Dynamic texture ceramic

Abstract

The utility model provides a dynamic texture ceramic. The dynamic texture ceramic comprises a ceramic body, the thermochromic pigment layer is coated on the surface of the ceramic body; the transparent protective layer is coated on the outer side of the thermochromic pigment layer and is used for ensuring the long-term stability and the use effect of the thermochromic pigment layer; and the pipeline part is arranged on the inner wall of the ceramic body and used for circulating hot fluid so as to transfer heat to the thermochromic pigment layer, so that the thermochromic pigment layer changes color, and the pipeline part is obtained through printing by a ceramic 3D printing technology. The thermal fluid flows in the pipeline part, so that reversible color change can occur on the surface of the ceramic body, and dynamic patterns which are richer and can be calculated compared with a traditional thermochromic cup are formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of dynamic textured ceramics technology, specifically to a dynamic textured ceramic. Background Technology

[0002] Ceramics, as a common decorative and everyday material, has rarely been explored as an object capable of generating animation effects. Currently, research on ceramic 3D printing in the field of human-computer interaction mainly focuses on the following aspects:

[0003] Optimize print quality: The print path is optimized using dedicated software to achieve accurate printing of complex geometries.

[0004] Exploring Innovative Printing Materials: Researchers are working to improve material properties to expand the design possibilities of ceramic 3D printing. For example, mixing clay with biomaterial dough or embedding filaments in extruded clay to enhance tensile strength enables the printing of complex cantilevered and unsupported structures.

[0005] Enhancing the interactive experience: Related research has explored various methods for users to control the printing process, such as printing based on hand-drawn paths, using joystick control, or interacting with visual panels, enabling users to participate more directly in the printing process.

[0006] However, currently, the animation surface effects and information display on ceramic materials are not rich enough. Usually, only thermochromic cups that can achieve color change from bottom to top are possible.

[0007] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a novel fluid composite color-changing material in the prior art.

[0008] like Figure 1As shown in Yu T, Xu W, Xu H, et al. Thermotion: Design and fabrication of thermofluidic composites for animation effects on object surfaces[C] / / Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.2023: 1-19. This article describes a novel fluid composite color-changing material with the following structure: a channel layer, a fluid layer, a thermally conductive layer, and a rendering layer. The channel layer refers to the material with fluid channels embedded under the surface of the object; the fluid layer refers to fluids at different temperatures acting as heat and cold sources; the thermally conductive layer is an optional layer, not mandatory, used to enhance temperature diffusion on the surface of the channel layer; the rendering layer uses thermochromic pigments to create color-changing responses based on temperature changes. Therefore, when the composite color-changing material is running, hot fluids at different temperatures flow through the channels embedded under the object's surface. Due to heat conduction, the temperature of the object's surface is dynamically changed and controlled, which activates the color-changing effect of the thermochromic pigments in the rendering layer, thereby producing texture animation effects.

[0009] Chinese utility model patent application number 202310436489.6 discloses a method and system for simulating the dynamic effects of thermal fluid composite materials. The method includes: acquiring the geometric structure of different layers, the color temperature mapping of thermochromic coatings, and other empirical parameters, and performing initial simulation configuration; performing simulation, simulating the flow of thermal fluid in real time, i.e., flow temperature, flow velocity, and direction, and switching between three-dimensional optical and thermal views to view and record the real-time simulation results; after the simulation is completed, analyzing the simulation results based on the output timestamped optical and thermal videos and the operation log of the thermal fluid. This method solves the problem of the difficulty in simulating the dynamic effects of thermal fluid color rendering.

[0010] Chinese utility model patent application number 202310436492.8 discloses a flow channel design method and system for variable color heat transfer fluids, including: constructing a three-dimensional flow channel model and importing the three-dimensional flow channel model into a flow channel design tool; selecting a basic flow channel line shape and generating flow channel lines through the flow channel design tool; calculating and generating a three-dimensional flow channel structure based on the flow channel lines and inputting set dimensional parameters; adding inlet and outlet pipes based on the three-dimensional flow channel structure to improve the three-dimensional flow channel structure and generate the final flow channel design scheme. This method solves the shortcomings of existing variable color heat transfer fluid flow channel design technologies, which are characterized by high difficulty and high cost.

