NL2033409B1

NL2033409B1 - Improved gravestones

Info

Publication number: NL2033409B1
Application number: NL2033409A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Erich Max
Original assignee: Erich Grafmonumenten
Priority date: 2022-10-28
Filing date: 2022-10-28
Publication date: 2024-05-17

Abstract

The invention is directed to a coated gravestone comprising a base body that is at least partially coated With a coating comprising a polyurea, in particular a polyaspartic. The coating is preferable essentially entirely surrounding the base body in a sealing manner. The invention is further directed to method for producing the gravestone.

Description

P133780NL00

Title: Improved gravestones

The invention is directed to gravestones, in particular to coated gravestones.

Gravestones, in the art also referred to as headstones, tombstones, memorial stones, burial stones, ornamental tablet and the like, are markers that are placed over or adjacent to graves. They usually contain the name, date of birth, date of death, and possibly other information of the deceased person that is buried in the grave. Generally, a gravestone serves as the focus of a grave for the surviving relatives and therefore does not only need to provide information, but also needs to be esthetically appropriate.

Traditionally, gravestones are made from stone such as granite, marble, limestone, sandstone and the like. Drawback of using stone are .a. the limited variation in esthetic options, the limited availability, and the economic costs. Less expensive options such as wood are however much less durable and generally degrade within one year or require regular maintenance.

In NL6815816, plastic gravestones based on polyester shells are disclosed. Other, but similar gravestones are disclosed in NL1031096. Other plastic gravestones are known to be based on epoxy resins.

A drawback of using polyester resins and epoxy resins, is that these plastics are generally not sufficiently weather and UV resistant nor sufficiently colorfast.

The present inventor surprisingly found that using a coating based on polyurea addresses at least part of these drawbacks.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a gravestone that is coated with a coating comprising polyurea. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a coated gravestone comprising a base body that is at least partially coated with a coating comprising a polyurea.

The coating comprising a polyurea is also referred to as a polyurea coating. Such coatings are known for flooring (see for instance

Howard et al. Surface Coatings International Part B: Coatings Transactions

Vol.86, B2, 91-168, June 2003). Polyurea coating are based on two components polyamines (typically diamines) and polyisocyanates.

In a preferred embodiment, the coating comprises a polyaspartic (also referred to as a polyaspartic coating). Polyaspartic coatings are specific types of polyurea and based on secondary diamines polyaspartic esters (PAEs) and polyisocyanates (typically isocyanate prepolymers) as primary components. See z.a. the aforementioned publication of Howard et al.;

Angeloff et al., Journal of Protective Coatings & Linings, 2002, 42-47;

US5126170, and US5243012; which are incorporated herein in their entirety).

Advantageously, the polyurea coating was found to be sufficiently weather and UV resistant, as well as sufficiently colorfast to be applied as a coating on gravestones.

In a most preferred embodiment, the polyaspartic is based on aliphatic PAEs and polyisocyanates as this leads to good colorfastness and thus limits or avoids discoloration of the coating.

The coating preferably comprises little to essential no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In addition, when cured, the coating preferably has an abrasion resistance in the range of at least 10 mg, preferably at least 20 mg as determined according to ASTM D4060 C17 wheel 1000 cycles. The coating has good mechanical properties and hardness and preferably has a shore D hardness of at least 60D, preferably at least 75D.

An advantage of polyaspartic coatings in particular, is the relatively slow curing time of its components. This favorably allows various coating methods including blending and the like to achieve particular aesthetic effects (vide infra). Accordingly, the polyaspartic coating is preferably characterized by a curing time at 20 °C and 50% relative humidity (RH) of 5 minutes or more, preferably in the range of 5 to 180 minutes, more preferably 10 to 120 minutes. The curing time is herein expressed as the time required to achieve dust-dry status.

Suitable polyaspartic coating materials are available from Bayer

MaterialScience, part of Covestro, Miles Corporation and Feiyang Protech

Corp.

