Aluminum panels

Abstract

An aluminum panel comprises an upper surface and a lower surface and the upper surface comprises at least one recessed area. The panel has a reduced thickness in the at least one recessed area. Both the upper surface of the panel and the at least one recessed area are provided with an aluminum oxide coating and the aluminum oxide coating of the at least one recessed area includes at least one colored dye. A method for producing an aluminum panel is also provided.

1 . An aluminum panel comprising:
 an upper surface comprising at least one recessed area; and   a lower surface,   wherein the panel has a reduced thickness in the at least one recessed area,   wherein both the upper surface of the panel and the at least one recessed area are provided with an aluminum oxide coating, and   wherein the aluminum oxide coating of the at least one recessed area includes at least one colored dye.   
     
     
         2 . An aluminum panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum oxide coating of the at least one recessed area is unsealed. 
     
     
         3 . An aluminum panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum oxide coating of the at least one recessed area is sealed. 
     
     
         4 . An aluminum panel according to  claim 1 , wherein a depth of the recessed area is sufficient to be discernible by sight and/or touch. 
     
     
         5 . An aluminum panel according to  claim 4 , wherein the depth of the recessed area is at least 0.1 mm relative to the upper surface of the panel. 
     
     
         6 . An aluminum panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum oxide coating is obtained by electrolytic anodizing treatment. 
     
     
         7 . An aluminum panel according to  claim 6 , wherein the electrolytic anodizing treatment is a sulphuric acid electrolytic anodizing treatment. 
     
     
         8 . An aluminum panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum oxide coating of the upper surface of the panel includes at least one dye. 
     
     
         9 . An aluminum panel according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one dye included in the aluminum oxide coating of the upper surface of the panel is a different color to the at least one dye included in the aluminum oxide coating of the recessed area. 
     
     
         10 . An aluminum panel according to  claim 1  wherein the panel is selected from the group consisting of: labels, nameplates, signs, badges, and flooring. 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing an aluminum panel comprising the steps of:
 (a) taking an aluminum panel, the panel comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having an aluminum oxide coating, and removing part of the aluminum oxide coating and a portion of underlying aluminum of the panel to create a recessed area on the panel; and   (b) connecting the panel to a power supply and anodizing exposed aluminum parts of the recessed area of the panel such that the recessed area is provided with an anodized aluminum oxide coating.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising a final step of:
 (c) sealing the anodized coating of the recessed area.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein in step (c) the anodized coating is sealed using a standard sealing process selected from the group consisting of: hot water sealing, steam sealing, nickel salt cold sealing, chromate sealing and dichromate sealing processes. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the sealing process is a hot water sealing process and the anodized coating is sealed by immersion in water at a temperature of between 96 and 100° C., for a period of at least 20 minutes. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein in step (a) the aluminum oxide coating on the panel is obtained by electrolytic anodizing treatment. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrolytic anodizing treatment is a sulphuric acid electrolytic anodizing treatment. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11 , comprising an additional step of applying at least one colored dye to the panel after step (b). 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein in step (a) the recessed area of the panel has a depth of at least 0.1 mm relative to the upper surface of the panel. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein step (a) is a two-step process and comprises the steps of first removing the aluminum oxide coating, and subsequently removing the underlying aluminum. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein in step (a) the aluminum oxide coating is removed by a process selected from the group consisting of: chemical etching, engraving, laser engraving and sand blasting. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein in step (a) the underlying aluminum is removed by a process selected from the group consisting of: chemical etching, engraving, laser engraving and sand blasting. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the aluminum panel is selected from the group consisting of: labels, nameplates, signs, badges, and flooring.