[0011] The aforementioned patents are all utility models of the inventor of this patent. However, since ceramic materials are semi-fluid and soft clay-like during printing, the aforementioned utility models cannot be fully realized and have the following drawbacks:

[0012] 1. During the printing process of the pipe section, there are problems such as large-area falling off of the upper clay strips and deformation due to compression. Since the clay will shrink further after firing, it will cause poor water flow.

[0013] 2. During the printing process of the pipe, there is a problem that the upper layer of clay strip cannot adhere properly and falls off. Because the pipe is relatively thin, any deformation or collapse of the pipe can easily lead to blockage. Therefore, the radius of the pipe needs to be designed to be large enough. However, this will result in an excessively thick curved surface, which is not suitable for some application scenarios.

[0014] 3. During the printing process, if the starting point of each layer is always fixed in the same position, obvious seams may appear at the starting point of each layer, or even lead to breakage.

[0015] 4. During the printing process, the pipe is prone to deformation due to its large inclination angle and the semi-fluid state of the clay strip, leading to misalignment and breakage, thus preventing the upper layer from being successfully printed. Utility Model Content

[0016] This invention was developed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a dynamic textured ceramic.

[0017] This invention provides a dynamic textured ceramic, comprising: a ceramic body; a thermochromic pigment layer coated on the surface of the ceramic body; a transparent protective layer coated on the outside of the thermochromic pigment layer to ensure the long-term stability and performance of the thermochromic pigment layer; and a pipe section disposed on the inner wall of the ceramic body for circulating hot fluid to transfer heat to the thermochromic pigment layer, causing the thermochromic pigment layer to change color. The pipe section is printed using ceramic 3D printing technology.

[0018] The dynamic textured ceramic provided by this utility model may also have the following feature: wherein the pipe section and the ceramic body form a channel through which the heating fluid passes, and the cross-section of the channel is a flat arch shape.

[0019] The dynamic textured ceramic provided by this utility model may also have the following feature: it further includes a decorative pattern layer, which is coated between the surface of the dynamic textured ceramic and the thermochromic pigment layer and is obtained by drawing with glaze.

[0020] The dynamic textured ceramic provided by this utility model may also have the following feature: the thermochromic pigment used in the thermochromic pigment layer can change between colored and colorless depending on the temperature. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a novel fluid composite color-changing material in the prior art;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the dynamic textured ceramic in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the digital manufacturing method for dynamic textured ceramics in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of printing a pipe on a curved surface in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the splicing process in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the application of thermochromic pigment in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the heart-shaped cups in an embodiment of this utility model; and

[0028] Figure 8 These are comparison diagrams showing four different shapes of the pipe section in embodiments of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0029] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0030] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this utility model easy to understand, the following embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will specifically illustrate the dynamic textured ceramic and its digital manufacturing method of this utility model.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the dynamic textured ceramic in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, this utility model discloses a dynamic textured ceramic 100, including: a ceramic body 10, a pipe part 20, and a coating part 30.

[0033] The coating section 30 includes, from the inside out, a thermochromic pigment layer, a decorative pattern layer, and a transparent protective layer.

[0034] The pipe section 20 is disposed on the inner wall of the ceramic body 10 and is used to circulate hot fluid to transfer heat to the thermochromic pigment layer, causing the thermochromic pigment layer to change color. The pipe section 20 is printed by ceramic 3D printing technology.

[0035] Ceramic 3D printing technology uses a relief printing method, and in this embodiment, the FDM ceramic printing method is used.

[0036] The printers used in the FDM ceramic printing method are very inexpensive, ranging from several thousand to 20,000 yuan. The printing cost is basically the same as the cost of the clay. The lower cost makes it easier to promote this invention as a commercial product for daily-use ceramics.

[0037] The pipe section 20 and the ceramic body 10 form a channel through which the heating fluid passes, and the cross-section of the channel is a flat arch shape.

[0038] The maximum width of the cross section of the pipe section 20 is 4mm, thereby ensuring that the lines of the texture effect in the dynamic texture ceramic 100 are of consistent thickness. The maximum height of the cross section of the pipe section 20 is 4mm, thereby ensuring that the thickness of the entire dynamic texture ceramic 100 is consistent.