It 1s further advantageous that the polyurea coating can be applied on a variety of base support bodies. The base body of the gravestone according to the present invention provides the gravestone with the intended shape and mechanical integrity. When preparing the gravestone of the invention, the surface of the base body is coated with the coating (vide infra).

The base body can be based on a variety of materials. Primarily, the base body comprises a base material that provides the structural support and mechanical integrity of the base body and the gravestone. In typical embodiments, the base material comprises or essentially consists of a material selected from the group consisting of plastics, wood, gypsum, concrete, including cementitious concrete and non-cementitious concrete, and combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments, the base material comprises concrete, more preferably on foamed concrete, most preferably autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). Foamed concrete, also known as cellular

Lightweight concrete or reduced density concrete, is particularly preferred for its relative low density and good mechanical integrity. In addition, foamed concrete can be easily shaped. An example of a suitable foamed concrete is that commercially available as Ytong from Xella Nederland BV.

In certain embodiments, in particular those wherein the base material is porous, the base material is pretreated before the coating is applied on the base body. This pretreatment can include applying an intermediate layer of gypsum, a primer and/or and an undercoat on the base material in order to reduce the tendency of this material to absorb the coating agent. This intermediate layer is accordingly preferably essentially isolating and/or non-porous, meaning that the coating agent is essentially not absorbed by this intermediate layer.

The base body can be constructed in numerous manner and its construction is not limiting the present invention. In a typical embodiment, the base body 1s essentially solid, in not hollow. It may be appreciated that solid herein means that the material is essentially homogeneously distributed over the entire volume of the base body. A base body that is porous and e.g. consists essentially of foamed concrete is accordingly a solid body in accordance with the present invention. In other embodiments however, the base body may be hollow and made from one or more shells, such as plastic shells e.g. as described in NL6815816 and NL1031096.

The gravestone may comprise further elements, for example support or framing element that support the gravestone when it is placed at the burial site. In general, a gravestone can be placed standing (also referred to as stele), laid flat or a combination of both. It may be appreciated that support elements that are commonly used for conventional gravestones can also be used for and/or combined with the gravestone of the present invention.

The base body provides structural integrity to the gravestone, while the coating provides the weather and UV resistance, as well as the desired aesthetics. To this end, it is preferred that the coating essentially entirely encloses the base body such that the body is not exposed to the environment of the gravestone. The coating can accordingly be air and liquid tight, sealing the interior from the environment. It may be appreciated that the coating itself does not require protection from the environment and that 1t may be exposed to the environment, both the surrounding air as well as the ground support on which the gravestone is resting.

The coating may have a thickness of about 0.1 cm to about 10 cm.

A thinner coating is generally more cost effective, but a thicker coating is generally more protective and better to smoothen any unevenness in the surface of the base body. In preferred embodiment, the coating has a thickness of about 0.5 to about 2 cm.

The coating may comprise additives that are known to be suitable 5 from other applications. Suitable additives can be appropriately selected based on the material of the base body. For instance, if the base body is based on concrete or other cement-based materials, additives can be selected that are known for coating concrete flooring with polyurea and/or polyaspartic.

The coating may further comprise additives for aesthetic purposes. In preferred embodiments, the coating is non-transparent meaning that the base body can not been seen through the coating. The coating may accordingly comprise colorants such as colored pigments and/or dyes. The coating may also comprise particles that provide an aesthetically pleasing effect such as shimmering particles, glistening particles, glitter particles, flakes, and the like. Mica particles and/or powder is particularly suitable. Flakes may be larger colored particles with varying hues that give the coating a flecked effect.

In Figure 1A, a cross-section of an exemplary gravestone 100 is illustrated. A base body 101 is entirely surrounded by a polyurea coating 102. Figure 1B shows a detailed view of the base body 101 and the polyurea coating 102 on the base body.

In Figure 2A, a cross-section of another exemplary gravestone 100 1s illustrated. In this particular embodiment, the base body 101 comprise an intermediate layer 103, on which the polyurea coating 102 is positioned.

Figure 2B shows a detailed view thereof.

A further aspect of the invention is directed to the method of producing the gravestone.

