Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of forming a film of precious metal which is one or more of platinum, palladium, gold and silver on a substrate, which method comprises applying a homogeneous composition to a substrate and drying and firing the applied composition, said composition comprising polymeric resin and a solution, in water and a co-solvent, of thiolate of the precious metal, the composition containing 3-22% by weight of the precious metal as the thiolate, and the co-solvent, resin and thiolate being such that as the composition on the substrate dries and is progressively heated in firing, the water evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the resin and thiolate in the co-solvent, then the co-solvent evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the thiolate in the resin, and then the thiolate decomposes to the precious metal while the resin volatilizes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of forming a film of precious metal which is one or more of platinum, palladium, gold and silver on a substrate, which method comprises applying a homogeneous composition to a substrate and drying and firing the applied composition, said composition comprising polymeric resin and a solution, in water and a co-solvent, of thiolate of the precious metal, the composition containing 3-22% by weight of the precious metal as the thiolate, and the co-solvent, resin and thiolate being such that as the composition on the substrate dries and is progressively heated in firing, the water evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the resin and thiolate in the co-solvent, then the co-solvent evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the thiolate in the resin, and then the thiolate decomposes to the precious metal while the resin volatilizes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains 5-85% by weight of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains 40-55% by weight of water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the precious metal comprises gold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
method according to claim 4 wherein the thiolate is a gold compound of the formula Au--S--R--H or Au--S--R--X or a salt of either, in which: X represents a nitro group or a group of the formula --COOH, --SO 2 OH, --OH, --CONH 2 --NH 2 , or --O--P(O)(OH) 2 , any of whose hydrogen atoms are optionally substituted and R represents a divalent organic group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the gold compound of formula Au--S--R--H or Au--S--R--X is such that H--R--S--H or H--S--R--X represents: N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine; N-(3-mercaptopropionyl)glycine; N-(2-mercaptoacetyl)glycine; 2-mercaptoacetyl-L-histidine; 3-mercaptopropionyl-L-histidine; L-cysteine; acetylcysteine; or glutathione.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains 8-12% by weight of the precious metal as the thiolate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the resin comprises polyvinyl pyrrolidine, polymethacrylic or polycellulose ether resin, the majority of which volatilizes in the range of 200°-550° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the composition contains 5-45% by weight of the resin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the co-solvent has a boiling point between 100°-220° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the co-solvent comprises water-miscible alcohol, ester or ether.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the alcohol comprises 1,2-propanediol or 1,3-propanediol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the composition contains 5-45% by weight of the co-solvent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains in addition precious metal powder or insoluble precious metal compound to produce a burnished film on firing and then burnishing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains in addition an insoluble matting agent to produce a self-burnished film on firing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the substrate on which firing occurs is ceramic or glass.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the firing is at 460°-900° C.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of forming a film of precious metal, which is one or more of platinum, palladium, gold and silver, on a transfer substrate to prepare a transfer, by applying a homogeneous composition to the transfer substrate and drying the applied composition, said composition comprising polymeric resin and a solution, in water and a co-solvent, of thiolate of the precious metal, the composition containing 3-22% by weight of the precious metal as the thiolate, and the co-solvent, resin and thiolate being such that as the composition on a substrate dries and is progressively heated in firing, the water evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the resin and thiolate in the co-solvent, then the co-solvent evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the thiolate in the resin, and then the thiolate decomposes to the precious metal while the resin volatilizes.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of forming a film of precious metal, which is one or more of platinum, palladium, gold and silver, on a transfer substrate to prepare a transfer, by applying a homogeneous composition to the transfer substrate and drying the applied composition, said composition comprising polymeric resin and a solution, in water and a co-solvent, of thiolate of the precious metal, the composition containing 3-22% by weight of the precious metal as the thiolate, and the co-solvent, resin and thiolate being such that as the composition on a substrate dries and is progressively heated in firing, the water evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the resin and thiolate in the co-solvent, then the co-solvent evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the thiolate in the resin, and then the thiolate decomposes to the precious metal while the resin volatilizes.