AU2006100931B4 - Glitter Containing Composition - Google Patents

Description

1- Glitter Containing Composition

C.)

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a glitter containing composition.

NO

~Background to the Invention SGlitter comprises an assortment of very small pieces of paper, metal, glass or plastic, typically used for various functions in art, craft and design. Glitter is available in a variety of colours, including metallic, neon and iridescent colours. Glitter is often used in craft projects for small children. Children, and indeed many adults, find glitter attractive.

Where it is desired to place glitter on to an article, such as in a craft project, it is normal to place a glue on the surface of the article and then to shake glitter onto the glue. The glue acts to hold the glitter in place. However, this procedure is not suitable for large-scale manufacture of articles having glitter applied thereto. Further, the glitter can be easily removed from the surface of the article.

Throughout the specification, the term "comprising" and its grammatical equivalents shall be taken to have an inclusive meaning unless the context of use clearly indicates otherwise.

Brief Description of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a glitter containing composition that can be applied to an article.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a glitter containing composition for applying to an article, the composition comprising glitter present in an amount such that in the applied composition the glitter occupies up to 85% of the area covered by the applied composition, and an ink mixture comprising a printing ink, optionally a thinner present in an amount of from 0 to by weight of the printing ink and optionally an emulsifier in an amount of from 0 to 20% by IN -2- S weight of the weight of the ink and the thinner.

C.)

O

SSuitably, the glitter is homogenously dispersed throughout the composition.

The glitter is present in the composition in an amount such that in the applied composition the glitter occupies up to 85% of the area covered by the applied composition. This is determined by Sa visual inspection of the applied composition. In calculating how much of the area is occupied IND by the glitter, the applied composition is viewed and an estimate or determination made of the Soverall area of the composition at which glitter can be seen. It will be appreciated that, where the ink mixture is transparent, the area at which glitter can be seen includes instances where glitter is located at the top of the applied composition and also instances where the glitter is located within the body of the applied composition. In some ways, this estimation or determination may be considered to be analogous to looking through a tree to determine how much of the area outlined by the tree contains leaves.

In some embodiments, the glitter is present in an amount of from 10% to 80%. Throughout the specification, the amount of glitter present in the composition is specified on the basis of a percentage of the area covered by the applied composition. However, for brevity, this will simply be referred to throughout the remainder of the specification as the percentage of glitter present.

In other embodiments, the glitter is present in an amount of from 10% to In embodiments where a low loading of glitter is required, such as where it is desired to have a light glitter effect, the glitter may be present in the composition in an amount of from 10% to In embodiments where a medium effect of glitter is desired, the glitter may be present in an amount of from 25% to In embodiments where a heavy effect of glitter is desired, the glitter may be present in an amount of from 50% to 85%, suitably 50% to 80%, more suitably 50% to ID-3- O The present invention encompasses use of all different types of glitter. In some embodiments, fine grades of glitter is used. For example, the glitter may be of grade 0.05 or less, or even of grade 0 .008 or less. These grades are generally sold as "fine" or "superfine" glitter. Typically, the glitter will have a maximum particle dimension of less than 1mm, suitably less than more suitably less than 0.125mm. For screen printing applications, the glitter should be sized smaller than the size of the openings in the printing screen to avoid clogging of the screen. The ID glitter may comprise metallic glitter, plastic glitter, glass glitter or paper-based glitter. If the Scomposition is intended to be stored rather than used immediately, the glitter should not be adversely affected by the ink mixture. For example, the glitter should not dissolve in the ink mixture if the composition is intended to be stored rather than used immediately.

The present inventor has found that using amounts of glitter greater than the maximum specified above can result in the composition becoming clumpy and difficult to apply.

The composition of the present invention also includes an ink mixture. The ink mixture acts to disperse the glitter therethrough and to hold the glitter in place on the article once the ink mixture has dried or set.

The ink mixture includes a printing ink. The printing ink may be a solvent-based printing ink.

The solvent may be an organic solvent or an aqueous solvent. The solvent-based printing ink may set by simply being allowed to dry. Drying may take place by air drying, at ambient temperature or by applying heat. Drying results in evaporation of the solvent and formation of a film.

