individual background layer 5. This method step is explained in more detail below with reference to Fig. 4.Due to this process step, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clear lacquer layer 7 can also be completely dispensed with, so that the decorative finish 6 forms the uppermost layer and thus (in the exemplary embodiment together with the individual base layer 5) the outer layer of the profile body 1.

[0024] Fig. 3 shows the decorated profile body 1 produced according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in a mounted state on the furniture panel 8 with a decorated surface 9. The decorated surface 9 of the furniture panel 8 has a reference decor. The decor of the profile body 1 is matched to the reference decor, or is similar or identical to the reference decor, or at least has a similar or identical motif. In the exemplary embodiment, the individual base layer 5 is colored in a color that corresponds to the base color of the decorated surface 9 and is matched to the decorative finish 6.

[0025] Fig. 4 schematically shows the inventive method step of physically matting the ink droplets 100 using excimer technology. The continuous substrate 2, with primer 3, decorative base 4, 5 and decorative finish 6 applied thereto in the form of a plurality of ink droplets 100, is transported at a transport speed v into an excimer system 200. The excimer system contains a radiator 300, for example in the form of a monochromatic 172 nm xenon radiator, with the aid of which a physical matting of the ink droplets 100 is carried out by irradiation. The gloss level of these ink droplets 100 is significantly reduced and at the same time the ink droplets 100 are permanently fixed to the decorative base 4, 5 in an abrasion-resistant manner by radiation-induced curing. Thus, in the embodiment according to Fig.4, a gloss-reducing lacquer layer 7 is omitted, and its mechanical protective effect is also not required here due to the permanently secure fixation of the ink droplets 100. Accordingly, the composite of layers 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 leaves the excimer system 200 as the finished profile body 1.

[0026] The primer layer 3 can consist of a jettable primer material applied by digital printing and can also be physically matted. Depending on the application and shape of the decorated profile body 1, this matting of the primer layer 3 can take place in the same process step as the matting of the ink droplets 100 (i.e., simultaneously as they pass through the excimer system 200) or, alternatively, in a separate upstream process step, e.g., in a second upstream excimer system (not shown).

[0027] By means of the previously described physical matting and simultaneous curing of the ink droplets 100 by the lamp 300 of the excimer system 200, the gloss value Y of the profile body 1 according to DIN EN ISO 2813:2015-02, 60°, could be reduced by more than 30 gloss units (Gil), namely from 43.1 to 4.0 Gil, in the exemplary embodiment. According to Figure 1 of the aforementioned DIN standard, at a measurement angle of 60° (middle curve in Figure 1), this corresponds to a reduction in the visual gloss impression X from slightly more than 7 to approximately 3, i.e., by more than four units. Thus, the visual gloss impression of the profile body 1 can be significantly reduced by means of the method according to the invention.In a further embodiment with a jettable primer layer 3, the gloss value Y could be reduced by over 80 GU, namely from 89.4 to 7.1 GU (measurement angle 60°), when the profile body 1 (which was still in production) passed through the excimer system 200, which, according to Figure 1 of the standard, corresponds to a reduction of the visual gloss impression X from approximately 11 to slightly more than 4, i.e. by more than six units.

Claims

Patent claims Method for producing a decorated profile body (1) comprising the steps: - Providing a substrate (2); - optional provision of a decorative base (4,5); - Applying a decorative finish (6) in the form of ink droplets (100) to the substrate (2) or the decorative base (4, 5) using a digital printing process, characterized in that the profile body (1) is physically matted after the application of the ink droplets (100) using excimer technology. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the physical matting is carried out with monochromatic light of wavelength p < 200 nm. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that a 172 nm xenon emitter, a 157 nm fluorine emitter, or a 193 nm argon fluoride emitter is used as the emitter (300) for the physical matting.A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the gloss value (Y) of the profile body (1) according to DIN EN ISO 2813:2015-02, 60° is reduced by at least 10 gloss units (Gil), preferably by at least 20 gloss units (Gil), and in particular by at least 30 gloss units (Gil) by physical matting. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the application of a lacquer to the decorative finish (6) is omitted during the production of the profile body (1). A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the substrate and / or the decorative base is embossed before the application of the decorative finish (6). A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the mean depth of the embossing is at least 10 pm, preferably at least 50 pm. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a primer layer (3) is applied to the substrate (2) or to the decorative base (4, 5), which is preferably also physically matted. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the substrate (2) is made of a polymeric material. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the substrate (2) is formed as an extruded or calendered profile, preferably as an edge banding or wall connection profile, or as a film, for example with a layer thickness of less than 0.5 mm, in particular less than 0.3 mm.

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