Wallpaper for use in an automobile and a method for making same

Abstract

An automobile wallpaper, and an exterior surface finishing agent for the door trim, seats, and so on, of automobiles, as well as its manufacturing method. To manufacture such automobile wallpaper, a printing process is performed on the surface of a surface material which is currently being used, in order to render a three-dimensional effect to the surface, so as to achieve various luxurious appearances. The three-dimensional effect of the printing is maintained even during the molding process, and it also possesses excellent properties relative to sound absorbency,. due to the three-dimensional effect of the surface.

1 . A wallpaper for use in an automobile having a three-dimensional surface effect comprising: 
 a base of a cloth, nonwoven fabric or plastic sheeting; and    a printing liquid having a foaming agent comprising constituent parts, each comprising a thermoplastic polymer layer forming a cavity having a hydrocarbon gas, the printing liquid being printed on a surface of the base, the hydrocarbon gas of the foaming agent having been expanded by heat so as to provide a three-dimensional appearance to the wallpaper.    
     
     
         2 . The wallpaper as recited in  claim 1  wherein the weight of the wallpaper from approximately 30 g/m 2  to approximately 300 g/m 2 .  
     
     
         3 . A method for manufacturing a wallpaper for use in an automobile, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a wallpaper;    providing a printing liquid having a foaming agent comprising constituent parts, each comprising a thermoplastic polymer layer forming a cavity having a hydrocarbon gas;    printing the printing liquid onto the surface of the wallpaper; and    applying heat to the printed surface of the wallpaper to cause the hydrocarbon gas of the foaming agent to expand so as to provide a three-dimensional appearance to the wallpaper.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the constituent parts of the foaming agent have a diameter, before expansion, of approximately 5-50 μm, and wherein the thermoplastic polymer layer has a thickness of approximately 2-15 μm.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the hydrocarbon gas expands in volume by 30 times, upon application of heat.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the printing liquid comprises a resin selected from the group consisting of acryl, stylene, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylalcohol, polyester, ethylenevinylchloride, ethylenevinyl acetate or polyurethane and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the foaming agent comprises approximately 0.2 to 30 per cent by weight of the printing liquid.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of printing the printing liquid onto the surface of the wallpaper is carried out by using multiple print heads.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of printing the printing liquid onto the surface of the wallpaper is carried out by a printing process selected from the group consisting of a rotary screen method, a flat screen method and an offset printing method.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the weight of the wallpaper is from approximately 30 g/m 2  to approximately 300 g/m 2 .  
     
     
         11 . A wallpaper for use in an automobile having a three-dimensional surface effect formed by: 
 providing a wallpaper;    providing a printing liquid having a foaming agent comprising constituent parts, each comprising a thermoplastic polymer layer forming a cavity having a hydrocarbon gas;    printing the printing liquid onto the surface of the wallpaper; and    applying heat to the printed surface of the wallpaper to cause the hydrocarbon gas of the foaming agent to expand so as to provide a three-dimensional appearance to the wallpaper.