US2897040A - Process and composition for dyeing patterns into plywood wall paneling - Google Patents

Description

July 28-, 1959 J. P, KNEISEL I PROCESS AND COMPOSITION FOR DYEING PATTERNS INTO PLYWOOD WALL PANELING Filed Aug. 3. 1956 J05EPA/ IN VEN TOR.

,4 7'702/VEY5 PROCESS AND COMPOSITION FOR DY EING PAT 'DERNS INTO PLYWOOD WALL PANELING Application August 3, 1956, Serial No. 601,898

7 Claims. (Cl. 8--6.'5)

This invention relates to the production of decorated wood articles and has particular reference to the dyeing of decorative patterns on wood surfaces such as plywood wall paneling and the like.

One of the primary objects. of this invention is to provide a novel process and novel compositions for the application of dyed patterns to wood surfaces.

The decoration of a surface by the use of colored dye is probably one of the oldest techniques known to man. Primitive people used the juices of plants and their fruits for the colored liquids which they used as dyes to permanently adorn the. stone and wood faces of their buildings and implements. The permanence of this technique has been proven by time in that, after hundreds and even thousands of years, there are primitive examples still in existence which to this day retain their pattern and color. The reason for this permanence is due to the fact that the dye enters the structural pores of the material being dyed and is trapped and protected from deteriorating elements. Thus, the design becomes an integral element of the substance itself.

Per-manency is not the only quality of dyed materials. Dye does not destroy the inherent characteristics of the surface or texture of a material. For this reason, it not only becomes technically but esthetically a part of the material.

Heretofore, efforts to produce wood paneling decorated with a dyed pattern have been limited to the ancient handapplication method. Many water and alcohol soluble wood dyes are presently being used for the coloring of wood on a commercial scale, but all such applications utilize dipping or spraying and no attempt is made to confine the color to any given area or design. Designs have heretofore been painted on wood, but this is not the same as dyeing as the term is used in the art. That is, in the painting process, the pigment remains entirely on the surface of the wood, without substantial penetration. The patterns obtained by painting are relatively impermanent, but more important, esthetically they are undesirable in that they change the inherent surface and texture of the wood. In dyeing, on the other hand, the dye penetrates into the pores of the material, leaving the surface unaffected except for the change in color due to the penetration of the dye.

Another object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a process by which wood panels may be pattern dyed on a commercial scale.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pattern dyeing process for wood, which process is simple and can be carried out by relatively unskilled operators.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

States PatentQ Patented July 28, 1959 ICC The single figure is a plan view of a wood panel containing a typical pattern dyed thereon in accordance with the present invention.

Briefly, this invention comprehends within its scope the discovery that wood panels can be pattern dyed in commercial quantities by applying alcohol soluble azo dyestuffs utilizing the silk screen technique. Alcohol solutions of such dyes are of extremely low viscosity and, hence, are unsuitable as such for use in the silk screen process. dye solutions may be dispersed in a viscous vehicle which makes possible the use of the silk screen method but which does not affect the proper deposition and adsorption of the dye into the wood. The vehicle comprises a solution of a resinous material which is compatible with the dye and which. preferably contains cellulose groups. Suitable resins include ethyl cellulose, nitro cellulose, cellulose acetate, ethyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose and aceto-butyrate.

Among the azo dyes suitable for use in the process and composition of the present invention are the Luxol dyes manufactured by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., and. the Azosol dyes manufactured by General Dyestuff'Co., a.division of General Aniline and Film Corp.

A specific example of a dye vehicle used in carrying out the process of the invention is as follows:

Parts by weight The ethyl cellulose used was Dow Chemical Companys Ethocell (standard ethoxy type, viscosity type). The plasticizer for the ethyl cellulose was Monsanto Chemical Companys Monsanto B-16 Glycollate. The plasticizer is not essential and any other suitable plasticizer may, of course, be used. The ethylene glycol monoethyl ether was utilized as a low vapor pressure solvent for the ethyl cellulose, but it will be understood that other solvents may be used. The alcohol and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether serve as solvents for the dye. Any monohydric alcohol may be used, but those of higher boiling points are preferred. The diethylene glycol monoethyl ether is not absolutely essential, but is important in that it also functions as a wood penetrant.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a limba plywood wall panel, generally indicated 10, produced in accordance with the present invention wherein the portions of the pattern identified as 11, 12 and 13 were dyed light green, dark green and red, respectively. The specific dye formulations were made up as follows:

Light green Parts by weight 1590 22 The specific dye to make the light green was a blend of 19.6 parts Luxol Fast Yellow G; 1.6 parts Luxol Fast Blue G; 0.4 Luxol Black L; and 0.5 part Luxol Fast Red B. The vehicle in this and the following colors was formulated as set forth in the above example.

Vehicle Dye Red Parts by weight Vehicle 1360 It has been found, however, that these 111x01 Fast Red B V 12 Luxol Black L 0.2

In dyeing the wood panel 10, three individual silk screens were used, one for each color and corresponding portion of the pattern. The silk screens were-of the filled type, it having been found that the hand out in'sket type produced designs of relatively poor definition and penetration when used to apply the composition. a

In preparing the dye compositions, it is preferred to first dissolve the ethyl cellulose and plasticizer in the ethylene glycol monethyl ether and to separately dissolve the dye in the alcohol and diethyl glycol monoethyl ether. The two phases are thus blended together toproduce the final solution.

The process of this invention may be used in decorating virtually any type of wood, but best results are obtained with hard woods such as limba, mahogany, etc. No pre-treatment of the wood, other than the usual sanding, planing or other smoothing operation, is necessary. It will be understood that the proportions of the ingredients in the vehicle-dye compositions may be varied, depending upon the color and value desired.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of dyeing wood to produce a decorative pattern thereon, comprising the step of silk screening said pattern onto the wood utilizing an azo dye dispersed in a vehicle containing a solution of a resinous material which is compatible with said dye.

2. A method of dyeing wood to produce a decorative pattern thereon, comp-rising the step of silk screening said pattern onto the wood utilizing an azo dye resinous material which is compatible with said dye.

tion of a1 resinous material which is compatible with said'.

dye.

5. A method for dyeing wood to produce a decorative patten thereon, comprising the step of silk screening said pattern onto the wood utilizing an alcohol solution of an azo dye dispersed in a vehicle containing a solution of a cellulosic resinous material which is compatiblev with said dye. I i

6. A method for dyeing wood to produce a decorative pattern thereon, comprising the step of silk screening said pattern onto the wood utilizing an alcohol solution of an azo dye dispersed in a vehicle containing a solution' of ethyl cellulose.

7. .A method for dyeingwood to produce a decorative pattern thereon, comprising the step of silk screening said pattern onto the wood utilizing an azo dye dispersed in a vehicle containing a solution of ethyl cellulose in ethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, isopropyl alcohol, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and a plasticizer for said ethyl cellulose.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,877,748

Dove Sept. 23, 1932 2,000,120 Bussh May 7, 1935 2,188,073 Bucy Jan. 23, 1940 2,565,602" Fisher ,.z Aug. 28, 1951-

Claims (1)

1. A METHOD OF DYEING WOOD TO PRODUCE A DECORATIVE PATTERN THEREON, COMPRISING THE STEP OF SILK SCREENING SAID PATTERN ONTO THE WOOD UTILIZING AN AZO DYE DISPERSED IN A VEHICLE CONTAINING A SOLUTION OF A RESINOUS MATERIAL WHICH IS COMPATIBLE WITH SAID DYE.

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