[0039] The decorative pattern layer is applied between the surface of the ceramic body 10 and the thermochromic pigment layer, and is created by applying glaze.

[0040] A thermochromic pigment layer is coated on the surface of the ceramic body 10, on the outer side of the decorative pattern layer.

[0041] The thermochromic pigments used in thermochromic pigment layers can change between colored and colorless depending on the temperature.

[0042] A transparent protective layer is coated on the outside of the thermochromic pigment layer to ensure the long-term stability and performance of the thermochromic pigment layer.

[0043] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the digital manufacturing method for the dynamic textured ceramic 100 in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0044] like Figure 3 As shown, the digital manufacturing method of dynamic textured ceramic 100 specifically includes the following steps:

[0045] S1, Design a model of the internal pipe section 20 of the ceramic body 10 in the dynamic textured ceramic 100.

[0046] Because clay is in a semi-fluid state during printing, printing the pipe section 20 inside the side wall of the ceramic body 10 often results in problems such as clay strip collapse and deformation, leading to pipe blockage. These problems limit the freedom of this invention during the manufacturing stage, especially in terms of pipe shape design and printing parameters. To solve these challenges, we have conducted in-depth research on pipe shape design on planar and curved surfaces and their printing methods.

[0047] The pipe section 20 includes a flat printing section and a curved printing section.

[0048] Step S1 also includes the following sub-steps:

[0049] S1-1, In the planar printing section, a finer extruder is used to print the pipe section 20. The line diameter of the extruder is 1.2 mm and the printing layer thickness is 0.4 mm.

[0050] In this embodiment, the pipe section 20 is a flat arch shape.

[0051] The pipe section 20 is a flat arch, and the maximum width of each pipe is set to 4mm to ensure that the lines of the texture effect in the dynamic texture ceramic 100 are of consistent thickness. The maximum height of each pipe is set to 4mm to ensure that the thickness of the entire dynamic texture ceramic 100 is consistent.

[0052] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of printing a pipe on a curved surface in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0053] like Figure 4 As shown in (a), in the curved printing section, there is a problem that the upper clay strip cannot adhere properly and falls off. Because the pipe is relatively thin, any deformation or collapse of the pipe can easily lead to blockage. In addition, considering the shrinkage of the clay after drying and firing, we need to design the radius of the pipe to be large enough. In addition, the outer shell will make the curved surface too thick, which is not suitable for some application scenarios.

[0054] S1-2, as shown Figure 4 As shown in (b), in this embodiment, in the curved surface printing part, a curved structure with an arched and protruding pipe part 20 is designed on the curved surface. The wall thickness of the pipe part 20 is set to twice the nozzle diameter. Using the relief printing method, a zero fill rate is adopted, and only the inner and outer walls are printed. The outer wall is a flat wall, which is used to apply thermochromic pigment to display dynamic texture. The inner wall is a protruding pipe and is not used to display texture.

[0055] like Figure 4As shown in (c), if the starting point of each layer is always fixed in the same position, obvious seams are likely to be generated at the starting point of each layer, which may even lead to breakage.

[0056] Therefore, in this embodiment, the starting point of each layer should be set to a random position when slicing.

[0057] like Figure 4 As shown in (d), when printing horizontal pipes, the tall arched pipes are prone to deformation during the printing process due to their large inclination angle and the semi-fluid state of the clay strips, resulting in misalignment and breakage, which prevents the upper layer from being successfully printed.

[0058] In this embodiment, as Figure 4 As shown in (e), the above-mentioned defects can be avoided by using a flat arched pipe, resulting in better printing results.

[0059] S2, based on the model, uses ceramic 3D printing technology to print, employing a relief printing method to obtain a ceramic matrix.

[0060] Due to the limitations of clay materials in the printing process, they are in a semi-fluid state and are prone to collapse and deformation. Currently, the relief printing method is only suitable for printing simple pipe sections on the surface of three-dimensional objects with smooth, soft curves (such as cups and vases).

