A method of forming a digital print on a surface by applying powder of dry ink including colourants on the surface, bonding a part of the dry ink powder to the surface by a digital heating print head such that the digital print is formed by the bonded dry ink colourants and removing non-bonded dry ink from the surface.

An impregnate with antistatic properties for use in laminates or for coating wood-based panels is disclosed. A resin used for impregnating and/or coating paper may include carbon-based particles, at least one compound of the general formula (I) R.sup.1.sub.aR.sup.2.sub.bSiX.sub.(4-a-b), and/or hydrolysis products thereof. X is H, OH, or a hydrolysable moiety selected from the group including halogen, alkoxy, carboxy, amino, monoalkylamino or dialkylamino, aryloxy, acyloxy, or alkylcarbonyl. R.sup.1 is an organic moiety selected from the group including alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyl, which may be interrupted by —O— or —NH—. R.sup.1 has at least one functional group Q.sup.1 selected from a group including a hydroxy-, amino, monoalkylamino, carboxy, mercapto, alkoxy, aldehyde, acrylic, acryloxy, methacrylic, methacryloxy, cyano, isocyano or epoxide group. R.sup.2 is a non-hydrolyzable organic moiety selected from the group including alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl; a is 0, 1, 2, or 3, and b is 1, 2, 3, or 4.

An impregnate with antistatic properties for use in laminates or for coating wood-based panels is disclosed. A resin used for impregnating and/or coating paper may include carbon-based particles, at least one compound of the general formula (I) R.sup.1.sub.aR.sup.2.sub.bSiX.sub.(4-a-b), and/or hydrolysis products thereof. X is H, OH, or a hydrolysable moiety selected from the group including halogen, alkoxy, carboxy, amino, monoalkylamino or dialkylamino, aryloxy, acyloxy, or alkylcarbonyl. R.sup.1 is an organic moiety selected from the group including alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyl, which may be interrupted by —O— or —NH—. R.sup.1 has at least one functional group Q.sup.1 selected from a group including a hydroxy-, amino, monoalkylamino, carboxy, mercapto, alkoxy, aldehyde, acrylic, acryloxy, methacrylic, methacryloxy, cyano, isocyano or epoxide group. R.sup.2 is a non-hydrolyzable organic moiety selected from the group including alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl; a is 0, 1, 2, or 3, and b is 1, 2, 3, or 4.

A method and equipment to form a digital print by applying dry colourants on a surface of a panel, bonding a part of the colourants with a binder and removing the non-bonded colourants from the surface. The method of forming a digital print on a surface of a panel includes displacing the panel under a digital drop application head, applying a liquid binder with the digital drop application head on the surface; applying colourants on the liquid binder and the surface; bonding a part of the colourants to the surface with the liquid binder; removing non-bonded colourants from the surface such that a digital print is formed by the bonded colourants; and applying heat and pressure on the panel, the surface and the bonded colorants such that the colourants are permanently bonded to the surface.

A method and equipment to form a digital print by applying dry colourants on a surface of a panel, bonding a part of the colourants with a binder and removing the non-bonded colourants from the surface. The method of forming a digital print on a surface of a panel includes displacing the panel under a digital drop application head, applying a liquid binder with the digital drop application head on the surface; applying colourants on the liquid binder and the surface; bonding a part of the colourants to the surface with the liquid binder; removing non-bonded colourants from the surface such that a digital print is formed by the bonded colourants; and applying heat and pressure on the panel, the surface and the bonded colorants such that the colourants are permanently bonded to the surface.

A coated polymer film, such as a coated polyester film, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the coated film may be used as a substrate for digital printing. In one embodiment, the coating contains an anionic anti-static agent comprising a sulphonated copolyester resin. In an alternative embodiment, the coating contains an anti-static agent comprising an organometallic, such as an organo zirconate, in combination with metal oxide particles. The metal oxide particles may comprise nanoparticles. In one embodiment, the coating can further contain a print enhancing agent and an adhesion promoter.

Polyester films with abrasion resistant coatings and methods for making the same are provided. The coated polyester films include a polyester film substrate having a coating on at least one side thereof, wherein the coating is derived from a coating composition that includes (i) a melamine crosslinker component and (ii) a polyurethane component derivable from at least one diisocyanate and at least one polymeric polyol.

Polyester films with abrasion resistant coatings and methods for making the same are provided. The coated polyester films include a polyester film substrate having a coating on at least one side thereof, wherein the coating is derived from a coating composition that includes (i) a melamine crosslinker component and (ii) a polyurethane component derivable from at least one diisocyanate and at least one polymeric polyol.

A process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of pigment particles is described. The pigment particle contains a pigment and an aminoplast resin which surrounds or embeds the pigment. The process includes (i) a step of subjecting an aqueous suspension of a pigment in the form of coarse particles to milling so that the coarse particles are comminuted in the presence of a polymeric dispersant to a particle diameter d(v 0.9) of below 1500 nm, as determined by laser diffraction; and (ii) a step of polycondensation of an aminoplast pre-condensate in the aqueous suspension of the comminuted particles of the pigment obtained in step (i) or during the milling of step (i). The polycondensation is performed in the presence of an acid catalyst at pH of below 5.5. The aqueous dispersion obtained by the process and the use of the aqueous dispersion for tinting waterborne liquid coating composition are also described.

A coating composition includes (a) a melamine resin having imino and methylol functional groups that together comprise 30 mole % or greater of the total functionality of the melamine resin; and (b) at least one polymer reactive with (a) that is obtained from components including polytetrahydrofuran and a carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof. The polytetrahydrofuran includes greater than 20 weight % of the components that form the polymer (b) and the carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof includes greater than 5 weight % of the components that form the polymer (b). The polymer (b) has an acid value of at least 15 based on the total resin solids of the polymer (b).