Decorating decals

Main fields of application automotive parts, flooring, decorative decals, tank hners, refrigerator gaskets, footwear, adhesives, sealants, coatings, cables, wires, lacquers, print rolls, hose, seals, belts, o-rings, vinyl tapes, electrical insulation, upholstery ... 

Appliques or surface coverings can be applied using heat or pressure by different methods, e.g., hot stamping, decals, hot transfer, water transfer, in-mould decorating. Decals are decorations or labels printed on carriers such as paper or plastic with a pressure-sensitive adhesives. 

Injection-molded articles can be decorated by in-mold labeling or by post-mold decoration. In the former method, printed film is inserted into the mold cavity before injection. The plastic forms an intimate contact with the graphic material. Post-mold decoration includes hot stamping, dry offset printing, and decal printing. 

Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) based on acrylic, natural rubber and silicone are employed primarily for ease of application. To name Just a few applications, PSAs bond decals to surfaces, interior decorative surfaces to interior panels, interior trim pieces in place directly or hook and loop tape for the same purpose, structural shims in place during manufacturing and acoustic (sound deadening) materials to body skin interior surfaces. Tape products with pressure-sensitive adhesive on one or both surfaces are used for such functions as cargo compartment sealing, as a fluid barrier to prevent spills and leaks in the lavatories and... 

Decorating. The decoration of enamels is primarily done by silk screening. Other methods include indirect printing such as use of decals (decalcomania), and indirect lithographic, thermoplastic, and total transfer printing. Photographic printing is also done as a specialty. 

There are numerous miscellaneous decorating methods, includii pressure-sensitive labels, decals, and flocking. Pressure-sensitive labels are easy to use and apply. The designs or printing is generally printed on an adhesive-backed foil or film, a pressm e-sensitive adhesive is applied, and a release material covers the adhesive. To apply, the user must simply remove the release material and press the label to the part. Of course, the part must be clean and free of any weak boundary layers so that adequate adhesion may develop. The stripping off of the release layer and application of the label can be accomplished either hy hand or hy automatic mechanical means. 

Decals are also a means of transferring a design or printed message to a plastic part. With decals the decoration is placed on a decorative adhesive-backed film and then on a paper backing. The adhesive is such that it activates when in contact with water. To apply, the decal is moistened in water and the film is placed on the plastic surface. The process is not widely used because of the difficulty in accurately placing the decal in a specific location on the surface. 

Acrylic resin formulations have been used for outdoor, weather-resistant adhesives. Pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesives are common on decals, bumper stickers, decorative plates, etc. Two-part thermosetting acrylic formulations have been developed and packaged for encapsulating, potting, and structural adhesives. Thermosetting acrylics cure by free radical-initiated addition polymerization. These materials can be cured at room temperature with benzoyl peroxide and an amine promoter (dimethyl aniline). 

Fuson, Decorative heat transfer decals, Meyercord Fusor, Epoxy structural adhesives. Lord Corp., Chemical Products Div. 

Sculptured nails are custom-made by the manicurist on a template attached to the natural nail plate. The nail plate is sanded a template is fit beneath the distal end of the nail and surrounds the other sides of the nail. The nail is coated with a primer that contains methacrylic acid. The liquid monomer and powdered polymer are mixed and painted on the nail and template extension. The sculptured nail is sanded to the desired form. Jewels, decals, and decorative metal strips can be added. As the nails grow out, the manicurist must fill with the same chemicals at the base above the cuticle every 2-3 weeks. The components and examples of the chemicals included are (Quenon 1989 Freeman et al. 1995) ... 

Lithography (UK) Decalcomania (USA). A method used for the decoration of pottery by means of transfers. A special paper is used but the ceramic colours cannot be printed directly and the actual printing is done in varnish and the colour then dusted on. The Litho or Decal (to use the common contractions of these words) is placed... 

Decorations can also be applied to molded surfaces by silk screening, decals, and pressure-sensitive appliques ... 

Principal applications for pressure sensitive acrylics are a broad assortment of tapes and labels, decals, and other decorative films. Acrylics also have some uses in laminating adhesives, primarily for film-to-film laminates. In addition, acrylics have been used in sound-deadening pads for automobiles and appliances. 

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