Method for determining distribution of polyethylene glycol in greenware

Abstract

A method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a ceramic blank includes: mixing PEG, water, and clay with a mixing parameter to form a ceramic blank; partially or completely contacting the ceramic blank with a liquid oil and maintaining it at 45°C to 145°C for 10 minutes to 4 hours, allowing the liquid oil to penetrate into the ceramic blank and react to form a reaction zone; observing the color distribution within the reaction zone of the ceramic blank; if a color difference exists within the reaction zone, it is determined that PEG is concentrated within the reaction zone; if no color difference exists within the reaction zone, it is determined that PEG is uniformly distributed within the reaction zone. This allows for easy visual assessment of the PEG distribution after boiling in oil.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks, and more particularly to a method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks by observing color difference after boiling in oil. Prior Technology

[0002] Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is an additive in ceramic preforms. A specific application is provided in Chinese Patent Publication No. CN 117902913 B, which describes a carbon-ceramic material body, its preparation method, and its application. The method includes: S10: providing a carbon-ceramic material preform, comprising multiple layers of carbon fiber material and a pre-mixture formed between adjacent carbon fiber material layers, the pre-mixture comprising ceramic material particles, a binder, and metal particles with magnetic induction properties; S20: placing the carbon-ceramic material preform in a liquid carbon source for liquid-phase deposition, using an oxygen-free environment and induction heating during the liquid-phase deposition process to obtain a carbon-ceramic preform; S30: graphitizing the carbon-ceramic preform to obtain the carbon-ceramic material body. This application can effectively reduce the material preparation cycle and difficulty, which is beneficial for large-scale industrial application.

[0003] In the aforementioned patent case, polyethylene glycol was used as a dispersant. However, the aforementioned patent case did not determine the dispersion of polyethylene glycol in the carbon ceramic body. If polyethylene glycol is excessively concentrated in a certain place, it may cause the stress conditions at that place to be different from those at other places, which may lead to cracks or even breakage on the carbon ceramic material or the ceramic products made thereafter. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, in order to determine the dispersion of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks as early as possible, the inventors have proposed a method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks, comprising: mixing polyethylene glycol, water, and clay with a mixing parameter to form a ceramic blank; partially or completely contacting the ceramic blank with a liquid oil and maintaining it at 45°C to 145°C for 10 minutes to 4 hours, allowing the liquid oil to penetrate into the ceramic blank and react to form a reaction zone; observing the color distribution in the reaction zone of the ceramic blank; if there is a color difference in the reaction zone of the ceramic blank, it is determined that the polyethylene glycol is concentrated in the reaction zone; if there is no color difference in the reaction zone of the ceramic blank, it is determined that the polyethylene glycol is uniformly distributed in the reaction zone.

[0005] The process involves placing clay containing polyethylene glycol and water into a mold and molding it into a ceramic blank.

[0006] One method involves first partially or completely contacting the ceramic blank with the liquid oil at room temperature, then heating the ceramic blank and the liquid oil together to 45 to 145 degrees Celsius and maintaining this temperature range for 10 minutes to 4 hours; or, first heating the liquid oil to 45 to 145 degrees Celsius, then partially or completely contacting the ceramic blank with the liquid oil and maintaining this temperature range for 10 minutes to 4 hours.

[0007] The process involves first exposing the ceramic blank, either partially or entirely, to the liquid oil at room temperature for 30 minutes to 30 days, and then maintaining it at 45 to 145 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes to 4 hours.

[0008] The process involves first air-drying the ceramic blank at room temperature for 3 to 5 days, and then partially or completely contacting the ceramic blank with the liquid oil.

[0009] The molecular weight of the polyethylene glycol is between 400 and 6000.

[0010] The mixing parameters include at least one of the following: the weight of polyethylene glycol is between 1 and 5, the weight of water is between 10 and 35, the weight of clay is between 60 and 89, the mixing speed is between 0.1 rpm and 40 rpm, the mixing time is between 0.2 hours and 4 hours, and the mixing temperature is between 15°C and 70°C.

[0011] The liquid oil is a base oil or lubricating oil with a saturated hydrocarbon content of less than 90% and a viscosity index of no more than 200.

[0012] The liquid oil system is spindle oil.

