Photo-luminescent pigment application
A method of applying photo-luminescent pigment to a substrate, such as an aluminum or metal strip containing channels or depressions, includes preparing a dry powder formulation including a photo-luminescent pigment and a carrier/fixer, depositing the dry powder formulation onto the substrate surface, and heating to fuse the dry powder formulation to the substrate surface. The photo-luminescent pigment can be applied using an apparatus which includes a hopper adapted to contain a dry powder formulation, one or more orifices adapted to allow transfer of the dry powder formulation from the hopper to a substrate surface and a guide rail system for locating the substrate surface in both a fixed horizontal plane and a fixed vertical plane below the hopper and orifice.
1. A photo-luminescent device, comprising:
a substrate having at least one of a channel or a depression formed therein; and
an exposed and uncovered photo-luminescent material located and being filled to below a top of any given said one of a channel or a depression, said photo-luminescent material being a dry powder formulation fused directly to said one of a channel or a depression and composed substantially of a photo-luminescent pigment and a carrier/fixer;
where said photo-luminescent material exhibits substantially the same strength and durability properties as said carrier/fixer.
2. The photo-luminescent device of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is one of a step nosing and a handrail.
3. The photo-luminescent device of claim 1 , wherein each said one of a channel or a depression is formed of a plurality of substrate-interior surfaces, each said substrate interior surface of at least one said one of a channel or a depression being covered with a thick-film of said photo-luminescent material.
4. The photo-luminescent device of claim 1 , wherein said photo-luminescent material is finally formed upon cooling from a molten mix state thereof.
5. A photo-luminescent device created by preparing a dry powder formulation, providing a substrate having one of a depression or a channel therein, the one of a depression or a channel being adapted to receive the dry powder formulation, depositing the dry powder formulation onto the substrate to thereby fill the one of a depression or a channel, the formulation being deposited by operation of gravity, and heating the dry powder formulation to fuse it to the substrate to thereby create a fused material, the photo-luminescent device comprising:
said substrate having at least one of a channel or a depression therein, each said at least one of a channel or a depression including a plurality of surfaces; and
the fused photo-luminescent material being uncovered and located and extending to below a top of at least one said one of a channel or a depression, said photo-luminescent material being in the form of a thick film on said surfaces of said at least one said one of a channel or a depression, said photo-luminescent material being contained entirely within said at least one said one of a channel or a depression.
6. The photo-luminescent device of claim 5 , wherein said substrate is one of a handrail and a step nosing.
7. The photo-luminescent device of claim 5 , wherein said photo-luminescent material is composed substantially of a photo-luminescent pigment and a carrier/fixer.
8. The photo-luminescent device of claim 5 , wherein said substrate is metallic.
9. A photo-luminescent device created by preparing a dry photo-luminescent powder formulation, providing a substrate having one of a depression or a channel therein, the one of a depression or a channel being adapted to receive the dry powder formulation, depositing the dry powder formulation onto the substrate to thereby fill the one of a depression or a channel, the formulation being deposited by operation of gravity, and heating the dry powder formulation to fuse it to the substrate to thereby create a fused material, the photo-luminescent device comprising:
said substrate having at least one of a channel or a depression including a plurality of surfaces, said substrate being metallic and one of a handrail and a step nosing;
said fused photo-luminescent material being uncovered and located and extending to below a top of at least one said one of a channel or a depression, said photo-luminescent material being in the form of a thick film on said surfaces, said photo-luminescent material being contained entirely within said at least one said one of a channel or a depression, said photo-luminescent material being composed substantially of a photo-luminescent pigment and a carrier/fixer.
10. The photo-luminescent device of claim 9 wherein said at least one of a channel or a depression is a plurality of channels or depressions arranged generally parallel to each other along a longitudinal axis of said substrate, wherein said photo-luminescent material is filled to below a top surface of said channels or depressions to preserve traction on said substrate.