| abstract |
A method of imaging thermoplastics, such as acrylic glass, is presented. An image is formed on a transfer sheet or medium, and is heat transferred to the acrylic glass substrate on which the image is to permanently appear. An opaque pass-through coating is applied to one surface of the clear or transparent acrylic glass article. Heat activatable dye forms the image, and the heat activatable dye, when heat activated in close relationship to the opaque pass-through coating, passes through the opaque pass-through coating to the thermoplastic substrate. The image reflects light through the thermoplastic material and is visible through the material and from the side opposite the opaque coating. The opaque pass-through coating layer permanently bonds to the acrylic glass surface. |