[0061] To further expand the possibilities of ceramic forms, we introduced a splicing technique. By combining the flow channel structure of a planar design space with diverse handcrafted or 3D printed components, more complex dynamic textured composite forms can be achieved. A planar surface with internal flow channels can serve as an important component of a three-dimensional object, such as a cup wall, base, or decorative element, as illustrated in the example below. The splicing technique effectively broadens our design space, bringing more possibilities to the design of this utility model.

[0062] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the splicing process in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0063] Specifically, step S2 also includes the following sub-steps:

[0064] S2-1, as shown Figure 5 (a) and Figure 5 As shown in (b), in the preparation stage, prepare the assembly parts, ensure that all parts meet the assembly requirements, and adjust the clay slurry to a suitable consistency to avoid insufficient adhesion due to excessively thin clay slurry, and difficulty in application and cracking due to excessively thick clay slurry.

[0065] S2-2, as shown Figure 5 (c) and Figure 5As shown in (d), during the assembly stage, clay slurry is evenly applied to the contact surfaces of the parts to ensure a good bonding effect. Then, the parts are assembled, and the components are spliced ​​into a composite shape according to the design requirements.

[0066] S2-3, as shown Figure 5 As shown in (e), during the sanding stage, a wet sponge is used to sand the seams of the parts to make them flat and smooth, ensuring an aesthetically pleasing overall appearance.

[0067] S3 involves air-drying the ceramic substrate to remove moisture, then applying glaze to the surface of the ceramic substrate to create decorative patterns, followed by high-temperature firing to obtain a robust ceramic.

[0068] S4. Apply thermochromic pigments to the surface of a solid ceramic to obtain dynamic textured ceramic 100.

[0069] Thermochromic pigments come in two types: colorless to colored and colored to colorless. Creators can choose between these two types of pigments and apply them using either flat wash or painting techniques.

[0070] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the application of thermochromic pigment in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0071] like Figure 6 (a) and Figure 6 As shown in (b), a flat coating is applied, evenly coating the entire ceramic surface with pigment. This method allows the dynamic texture ceramic 100 surface to gradually generate dynamic textures along the pipe path after water is passed through.

[0072] like Figure 6 As shown in (c), a pattern is drawn on the surface of the ceramic body 10 using thermochromic pigments and glaze. The creator can draw any pattern on the ceramic surface with the glaze. After firing, thermochromic pigments are applied to certain areas. Through the clever combination of glaze patterns and color-changing pigments, dynamic effects that transcend the limitations of pipe paths can be presented on the surface of the ceramic body 10.

[0073] Step S4 also includes the following sub-steps:

[0074] S4-1, an additional transparent protective layer is applied to the surface of the thermochromic pigment to ensure its long-term stability and effectiveness.

[0075] S5. Hot water is introduced into the pipes inside the dynamic texture ceramic 100, so that the surface of the dynamic texture ceramic 100 presents a dynamic texture effect.

[0076] This invention generates dynamic textures through water flow, making it well-suited for products that require water, such as drinking cups, tea pets that need to be poured with tea, and interactive water-themed decorative ornaments. The image shows a water cup made using a modular molding process. The straight walls are formed by printing a flat surface and include an internal pipe section 20; the heart-shaped cup wall is also printed, but does not have the internal pipe section 20. The two parts are then joined to form a complete cup body.

[0077] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the heart-shaped cups in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0078] like Figure 7 As shown, this invention produces a set of two cups that can be assembled into a complete heart shape. A colorless to colored pink thermochromic pigment is applied to the straight-walled surface. When drinking water is poured into the flow channel, the cup walls dynamically display a heart-shaped texture, giving the cups a strong emotional connotation. Water flows along the channel into the cup, making it drinkable and achieving a fusion of function and interactive experience.

[0079] The core of achieving dynamic texture changes on the surface of dynamic textured ceramic 100 is to utilize the response characteristics of thermochromic pigments to temperature changes.

[0080] This invention designs and prints a ceramic body 10 having a pipe section 20 inside. After firing, a thermochromic pigment is coated on the ceramic surface. When hot fluid flows through the pipe, the temperature change is transmitted to the ceramic surface. After reaching a certain temperature, the thermochromic pigment undergoes a reversible color change, and the ceramic surface displays different dynamic textures according to different pipe paths.

