Importance

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Abstract

A method for making a decorated, water-resistant, rigid panel comprising supplying a cured, pre-coated rigid panel having a clear, water-resistant polymeric coating on one surface of the panel and a printed sheet having a design, picture or other form of decoration on one surface thereof, said decoration being formed by a sublimable coloring agent. The rigid panel and the printed sheet are originally maintained at room or ambient temperature. The coated surface of the rigid panel and the decorated surface of the printed sheet are brought into physical contact, and their surfaces are maintained in contact for a brief period of time by applying light pressure thereto. While the surfaces are maintained in contact, heat is applied thereto for a short period of time to sublime the coloring agent and cause it to be transferred to and penetrate into the polymeric coating on the surface of the rigid panel. The heat is removed from the surfaces, and the printed sheet is separated from the rigid panel whose polymeric coated surface contains the same decoration as appeared on the printed sheet. The product of this invention comprises a decorated, water-resistant, rigid panel having a clear polymeric coating on one surface, which coating is impregnated by a sublimable coloring agent. The coated surface of the panel comprises at least one clear polymeric top coat and may have additional substrate coatings or layers of polymeric or other materials. It is preferred that the coated surface of the decorated panel have a light stability of at least about 40 hours as measured by the Standard Carbon-Arc Fadometer test (ASTM G25-70), Continuous Exposure to Light, Test Method A.

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First Claim