The printing ink may be a screen printing ink. The screen printing ink may be a solvent-based screen printing ink. Examples of suitable screen printing inks that may be used in the present invention include Polyplast LN EL Screen Inks and Corroplas CP Screen Inks, both available from Fujifilm Sericol Australia Pty Ltd, of 4 Coronation Avenue, Kings Park NSW 2148. Other screen printing inks from other manufacturers that are equivalent to these screen printing inks may also be used in the present invention.

ID-4- S The inks that may be used include those that can form a film or coherent mass upon drying.

O Suitable inks may include those having an acrylic resin base modified with a vinyl copolymer resin, or those that have an acrylic resin base and contain adhesion promoters. The acrylic base resins may include a methylmethacrylate polymer or a methylmethacrylate-acrylic copolymer.

5 The inks will also contain pigments.

¢€3 SThe inks may also contain one or more of extenders, surfactants, stabilizers, reodorants, biocides, ID identifying tracers, defoamers and flow aids.

Polyplast LN EL Screen Inks are a system of inks and overprint varnish designed for long life outdoor applications on a wide range of flexible and rigid plastics. These inks may be used on self-adhesive PVC, polycarbonate, ABS polymers, vinyl coated films and foils, and PVC banners.

Corroplas CP Screen Ink is a high-gloss ink designed for printing fluted polyolefin sheets useed for displays, real estate agents boards, bag tags and the like. These inks are particularly suitable for use on polyolefin sheet, such as CorrexTM and CorfluteTM, polypropylene material, some coated metals and some top coated plastics.

The skilled person would readily appreciate and know which other screen printing inks from other manufacturers or suppliers will be suitable for use in the present invention.

The ink mixture used in the present invention may optionally contained a thinner. The thinner may comprise a single thinner or a mixture of two or more different thinners. The thinner is used as a viscosity modifier to keep the viscosity of the composition at a level that allows for satisfactory application through the application apparatus but without allowing the composition to run excessively after application. The amount of thinner added to the ink mixture will depend upon the viscosity of the printing ink used (which is dependent upon the particular printing inks selected as well as the temperature at which the ink is applied). It has been found that it may not be necessary to use any thinner in cases where the printing ink is of low viscosity or where the temperature during application is high.

The actual thinner that is used may be any thinner known to be suitable for use with the printing 0 ink used in the invention. Manufacturers and suppliers of printing ink typically also supply thinners for use with their printing inks. It is recommended that the thinners recommended by the manufacturers or supply for use with the printing inks selected for use in the composition be used.

The thinners may be present in an amount of from 0 to 50% by weight, calculated on the basis of IND the weight of the printing ink. In some embodiments, the printing ink may be present in amount Sof from 0 to 40% by weight, or in an amount of from 0 to 30% by weight, or in amount of from 0 to 25% by weight, or in amount of from 0 to 20% by weight. Adding too much thinner to the composition can result in excessive running of the composition after application.

The composition may also optionally contain an emulsifier. Manufacturers and suppliers of printing inks typically also supply emulsifiers that are recommended for use with the selected printing inks. These recommended emulsifiers should be used in the present invention. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the emulsifiers work by assisting to maintain the glitter flakes adequately dispersed throughout the composition.

The emulsifier may be used in an amount of from 0 to 20% by weight of the weight of the printing ink and the thinner. In some embodiments, the emulsifier may be present in an amount of from 0 to 15%, or in amount of from 0 to 10%, or even in an amount of from 0 to by weight of the weight of the printing ink and the thinner.

The present inventor has found that using emulsifier in an amount greater than the maximum specified above results in the composition exhibiting undesirable properties after drying. In particular, using too much emulsifier can result in the dried mixture becoming flaky and easy to remove and also showing a powdery appearance.

The composition of the present invention may be applied to an article by any suitable application method. In one embodiment, the composition is applied by screen printing. This is a desirable application method because it allows for the production of a large number of articles. Prior to the development of the present invention, it was not possible to apply glitter to an article by ID-6screen printing.

O C.) In another embodiment, the composition is applied by passing the composition through a nozzle.

For example, the composition may be placed in a squeeze bottle having a nozzle thereon. The 5 composition may then be applied to the article by squeezing the bottle to course the composition C€3 to be expressed through the nozzle.

