Study of the Variables that Lead to Hue Variations on Tiles Decoration Based on Silicon Cylinder Technique Laser Engraving Method

Abstract

In the process of ceramic tiles production, the hue variation is one of the oldest and common problems whose appearance persists within the production and between two different productions of the same product; therefore it’s a problem to be solved still. Identify the origin the hue variation and minimize its occurrence it’s a constant challenge in the ceramic tile production, and the target is always to increase the quality end decrease the batches with different tones. Although the hue variation can have it’s origin within which one of the whole steps of the process, this work is focused on the decoration process using one of the most widespread technics of such step, the laser engraving silicon cylinders. This work accosts the influence of the speed of the ceramic line production and its effects on the hue variation. The studied characteristics were the shape and volume of the ink dot transferred by the cylinder to the tile surface, measured by optical microscopy and the result tone of the decoration, measured by spectrophotometry.

Production Speed and its Influence on Hue Variation on Tiles Decoration Based on Silicon Cylinder Technique Laser Engraving Method

“…All results here obtained are in compliance with the work realized with the same technology for the Standard engraving 04/45°, already presented in a scientific congress [4].…”

“…On Tab. 4 The covered area percentage values after decoration on Tab.3 shows an increase for 5% of the gray-scale, which means a good evolution on the ink discharges, nevertheless it strongly diminishes within the speed of 60m/min. There is a loss of about 8.2% in covered area when speed increases from 25 to 60m/min.…”