DRY POWDER COATING FOR ENHANCED PRINTING ON STAINLESS STEEL AND METHOD THEREOF
A method of coating and decorating a steel surface is described herein. The method includes applying a powder-coat, curing the powder-coat, printing a design, decoration, or logo in ink, and curing the ink resulting in an improved decorated steels surface. Additionally, a decorated steel surface is described, having a first layer of steel, a second layer of powder-coating, and a third layer of ink. A decorated stainless steel container is also described having an interior surface and an exterior surface of steel. The exterior surface having a first layer of powder-coating and a second layer of ink.
1 . A method of decorating a stainless steel surface, the method comprising:
providing a steel surface;
applying a powder-coat powder onto the steel surface;
curing the powder-coat powder on the steel surface to obtain a powder-coated steel surface;
printing UV-curable ink onto the powder-coated steel surface, wherein printing occurs at 2.3 rotations per second (RPS) to 2.7 rotations per second (RPS), and wherein printing occurs at a distance of 0.8 mm to 1.1 mm; and
curing the UV-curable ink on the powder-coated steel surface at 60% to 80% ultraviolet exposure at a distance between ¼ inch to 1/16 inch.
2 . The method of decorating a stainless steel surface according to claim 1 , further comprising charging the steel surface prior to applying the powder-coat powder onto the steel surface.
3 . The method of decorating a stainless steel surface according to claim 1 , further comprising, after printing ink onto the powder-coated steel surface:
applying a second powder-coat powder; and
curing the second powder-coat powder.
4 . The method of decorating a stainless steel surface according to claim 1 , wherein the powder-coat powder is a polyester resin.
5 . The method of decorating a stainless steel surface according to claim 1 , wherein curing the powder-coat powder comprises heating the powder-coat powder on the steel surface at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 200° C.
6 . The method of decorating a stainless steel surface according to claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet light is 390 nanometers.
7 . The method of decorating a stainless steel surface according to claim 1 , further comprising washing the stainless steel surface prior to applying the powder-coat powder onto the steel surface.
8 . A decorated stainless steel surface comprising:
a first layer comprising steel;
a second layer comprising a powder-coating; and
a third layer comprising ink,
wherein the decorated stainless steel surface is formed by the method of claim 1 .
9 . The decorated stainless steel surface according to claim 8 , wherein the powder-coating comprises a polyester resin.
10 . The decorated stainless steel surface according to claim 8 , further comprising a fourth layer comprising a second powder-coating.
11 . A decorated stainless steel container comprising:
a container comprising:
an interior surface; and
a decorated exterior surface comprising stainless steel, the exterior surface comprising:
a first layer of powder-coating, and
a second layer of ink,
wherein the decorated exterior surface is formed by the method of claim 1 .
12 . The decorated stainless steel container according to claim 11 , wherein the exterior surface further comprises a third layer of powder-coating.
13 . The decorated stainless steel container according to claim 11 , wherein the powder-coating comprises a polyester resin.
14 . The decorated stainless steel container according to claim 11 , further comprising a lid.
15 . The decorated stainless steel container according to claim 11 , further comprising a sealed vacuum cavity between the interior surface and the exterior surface.
16 . The decorated stainless steel container according to claim 11 , wherein the container is configured to contain food and/or beverage.
17 . The decorated stainless steel container according to claim 11 , wherein the container is a tumbler.