Method for depositing a coating on a substrate, which coating at least partially absorbs visible light

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025214107-A1
Application number	US-202418941201-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 8, 2024
Priority date	Dec 20, 2023
Publication date	Jul 3, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method ( 100 ) for depositing a coating on a substrate ( 1 ), which coating at least partially absorbs visible light, in order to form an item ( 10 ), such as a timepiece component.

First claim

1 . A method for depositing a coating on a substrate, which coating at least partially absorbs visible light, in order to form an item, such as a timepiece component, wherein said deposition method comprises:
a first step of supplying a substrate; a second step of depositing a first layer covering at least a portion of the substrate by applying a first liquid mixture comprising a binder, a solvent and pigments with a d90 percentile of nanometric dimension, the first layer being formed by evaporation of said solvent; a third step of depositing a second layer covering a first portion of the first layer by applying a second liquid mixture comprising a binder, a solvent and pigments with a d90 percentile greater than the d90 percentile of the pigments in the first layer, the second layer being formed by evaporation of said solvent; a fourth step of depositing a third layer covering a second portion of the first layer, which portion is different from the first portion covered by the second layer, by applying a third liquid mixture comprising a binder, a solvent and pigments with a d90 percentile greater than the d90 percentile of the pigments in the second layer, the third layer being formed by evaporation of said solvent.

2 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 1 , wherein the second step of depositing a second layer and/or the third step of depositing a third layer comprise a sub-step of positioning a selective mask on the first layer, before applying the corresponding liquid mixture, in order to select at least a portion of the first layer to be covered.

3 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 1 , wherein the first liquid mixture forming the first layer of the coating comprises between 5 and 10% by weight of pigments.

4 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 1 , wherein the second liquid mixture forming the second layer comprises between 4 and 10% by weight of pigments.

5 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 1 , wherein the third liquid mixture forming the third layer comprises between 1 and 5% by weight of pigments.

6 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 1 , wherein the deposition method comprises a fifth step of depositing a fourth layer covering a third portion of the first layer, which portion is different from the first portion covered by the second layer and different from the second portion covered by the third layer, by applying a fourth liquid mixture comprising a binder, a solvent and pigments with a d90 percentile greater than the d90 percentile of the pigments in the third layer, the fourth layer being formed by evaporation of said solvent.

7 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 6 , wherein the fourth liquid mixture forming the fourth layer comprises between 0.5 and 5% by weight of pigments.

8 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 1 , wherein the various layers of the coating are deposited by sputtering, spraying, dipping, screen printing, printing or pad printing.

9 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 1 , wherein the various liquid mixtures applied to form the various layers of the coating are composed of a binder, a solvent, pigments, optionally a matting agent, glass beads and/or a dispersing agent.

10 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 9 , wherein the binder is a polymer.

11 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 10 , wherein the binder is an acrylic, an epoxy polymer or a polyurethane.

12 . The method for depositing a coating on a substrate according to claim 1 , wherein the various liquid mixtures applied to form the various layers of the coating are coloured inks.

13 . Item comprising a substrate and a coating that at least partially absorbs visible light, deposited by the deposition method according to claim 1 , the coating having a lightness component L* less than 20.

14 . An item according to claim 13 , wherein the item is a timepiece component.

15 . A timepiece comprising a component comprising a substrate and a coating that at least partially absorbs visible light, deposited by the deposition method according to claim 1 , the coating having a lightness component L* less than 20.

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• François Nicolas
• Teres Nathalie

Classifications

• B05D2503/00

  Polyurethanes · CPC title

• B05D2504/00

  Epoxy polymers · CPC title

• B05D2502/00

  Acrylic polymers · CPC title

• G04B47/04

  with attached ornaments or amusement apparatus {(decorated cases see G04B45/00)} · CPC title

• G04B45/0015

  Light-, colour-, line- or spot-effects caused by or on stationary parts (change of appearance by exchangeable case parts G04B47/046) · CPC title