The base body can be provided by known shaping and formation techniques including modeling or shaping it from a preformed block, casting,

molding, additive manufacturing (also known as 3D-printing), and the like.

It is preferred that the base body is free from sharp edges (i.e. edges having an angle of 90° or less) to facilitate the complete coating of the body, including these edges.

As described herein-above, the base material can be treated with an intermediate material such as gypsum and/or a primer to reduced or prevent the absorption of the coating agent that is to be applied. To improve the binding of the coating to the base material, or to the optionally present intermediate layer, the surface onto which the coating agent is to be applied can be smoothened (e.g. sanded) and degreased before the coating agent is applied.

The coating agent is generally a two-component composition that can be prepared and mixed just moments before its application. For a polyurea, the two components are polyamines (typically diamines) and polyisocyanates. When mixed, these components cure and form the durable coating material. Any additive such as the colored pigments and/or dyes, and others can be mixed with the coating agent before its application and curing onto the base body.

Coating of the base body with the coating agent can be carried out using spray coating, pouring, and the like.

The coating method may comprise various techniques to achieve special aesthetic features. For example, in a particular embodiment, the coating method comprises applying two or more different coating agents, each based on essentially the same coating components but with different additives for different appearances, and partially blending the agents when coating the base body. For example, these coating agents can be applied separately onto the base body (e.g. using pouring) and then gently partially blended, for instance with a spatula, before the agents are cured to achieve a particular aesthetic. Alternatively, the two or more coating agents can be subsequently added to a container such as a beaker, and then applied (e.g.

poured) onto the base body in particular motions to achieve the desired visual effect. Yet, alternatively, or additionally, the two or more coating agents can be blended by moving the base body after the agents have been applied, for instance by tilting, and allowing the two or more coating agents to partially blend. Using these methods of application and blending of agents with different tones and intensities, a coating mimicking natural stone can for instance be achieved. In Figure 3A, a gray-scaled photograph of such effect 1s provided. Figure 3B shows a black-and-white drawing thereof.

The one or more coating agents can also be treated with droplets (e.g. sprayed, sprinkled, dripped or misted) comprising an organic liquid such an alcohol (e.g. ethanol) after the one or more agents are applied onto the base body and before they are cured. Optionally, the organic liquid can comprise one or more pigments such as metallic and/or mica pigments to achieve additional coloring effects. This can provide an aesthetically appealing, circular, cell-like visual effect that can also be observed with natural stone such as granite and travertine.

It may be appreciated that the application and blending of two or more visually different coating agents in accordance with the present invention includes a certain randomness in process and outcome, leading to unique coatings and gravestones. As such, each coating and gravestone that 1s produced can be unique in its appearance.

After the coating agent have been applied in a desired way, the agent can be allowed to cure to form the coating. Optionally, after- treatments such as polishing, burnishing or other surface treatment can be used to achieve a further desired visual effect.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" specify the presence of stated features but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features.

For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

The invention can be summarized by the following numbered embodiments. 1. Coated gravestone comprising a base body that is at least partially coated with a coating comprismg a polyurea. 2. Coated gravestone according to the previous numbered embodiment, wherein the coating comprises a polyaspartic. 3. Coated gravestone according to the previous numbered embodiment, wherein the polyaspartic is based on one or more aliphatic polyisocyanates. 4. Coated gravestone according to any of numbered embodiments 2-3, wherein the polyaspartic is based on one or more polyaspartic esters, preferably on one or more aliphatic polyaspartic esters. 5. Coated gravestone according to any of the previous numbered embodiments, wherein the base body comprises a base material selected from the group consisting of plastics, wood, gypsum, concrete, including cementitious concrete and non-cementitious concrete, and combinations thereof, preferably foamed concrete, most preferably autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). 6. Coated gravestone according to any of the previous numbered embodiments, wherein the base body comprises an intermediate layer at the interface with coating, wherein the intermediate layer is preferably essentially non-porous.

7. Coated gravestone according to any of the previous numbered embodiments, wherein the base body is essentially entirely enclosed by the coating.