[0013] In this process, after the liquid oil penetrates into the ceramic blank, the polyethylene glycol and the liquid oil form a soft, swellable material in the reaction zone.

[0014] Based on the above technical features, the following effects can be preferably achieved:

[0015] 1. The distribution of polyethylene glycol can be easily determined visually after oil boiling without the need for other destructive testing. This oil boiling step can also help subsequent machining processes, such as milling, rather than being an extra step.

[0016] 2. Depending on the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol and the required processing depth, the heating temperature and time can be freely controlled to ensure that the ceramic blank has sufficient flexibility and hardness to cope with subsequent processing.

[0017] 3. During the milling of ceramic blanks, the soft, swellable material formed after oil boiling can absorb the vibration of the cutting tool and the energy of brittle fracture of the ceramic blank, and reduce the pressure of the chips in the milling cutter groove on the adjacent machining edge area, thereby avoiding fish-scale-like damage. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0018] [Figure 1] is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] [Figure 2] is a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing the ceramic blank.

[0020] [Figure 3] is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, showing that the ceramic blank is completely immersed in liquid oil and heated.

[0021] [Figure 4] is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention, showing that the ceramic blank is partially immersed in liquid oil and heated.

[0022] [Figure 5] is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention, showing that the ceramic blank is partially in contact with liquid oil and heated.

[0023] [Figure 6] is a photograph of an embodiment of the present invention, showing a cross-section of the ceramic blank after oil boiling, taken with an optical microscope.

[0024] [Figure 7] is a second photograph of an embodiment of the present invention, showing another cross-section of the ceramic blank after oil boiling, taken with an optical microscope.

[0025] [Figure 8] is a photograph of the third embodiment of the present invention, showing another cross-section of the ceramic blank after oil boiling, taken with an optical microscope.

[0026] [Figure 9] is a photograph of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the original intaglio processing of the ceramic blank taken with an optical microscope.

[0027] [Figure 10] is photograph five of the embodiments of the present invention, illustrating the engraving process of ceramic blanks after oil boiling using an optical microscope.

[0028] [Figure 11] is a photograph of the sixth embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the original relief milling process of the ceramic blank taken with an optical microscope.

[0029] [Figure 12] is photograph seven of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the engraving and milling process of ceramic blanks after oil boiling using an optical microscope.

[0030] [Figure 13] is a line graph of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the degree of breakage of the processing path at each point after the original relief milling of the ceramic blank.

[0031] [Figure 14] is a line graph of the embodiment of the present invention, showing the degree of cracking of the processing path at each point after the ceramic blank is boiled in oil and milled in relief. Implementation

[0032] Based on the above technical features, the main efficacy of the method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks in this invention will be clearly demonstrated in the following embodiments.

[0033] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3, which illustrate a method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks according to embodiments of the present invention, comprising:

[0034] A mixture of polyethylene glycol and water with a mixing parameter is added to a clay and then molded into a ceramic blank 1.

[0035] The clay contains, for example, clay, quartz, and feldspar, and the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight between 400 and 6000. The mixing parameters include: a polyethylene glycol weight of 1 to 5 parts by weight, water weight of 10 to 35 parts by weight, and clay weight of 60 to 89 parts by weight. The mixing parameters include at least one of the following: a mixing speed between 0.1 rpm and 40 rpm, a mixing time between 0.2 hours and 4 hours, and a mixing temperature between 15°C and 70°C.

[0036] For example, a cylindrical die with a pressure of 2 to 10 bar and a diameter of 32 mm can be used to place the clay containing the polyethylene glycol and water into the cylindrical die and mold the ceramic blank 1 with a diameter of 32 mm and a thickness of 4 ± 0.3 mm by uniaxial molding.

[0037] Next, the ceramic blank 1 is air-dried at room temperature, for example, between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius, for 3 to 5 days, and then partially or completely exposed to a liquid oil 2 at room temperature for 30 minutes to 30 days.

[0038] Finally, the ceramic blank 1, which is partially or completely in contact with the liquid oil 2, is heated together with the liquid oil 2 to 45 to 145 degrees Celsius and maintained within this temperature range for 10 minutes to 4 hours.

[0039] Alternatively, the liquid oil 2 can be heated to 45 to 145 degrees Celsius first, and then the ceramic blank 1 can be partially or completely exposed to the liquid oil 2 and kept within this temperature range for 10 minutes to 4 hours.

