Ferro Corporation

Patricia C Secrest

Robert P Blonski

Ivan H Joyce

Javier Garcia Sainz

John J Welch

Juan Carlos Gallart

Carlos Benet Garcia

Antonio Manuel Querol Villalba

Jose Luis Fenollosa Romero

José Manuel Querol Villalba

José Luis Fenollosa Romero

The present invention provides a method of decorating a ceramic article including: providing an ink composition including a metallic soap, the ink composition being a viscous oil or waxy solid at about 25&deg; C.; heating the ink composition to reduce its viscosity to less than about 40 centipoise; depositing micro-droplets of the heated ink composition upon the ceramic article; and firing the ceramic article in an oxidizing atmosphere. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the ink composition is substantially solvent-free.

Method of decorating a ceramic article

Individual inks and an ink set for use in generating intermediate colors via the combination of separate inks applied by an ink jet printer to the glazed surface of an article, such as glazed ceramic architectural tile for example, that is to be heated to a temperature of greater than 300&deg; C. The ink set according to the present invention includes at least three separate inks that upon heating decompose to form colored oxides or colored combinations with the materials of the glazed surface upon which they are applied. A first ink of the ink set includes a soluble cobalt complex for use in forming a cyan color. A second ink of the ink set includes a soluble gold complex for use in forming a magenta color. And, a third ink of the ink set includes a soluble transition metal complex for use in forming a yellow color. The third ink preferably includes a soluble praseodymium complex. Alternatively, the third ink includes a blend of soluble chromium and antimony complexes and/or soluble nickel and antimony complexes. The ink set also preferably includes a fourth ink including a soluble ruthenium complex for use in forming a black color. The inks preferably contain no suspended solids and are preferably water immiscible. The invention also provides a method of decorating a glazed article using the inks of the ink set, and an article having a decoration applied to at least one glazed surface thereof.

Individual inks and an ink set for use in the color ink jet printing of glazed ceramic tiles and surfaces

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Lakewood, OH, United States of America

Patricia C Secrest