USE OF GOLD AND PLATINUM MOD INKS FOR LUXURY BRANDS: A SUSTAINABLE WAY TO MANUFACTURE FASHION ITEMS APPLICAZIONE DI INCHIOSTRI METALLORGANICI DI PLATINO ED ORO PER L’INDUSTRIA DELLA MODA: UNA SCELTA SOSTENBILE PER OGGETTI DI LUSSO

With the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, research and development within metal finishing sectors observed a renewed interest. The demand for durable metals along with the need to save precious and rare mineral resources, such as noble metals, requires the development of radically new manufacturing processes capable to achieve good final appearance and suitable functionality of a product at the minimum cost regarding row materials and energy. In this context, we develop a method based on ink jet printing of thermally reducible noble metal–organic decomposition (MOD) inks. The MOD inks can be printed with high accuracy on metallic and ceramic surface for decorative and anticorrosion purposes. The decomposition process is achievable at relatively low temperature and being the inks free of metal particles there are no issues due to condensation and agglomeration. Overall, the method here proposed requires reduced amounts of noble metals and energy compared to traditional electrodeposition or PVD process constituting a more sustainable process for fashion and luxury items.