[0040] For example, the ceramic blank 1 can be soaked in the liquid oil 2, so that the liquid oil 2 completely covers the ceramic blank 1, and the ceramic blank 1 is fully in contact with the liquid oil 2, as shown in the third figure.

[0041] Alternatively, the ceramic blank 1 can be soaked in the liquid oil 2, but the liquid oil 2 does not completely submerge the ceramic blank 1, allowing the ceramic blank 1 to partially contact the liquid oil 2, as shown in Figure 4.

[0042] Alternatively, a clamp 4 can be used to hold the ceramic blank 1, allowing the ceramic blank 1 to partially contact the liquid oil 2, as shown in Figure 5.

[0043] Excessive heating temperature may cause the ceramic blank 1 to fail to maintain its shape and thus fail to be clamped for subsequent processing. Even if the ceramic blank 1 is successfully clamped, it may deform after clamping, affecting subsequent processing.

[0044] In actual implementation, a dripping method can also be used to allow the ceramic blank 1 to partially contact the liquid oil 2.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oil boiling step of contacting the ceramic blank 1 with the liquid oil 2 and heating it is carried out with universal sewing machine oil at 145 degrees Celsius. The molecular weight of the polyethylene glycol is 4000. In actual implementation, the liquid oil 2 can also be other types of spindle oil, or even other mineral oils, etc. Alternatively, the liquid oil 2 can also be a base oil or lubricating oil with a saturated hydrocarbon content of less than 90% and a viscosity index of no more than 200.

[0046] The heating process involves using a heating device 3 to heat the liquid oil 2 and the ceramic blank 1. For example, a stove with an open flame can be used. In practice, an induction cooker, microwave oven, or other flameless heating devices can also be used.

[0047] After the oil boiling step, the liquid oil 2 will penetrate into the ceramic blank 1 and react to form a reaction zone. The polyethylene glycol and the liquid oil 2 will form a soft bentonite in the reaction zone. The soft bentonite is different in color from the clay substrate. At this time, the color distribution in the reaction zone of the ceramic blank 1 can be directly observed, as shown in Figures 6 to 8.

[0048] When the ceramic blank 1 has a color difference in the reaction zone, it means that the polyethylene glycol is concentrated in the reaction zone.

[0049] When the ceramic blank 1 does not have the color difference in the reaction zone, it means that the polyethylene glycol is evenly distributed in the reaction zone.

[0050] When this color difference exists, the relatively darker areas may be due to the excessively high density of the polyethylene glycol. Users can use this information to make a judgment and try to adjust the mixing parameters, etc., in order to produce a ceramic blank 1 with a uniform distribution of polyethylene glycol and no color difference.

[0051] To determine the uniformity of additive distribution in traditional ceramic blank 1, it is usually necessary to observe its microstructure point by point, and then perform composition analysis and accumulate data from each point to judge the distribution of additives.

[0052] The method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks according to the present invention does not require other destructive testing. The distribution of polyethylene glycol can be easily and quickly determined by the naked eye after oil boiling, thereby assisting users in deciding whether to adjust the mixing parameters. This oil boiling step can also provide benefits for subsequent processing, rather than being an additional unnecessary step.

[0053] For example, depending on the required processing depth and the molecular weight of the polyethylene glycol used, the heating temperature and heating time can be adjusted appropriately so that the depth of the reaction zone into which the liquid oil 2 penetrates from the surface of the ceramic blank 1 is consistent with the required processing depth. Alternatively, the depth of the reaction zone can be determined based on the heating temperature and heating time to ensure that the color difference is determined within the reaction zone.

[0054] By controlling the heating temperature and heating time to adjust the depth of the reaction zone, the portion of the ceramic blank 1 into which the liquid oil 2 has penetrated will have sufficient flexibility to cope with subsequent processing, which can prevent the ceramic blank 1 from being damaged during subsequent processing and can also improve the crack area. The portion of the ceramic blank 1 that has not been penetrated by the liquid oil 2 will still retain sufficient hardness and strength, providing the necessary hardness and strength for clamping during subsequent processing, making it easy to clamp and process, and also controlling the degree of deformation of the ceramic blank 1.

