Processes for providing images on resin structures

摘要

A process for printing an image on a surface of a resin member includes providing a transfer medium with an image on one side of the transfer medium, providing a liquid resin, placing the one side of the transfer medium with the image and the liquid resin in contact with each other, and partially curing the liquid resin to form the resin member while maintaining the image of the transfer medium in contact with an image side of the resin member. The process may include placing the liquid resin and/or the transfer medium in a mold for shaping the resin member during curing.

主权项

1. A process for forming a resin member with an image, comprising:
placing a topcoat resin in liquid form and a catalyst for the topcoat resin on a surface to define a topcoat of a resin member; before the topcoat resin has fully cured, but the topcoat resin has cured enough to substantially retain its shape, placing an image into contact with the topcoat; while a transfer medium bearing the image contacts the topcoat, continuing to cure the topcoat resin in an environment of substantially ambient temperature and substantially ambient pressure to substantially transfer the image to the topcoat; and after the image has been substantially transferred to the topcoat and before the topcoat resin cures completely, removing the transfer medium from the rear surface of the topcoat to expose the image.