Method for the production of a metal panel and resulting metal panel

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the production of a metal panel, in which: at least one of the surfaces of a sheet of chromium (Cr) stainless steel, having a thickness of 0.1-2.00 mm, is subjected to a mechanical smoothing and/or glazing and/or grinding treatment until a surface roughness R.sub.a of 0061 m is obtained with a pre-determined mark/drawing; a transparent primer/coating of adhesive or lacquer is applied to said surface; and the primer/coating is polymerised. The invention also relates to the metal panel obtained using the aforementioned method, comprising: a sheet of chromium (Cr) stainless steel, having a thickness of 0.1-2.00 mm and having at least one smoothed and/or glazed and/or ground surface with a roughness R.sub.a of between 0061 m, said roughness having a pre-determined mark/drawing; and a cured, transparent primer/coating of adhesive or lacquer on the aforementioned surface.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing of a metal panel, the method comprising: forming a metal panel that comprises not more than one metallic layer having a selected color tone by: a) obtaining a sheet panel of chromium (Cr) stainless steel with a thickness of 0.1-2.00 mm; b) subjecting at least one face of the sheet panel of chromium (Cr) stainless steel obtained from step a) to a mechanical grinding with a 280-600 grit abrasive medium at a speed of 10-20 m/min until obtaining a surface roughness of the sheet panel of chromium (Cr) stainless steel R.sub.a of 0.06-1.0 m and maintaining a degree of metal color from blue, white or yellow tones of the stainless steel; c) applying a transparent coating of adhesive or lacquer to the panel of chromium (Cr) stainless steel subjected to mechanical grinding from step b); and d) polymerizing the coating applied in step c).

2. The method of manufacturing of a metal panel, according to claim 1, wherein the grinding is performed using one of a sanding cloth, sandpaper, or cork.

3. The method of manufacturing of a metal panel, according to claim 1, wherein the coating is an adhesive in polyester, acrylic or polyurethanic base.

4. The method of manufacturing of a metal panel, according to claim 1, wherein the coating is a lacquer in acrylic and/or polyester base, which fills the holes of the smoothing of the substrate creating an impermeable sheet.

5. The method of manufacturing of a metal panel, according to claim 1, wherein the coating is applied, in solvent base or in water base, on the back or unexposed face, which facilitates adhesion to the polyurethane foams, normally used in the electric appliance sector.

6. The method of manufacturing of a metal panel, according to claim 1, wherein a PET film is applied as coating which seals the unit.

7. The method of manufacturing a metal panel, according to claim 1, wherein the surface roughness of the sheet panel of chromium (Cr) stainless steel R.sub.a of 0.06-0.45 m is obtained.

8. A method of manufacturing a metal panel comprising: forming a metal panel that comprises not more than one metallic layer having a selected color tone by: a) obtaining a sheet panel of chromium (Cr) stainless steel with a thickness of 0.1-2.00 mm; b) subjecting the sheet panel of chromium (Cr) stainless steel obtained from step a) to a mechanical treatment of wet or dry smoothing with sandpaper having 280-600 grit, at a speed of 10-20 m/min until obtaining a surface roughness of the sheet panel of chromium (Cr) stainless steel R.sub.a of 0.06-1.0 m and maintaining a degree of metal color from blue, white or yellow tones of the stainless steel panel; c) applying a transparent coating of adhesive or lacquer having 15-50 wet microns to the stainless steel panel subjected to mechanical treatment in step b) prior to curing; d) polymerizing the coating applied in step c) at a temperature range of 180-250 C.; and e) thereafter applying a PET film with a thickness of 15-30 m.

9. The method of manufacturing of a metal panel, according to claim 1, wherein the temperature range in step c) is 180-220 C.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1

(1) Substrate: Ferritic stainless steel AISI 430 and a thickness of 0.60 mm.

(2) Texturing process: Process of grinding with 320 grit sandpaper, and subsequent glazing, roughness Ra=0.20 microns, Glazing applied on the substrate mechanically by sanding cloths in a standardized grade with the market name Scotch Brite, obtaining colour, in range b=3 (coordinates CIE Lab).

(3) Chemical treatment: chemical cleaning with a series of degreasings and washings with water.

(4) Application of liquid organic coating: application of a polyester adhesive (25 microns) on the exposed face and of an epoxy primer (10 microns) on the unexposed face. Curing of the product in oven at a metal temperature of 220 C.

(5) Application of PET film: application of a glossy 20-micron PET film

(6) Application protective film: application of a protective film (50 microns thickness).

Example 2

(7) Substrate: AISI 430 stainless steel, 0.7 mm thickness, with a roughness of Ra=0.8 microns, glazed with cork sanding blocks and gloss of substrate obtained of 110-130%.

(8) Alkaline degreasing and washing of the metal substrate, with a bath of tap water and another bath with demineralised water.

(9) Application on the substrate of an acrylic lacquer in solvent base or water base (15 microns thickness wet) and cured in convection oven at PMT=224 C.

(10) Application of the protective film with thickness 40 microns to better handle the final product.

Example 3

(11) Substrate: AISI 430 stainless steel 0.8 mm thick and finished with a roughness of Ra=0.15 microns.

(12) Grinding and smoothing with 400 grit sandpapers on metal.

(13) Chemical treatment: chemical cleaning with two degreasings and two washings, the last with demineralised water with conductivity of less than 50 S/cm.

(14) Application of a chemical treatment in water base on the lower or unexposed face, facilitating the adhesion of polyurethane foams.

(15) Application of liquid organic coating: application of a polyester adhesive (15 microns) on the exposed face. Curing of the product in oven at metal temperature of 220 C.

(16) Application PET film: application of a matte antibacterial PET film 20 microns thick.

(17) The control of the gloss is done with dulling agents on the lacquer or the PET film, so that the gloss obtained at will ranges from 40% to >100% depending on the final requirements of the customer.

(18) With this product, an important improvement is obtained of aging in salt spray chamber of up to 700 hours as well as easy cleaning of the surface without leaving marks or circles of the conventional cleaning products, providing a completely uniform surface after its cleaning with a soft cloth and water.

(19) The procedure and the product obtained are totally flexible with an infinite variety of textured finishes according to mechanical process, colours and appearance various with the organic coatings, personalized for each customer and sector.

(20) With the grinding, smoothing and the glazing with glazing sandpapers of different grit sizes and composition, and depending on the sets and combinations of sandpapers, cork, graphite, etc., various finishes of roughness and outlines/drawings are obtained.

(21) Depending on whether the processes are performed dry or wet, the colour and its tones of yellow, bluish, and whitish may vary at will, which, when combining it with the different roughnesses and outlines, offers a great versatility in the offer to the user.