[0055] In addition, after the liquid oil 2 penetrates into the ceramic blank 1 to form the soft bentonite, during the subsequent milling of the ceramic blank 1, the soft bentonite can absorb the vibration of the cutting tool and the brittle fracture energy of the ceramic blank 1, and reduce the extrusion of the chips in the milling groove on the edge of the adjacent machining area.

[0056] Please refer to Figures 9 and 10, and also to Figure 3. Traditionally, when the ceramic blank 1 is engraved, cracks often occur along the processing path. However, after the above-mentioned oil boiling step of contacting the ceramic blank 1 with the liquid oil 2 and heating it, if the cracking degree of the original engraving path is set at 100%, the cracking degree of the engraving path after oil boiling is reduced by 44% compared to the original engraving process.

[0057] In addition, Figures 9 and 10 show the degree of fracture by using straight solid lines to indicate the processing path and irregular solid lines to indicate the fractured area after processing.

[0058] Please refer to Figures 11 to 14, and also to Figure 3. Similarly, in the case of relief milling, the traditional ceramic blank 1 is prone to serious damage at the corners of the workpiece during the milling of complex shapes.

[0059] Figures 11 and 12 are stitched together from photos taken at six points. The numbers 1 to 6 in the figures represent the point numbers. Combined with the degree of breakage of the processing path at each point shown in Figures 13 and 14, it can be found that compared with the original relief milling process, the degree of breakage of the relief milling path after oil boiling is reduced by 6%, which proves that the oil boiling step does help reduce the damage of the ceramic blank 1 after processing.

[0060] Based on the above description of the embodiments, one can fully understand the operation, use and effects of the present invention. However, the above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the description of the invention are all within the scope of the present invention.

[0061] 1: Clay blank 2: Liquid oil 3: Heating equipment 4: Fixture

Claims

1. A method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in a ceramic blank, comprising: mixing polyethylene glycol, water, and clay with a mixing parameter to form a ceramic blank; partially or completely contacting the ceramic blank with a liquid oil and maintaining it at 45°C to 145°C for 10 minutes to 4 hours, allowing the liquid oil to penetrate into the ceramic blank and react to form a reaction zone; observing the color distribution within the reaction zone of the ceramic blank; determining that the polyethylene glycol is concentrated in the reaction zone when a color difference exists within the reaction zone; and determining that the polyethylene glycol is uniformly distributed within the reaction zone when no color difference exists within the reaction zone.

2. The method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks as described in claim 1, wherein, The clay containing polyethylene glycol and water is placed into a mold and then molded into a ceramic blank.

3. The method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks as described in claim 1, wherein, The ceramic blank is first partially or completely exposed to the liquid oil at room temperature, and then the ceramic blank and the liquid oil are heated together to 45 to 145 degrees Celsius and maintained within this temperature range for 10 minutes to 4 hours; or, the liquid oil is first heated to 45 to 145 degrees Celsius, and then the ceramic blank is partially or completely exposed to the liquid oil and maintained within this temperature range for 10 minutes to 4 hours.

4. The method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks as described in claim 1, wherein, The ceramic blank is first partially or completely exposed to the liquid oil at room temperature for 30 minutes to 30 days, and then kept at 45 to 145 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes to 4 hours.

5. The method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks as described in claim 1, wherein, The ceramic blank is first air-dried at room temperature for 3 to 5 days, and then partially or completely exposed to the liquid oil.

6. The method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks as described in claim 1, wherein, The molecular weight of this polyethylene glycol is between 400 and 6000.

7. The method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks as described in claim 1, wherein, The mixing parameters include at least one of the following: the weight of polyethylene glycol is between 1 and 5, the weight of water is between 10 and 35, the weight of clay is between 60 and 89, the mixing speed is between 0.1 rpm and 40 rpm, the mixing time is between 0.2 hours and 4 hours, and the mixing temperature is between 15°C and 70°C.

8. The method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks as described in claim 1, wherein, The liquid oil is a base oil or lubricating oil with a saturated hydrocarbon content of less than 90% and a viscosity index of no more than 200.

9. The method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks as described in claim 1, wherein, This liquid oil system is spindle oil.

10. The method for determining the distribution of polyethylene glycol in ceramic blanks as described in claim 1, wherein, After the liquid oil penetrates into the ceramic blank, the polyethylene glycol and the liquid oil form a soft, swellable material in the reaction zone.