[0081] Example 2

[0082] In this embodiment, compared to Embodiment 1, the pipe section 20 is square in shape.

[0083] Example 3

[0084] In this embodiment, compared to Embodiment 1, the pipe section 20 is circular in shape.

[0085] Example 4

[0086] In this embodiment, compared to Embodiment 1, the shape of the pipe section 20 is triangular.

[0087] Figure 8 These are comparison diagrams showing four different shapes of the pipe section 20 in embodiments of this utility model.

[0088] like Figure 8 As shown, there are four different shapes of pipes: square, circular, triangular, and arched.

[0089] As can be seen from the top view, square pipes are unsuitable because the upper clay strips tend to fall off in large areas during printing due to the lack of a tapering structure at the top. In contrast, circular, triangular, and arched pipes exhibit significantly less clay strip collapse.

[0090] Side view observation revealed that, due to the semi-fluid state of the clay during extrusion, all pipe shapes exhibited varying degrees of compression deformation after printing. Considering the further shrinkage of the clay after firing, and to ensure unobstructed water flow, the cross-sectional areas of the remaining three pipe shapes were compared. Under the same width and height, the arched pipe had a larger cross-sectional area. Therefore, in this embodiment, the arched pipe was ultimately selected as the optimal shape.

[0091] Example 5

[0092] In this embodiment, compared to Embodiment 1, the ceramic 3D printing technology adopts 3DP ceramic 3D printing technology.

[0093] 3DP ceramic 3D printing technology is an additive manufacturing process that uses a nozzle to spray binder to bond ceramic powder layer by layer, creating three-dimensional ceramic parts that can achieve more styles and precision.

[0094] Compared to Example 1, the cost of 3D printing ceramics in this example is very high. A printed sample with dimensions of approximately 4 cm in length, width, and height costs over 1200 yuan, which greatly limits its commercial promotion as a daily-use ceramic product. Furthermore, the size of the finished product produced by 3D printing is limited to under 5 cm, making it impossible to produce larger items. Therefore, 3D printing is more suitable for precision ceramic printing and not for printing everyday ceramics.

[0095] The role and effect of the embodiments

[0096] This invention relates to dynamic textured ceramics, and for the first time explores the realization of animated surface effects on ceramic materials. Unlike commercially available thermochromic mugs that only achieve color changes from bottom to top, this research achieves richer and more calculable dynamic effects and information display. Through adjustments and design of the pipe structure, the dynamic textured ceramics can be fully realized.

[0097] This invention uses an arch shape for the pipe section, which not only prevents the upper clay strips from falling off in large areas during the printing process, but also ensures smooth water flow and has a large pipe cross-sectional area, preventing water flow obstruction after the clay shrinks during firing.

[0098] In this invention, the arch of the pipe section is set as a flat arch, which can avoid the pipe from deforming during the printing process due to a large inclination angle and the semi-fluid state of the clay strip, resulting in misalignment and breakage, thus preventing the upper layer from being successfully printed.

[0099] Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A dynamic textured ceramic, characterized in that, include: Ceramic body; A thermochromic pigment layer is coated on the surface of the ceramic body; A transparent protective layer, coated on the outside of the thermochromic pigment layer, is used to ensure the long-term stability and performance of the thermochromic pigment layer; and The pipe section, located on the inner wall of the ceramic body, is used to circulate hot fluid to transfer heat to the thermochromic pigment layer, causing the thermochromic pigment layer to change color. The pipe section is printed using ceramic 3D printing technology.

2. The dynamic textured ceramic according to claim 1, characterized in that: in, The pipe section and the ceramic body form a channel through which the heating fluid passes, and the cross-section of the channel is a flat arch shape.

3. The dynamic textured ceramic according to claim 1, characterized in that: in, It also includes a decorative pattern layer, coated between the dynamic textured ceramic surface and the thermochromic pigment layer, which is applied by glaze.

4. The dynamic textured ceramic according to claim 1, characterized in that: in, The thermochromic pigment used in the thermochromic pigment layer can change between colored and colorless depending on the temperature.

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