Directly Decoratable Composite Material With Print-Ready Textile Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing composite materials require expensive and time-consuming surface preparation processes like grinding and multiple primer layers for printing or lacquering, which complicates their finishing and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A composite material comprising a carrier with a textile surface structure laminated on both sides, featuring a finally hardened B-stage binder, allowing for direct printing or lacquering without pre-working, and optionally including functional materials for enhanced properties like electrical conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional composite materials are used for finishing steps like printing or lacquering, then the surfaces require expensive and time-consuming pre-working (grinding, primer coating), but the invention enables direct printing without such preparatory measures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of finishingVSAvoidtime for pre-working
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The textile surface structure is prepared in advance with a B-stage binder that creates an optimally smooth surface during the composite material manufacturing process itself. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent grinding and primer coating operations, allowing direct printing or lacquering immediately after composite material production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple preparatory measures (grinding, primer coating) are applied to achieve suitable surface quality, then the surface can be printed or lacquered, but the process becomes expensive and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface qualityVSAvoidcomplexity of finishing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the surface preparation function into the composite material manufacturing process itself. The textile surface structure with B-stage binder serves dual purposes: it provides structural reinforcement and simultaneously creates the required smooth printing surface, eliminating the need for separate grinding and primer coating operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The B-stage binder undergoes a controlled transformation from a partially cured state during manufacturing to a fully hardened state that provides the desired surface smoothness. This parameter change in the binder's curing degree creates the optimal surface quality directly during composite material production, eliminating multiple preparatory steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If abrasive measures are used to smooth surfaces for printing, then the surface quality improves, but additional processing steps and costs are incurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface smoothnessVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The textile surface structure is prepared in advance with a B-stage binder that creates an optimally smooth surface during the composite material manufacturing process itself. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent grinding and primer coating operations, allowing direct printing or lacquering immediately after composite material production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composite material achieves a high surface quality, reducing thickness variation and eliminating the need for abrasive measures and primer layers, simplifying the printing/lacquering process and reducing material expenses while maintaining mechanical stability and decorative appeal.

Implementation Method 1

which textile surface structure having at least one finally hardened B-stage binder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP2112973A2Directly decoratable composite materials, method for their manufacture and their use
Publication Date: 2009.11.04 JOHNSMANVILLE EUROPE GMBH

AI summary

A composite material comprising: a) a carrier, b) at least one textile surface structure laminated on at least one of the two sides of the carrier, which textile surface structure having at least one finally hardened B-stage binder an can be optionally provided with at least one functional material, characterized in that the side (s) of the composite material equipped with the textile surface structure have a surface quality such that the latter can be directly printed or lacquered. These composite materials suitable in particular as materials in interior finishing, for linings, constructions and for the manufacture of furniture and similar products.