IND In some embodiments of the present invention, the ink mixture used it is transparent or clear.

SHowever, a coloured ink mixture may be used, although it will be appreciated that this will tend to hide some of the glitter, especially that glitter that is located below the surface of the applied composition. In other embodiments, a translucent coloured ink mixture may be used.

In embodiments where the composition is applied by screen printing, it may be useful to include a thinner to obtain a desired consistency in the composition.

Examples The following examples illustrate some preferred embodiments of the present invention: Example 1 This example used screen printing to apply the composition to a bag tag. The bag tag was made from polypropylene material. The polypropylene material was pre-screen printed with an underlying colour using solvent inks. Use of UV curable inks in this regard should be avoided as the glitter would cause reflection of the UV radiation required to cure the UV curable inks, thereby resulting in poor curing of the UV inks. It is also believed that using a UV curable ink as an underlying ink would result in the glitter composition not adhering very well to the bag tag.

This could result in the composition becoming unstable and peeling off, as well as cracking.

In this embodiment, the printing ink used was Corroplas CP screen ink. A thinner selected in accordance with the ink manufacturer's recommendation, was added in an amount of 20% by weight of the weight of the Corroplas CP screen ink. Emulsifier, selected in accordance with the ID-7ink manufacturers recommendation, was added in an amount of 6% by weight of the weight of O the ink and thinner. Fine grained glitter was mixed with the ink mixture up to an amount such that 75% of the area of the applied composition was occupied by the glitter. The glitter was polyester-based glitter. The composition was applied to the bag tags by screen printing. After drying, the glitter was firmly attached to the bag tags.

Example 2 An example similar to that shown in example 1 was used, except that the amount of glitter added was 50%. Satisfactory adhesion of the glitter to the bag tags was obtained.

Example 3 An example is similar to that shown in example 1 was used, except that the amount of glitter added was 25%. Satisfactory adhesion of the glitter to the bag tags was obtained.

Example 4 In this example, Polyplast LN EL screen printing ink was used. A thinner and an emulsifier, in amounts as described in example 1, was added. Glitter, in an amount as described in example 1, was also added and the composition applied to a polypropylene substrate by screen printing.

Satisfactory adhesion was achieved.

Example In this example, ink and glitter, as described in example 1, were used. However, a lesser amount of thinner and no emulsifier was used. Application by screen printing resulted in satisfactory adhesion.

Example 6 In this example, ink and glitter, as described in example 1, were used. The application method -8was via a squeeze bottle with a nozzle. As the composition could be of high viscosity, no thinner O was used. Satisfactory adhesion was obtained.

The present invention provides a composition that enables application of glitter to articles. In some embodiments, the composition can be applied by screen printing, thereby opening up the possibility that a large number of articles can be made economically and quickly. The composition can be applied to a variety of different articles and/or substrates. The glitter ID becomes encased in this set ink mixture following setting, thereby making the glitter firmly Sbound to the substrate. The glitter shows good adhesion to the article or substrate. Removal of the glitter is difficult.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be subject to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It will be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within it spirit and scope.

Claims (4)

1. A glitter containing composition for applying to an article, the composition comprising glitter present in an amount such that in the applied composition the glitter occupies up to 85% of the area covered by the applied composition, and an ink mixture comprising a solvent-based screen printing ink, a thinner present in an amount of up to 50% by weight of the solvent-based screen printing ink and optionally an emulsifier in an amount of from 0 to 20% by weight of the weight of the solvent-based screen printing ink and the thinner, and wherein the thinner is a different component to the solvent-based screen printing ink.

2. A glitter containing composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the glitter is present in an amount of from 10 to

3. A glitter containing composition as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the glitter has an average particle size of less than about 0.125mm.

4. A glitter containing composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the thinner is present in an amount of from 5 to 50% by weight, calculated on the basis of the weight of the solvent-based screen printing ink, and the emulsifier is present in an amount of from 0 to 20% by weight of the weight of the solvent-based screen printing ink and the thinner. A glitter containing composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the emulsifier is present in an amount of up to 20% by weight of the weight of the solvent-based screen printing ink and the thinner. Date: 31 August 2007