8. Coated gravestone according to any of the previous numbered embodiments, wherein the surface of the coating is exposed to the environment of the gravestone.

9. Coated gravestone according to any of the previous numbered embodiments, wherein the coating has a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 10 cm, preferably 0.5 to 2 cm.

10. Coated gravestone according to any of the previous numbered embodiments, wherein the coating further comprising one or more additives selected from the group consisting of pigments, shimmering particles, glistening particles, glitter particles, flakes, and the like.

11. Coated gravestone according to any of the previous numbered embodiments, wherein the gravestone only has essentially flat surfaces, preferably wherein the gravestone has an essentially cuboid shape or a combination of cuboid shapes.

12. Method to produce a coated gravestone in accordance with any of the previous numbered embodiments, said method comprising providing a base body and one or more coating agents that each comprise polyamines and polyisocyanates, preferably, secondary diamines polyaspartic esters (PAE) and polyisocyanates, followed by coating said base body with the one or more coating agent, followed by allowing the coating agents to cure.

13. Method according to the previous numbered embodiment, wherein the one or more coating agents are applied on all external surfaces of the base body such that the base body is essentially entirely enclosed by the coating.

14. Method according to any of numbered embodiments 12-

13, wherein two or more coating agents are provided, each having a visually different appearance, and wherein the coating of said base body comprises applying and partially blending the two or more coating agents onto the base body.

15. Method according to any of numbered embodiments 12-

14, wherein the coating of said base body comprises applying the one or more coating agents onto the base body and treating the coatings agents with droplets comprising an organic liquid.

16. Grave comprising a coated gravestone according to any of numbered embodiments 1-11.

Claims

Conclusions

1. Covered grave monument comprising a basic body that is at least partially covered with a covering comprising a polyurea.

2. Covered grave monument according to the previous claim, wherein the covering comprises a polyaspartic.

3. Covered funerary monument according to the previous claim, wherein the polyaspartic is based on one or more aliphatic polyisocyanates.

4. Covered grave monument according to any of claims 2-3, wherein the polyaspartic is based on one or more polyaspartic esters, preferably on one or more aliphatic polyaspartic esters.

5. Covered grave monument according to any of the previous claims, wherein the basic body comprises a basic material selected from the group consisting of plastics, wood, plaster, concrete, including cementitious concrete and non-cementic concrete, and combinations thereof, for example wherein the basic material consists of foam concrete, preferably aerated concrete.

6. Covered grave monument according to any of the previous claims, wherein the basic body comprises an intermediate layer at the interface with the covering, the intermediate layer being essentially non-porous.

7. Covered grave monument according to any of the previous claims, wherein the basic body is essentially completely enclosed by the covering.

A covered grave monument according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of the covering is exposed from the environment of the grave monument.

9. Covered grave monument according to any of the previous claims, wherein the covering has a layer thickness in the range of 0.1 to 10 cm, preferably 0.5 to 2 cm.

A coated funerary monument according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating further comprises one or more additives selected from the group consisting of pigments, glitter particles, shiny particles, shiny particles, flakes, and the like.

11. Covered grave monument according to any of the previous claims, wherein the grave monument has essentially only flat surfaces, preferably wherein the grave monument has an essentially block shape (e.g. parallelepiped) or a composition of block shapes.

12. Method for making a coated funerary monument according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising providing a base body and one or more coating agents, which coating agents each comprise polyamines and polyisocyanates, preferably secondary diamines, polyaspartic esters (PAE) and polyisocyanates. , followed by coating the basic body with one or more coating agents, followed by allowing the coating agents to harden.

13. Method according to the previous claim, wherein the one or more coating means are applied to all external surfaces of the basic body so that the basic body is essentially completely enclosed by the coating.

Method according to any of claims 12-13, wherein two or more coating means are provided, each with a different visual appearance, and wherein coating the basic body comprises applying and partially mixing the two or more coating means on the basic body.

15. Method according to any of claims 12-14, wherein coating the basic body comprises applying the one or more coating means and treating the coating means with drops comprising an organic liquid.

16. Grave comprising a covered grave monument according to any of claims 1-11.