Ceramic inkjet ink for relief effect

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions, such as inkjet inks or glazes, for jetting onto a ceramic substrate, and associated methods and systems. The compositions are configured to produce a blister relief effect, wherein the incorporation of inkjet technology provides precise control over the location and degree of blistering. The enhanced compositions are configured to form gas bubbles when exposed to the elevated temperatures of a firing cycle, wherein the formed gas is trapped within the glaze, causing an expansion or blistering of the glaze, which results in a raised relief.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition for application of a visual or textural effect to a ceramic substrate, the composition comprising:
 a carrier compound that is jettable onto the ceramic substrate; and   a reduction agent which, when mixed with the carrier compound and heated to a firing temperature, produces gas bubbles in the carrier compound, wherein the gas bubbles cause the heated composition to rise, producing a raised relief on the ceramic substrate, wherein the raised relief remains after the composition cools to room temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier compound includes a pigment. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the produced gas bubbles are formed and trapped within the composition when exposed to the firing temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the trapped gas bubbles create a three-dimensional effect on the ceramic substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the reduction agent is jettable onto the ceramic substrate before the carrier compound. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the reduction agent is jettable onto the ceramic substrate after the carrier compound. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier compound and the reduction agent comprise a single solution that is jettable onto the ceramic substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the firing temperature is greater than 1000 degrees C. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the firing temperature has a range of 1050 degrees C. to 1300 degrees C. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the reduction agent is reactive with oxygen, nitrogen, or both. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the oxygen or the nitrogen is present in the carrier compound, the reduction agent, or both. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the oxygen or the nitrogen is ambient in a kiln in which the ceramic substrate is to be fired. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a glaze. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the reduction agent comprises silicon. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the reduction agent comprises any of SiO, SiC, SiN, or BN. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the reduction agent is controllable to vary the production of the gas bubbles. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic substrate includes a jetted layer applied thereon, and wherein the composition that includes the carrier compound and the reduction agent are located on top of the jetted layer. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the jetted layer comprises any of a glaze, a primer, a basecoat, or a colored layer. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 1 , in which an upper layer is jettable over at least a portion of the compound before the heating. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the upper layer includes any of a clear layer, a translucent layer, or an opaque layer. 
     
     
         21 . A composition for application of a visual or textural effect to a ceramic substrate, the composition comprising:
 a carrier compound that is jettable onto the ceramic substrate; and   a reduction agent which, when mixed with the carrier compound and heated to a firing temperature having a range of 1050 degrees C. to 1300 degrees C., produces gas bubbles in the carrier compound, wherein the gas bubbles cause the heated composition to rise, producing a raised relief on the ceramic substrate, wherein the raised relief remains after the composition cools to room temperature.   
     
     
         22 . A product, comprising:
 a ceramic substrate;   a carrier compound that is jettably applied onto the ceramic substrate; and   a reduction agent which, when mixed with the carrier compound and heated to a firing temperature having a range of 1050 degrees C. to 1300 degrees C., produces gas bubbles in the carrier compound, wherein the gas bubbles cause the heated composition to rise, producing a raised relief on the ceramic substrate, wherein the raised relief remains after the composition cools to room temperature.