A small-sized metal sample chemical conversion process proofing line

Abstract

This utility model relates to the technical field of metallization, and in particular to a small-scale metal sample formation process prototyping line. It includes multiple chemical solution tanks arranged sequentially along the formation process steps, and multiple cleaning tanks corresponding one-to-one with each chemical solution tank and arranged sequentially along the formation process steps. The chemical solution tanks include a cold acid tank, a degreasing tank, an etching tank, a bleaching tank, a formation tank, and a sealed tank. Each chemical solution tank contains a corresponding metal surface treatment solution for performing a corresponding surface treatment process on the metal sample. In summary, this utility model's small-scale metal sample formation process prototyping line, through its independent small tank design for each process, significantly reduces equipment, material, and energy costs. It is adaptable to parallel testing of multiple formulations to improve R&D efficiency and can accurately match the formation process to ensure processing quality, thus overcoming the shortcomings of existing large tanks.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of metallization, and in particular to a small metal sample formation process prototyping line. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of metal surface treatment, chemical conversion is a key technology that uses chemical reactions to form a dense and stable chemical conversion film on the metal surface, thereby improving the metal's corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and the adhesion of subsequent coatings. It is widely used in the processing of metal materials such as magnesium alloys. Currently, the industry mainly uses centralized large-scale processing tanks for metal chemical conversion processes. These large tanks typically have a volume of 500-1000L, allowing for the surface treatment of a large number of metal workpieces at once. This scaled-up operation improves production efficiency and is suitable for batch production scenarios.

[0003] However, large tanks have significant technical drawbacks in scenarios such as the development of metal surface treatment solutions and the production of small-batch samples: Excessive cost and energy consumption: Large tanks are expensive to manufacture, and hundreds of liters of chemical solution need to be injected for each operation. For small metal samples (such as magnesium alloy samples for R&D testing) that only need to be processed with dimensions of 50mm×50mm×5mm, the utilization rate of chemical solution is extremely low, with more than 90% of the chemical solution being wasted because it cannot fully react with the sample. At the same time, the energy consumption of auxiliary functions such as heating and stirring in large tanks is significantly higher than that of small processing needs, resulting in energy waste.

[0004] Poor R&D adaptability: Pharmaceutical solution R&D companies need to conduct comparative tests on different formulations of chemical solutions, degreasers, etching solutions, etc., or provide samples to factories for prototyping to verify the effectiveness of the solutions. Large tanks cannot achieve "independent control of a single process." When changing solutions, the entire tank must be emptied, which is not only cumbersome and time-consuming, but also prone to cross-contamination of different formulations, failing to meet the core requirements of "parallel testing of multiple formulations and rapid switching" in R&D scenarios.

[0005] Insufficient process flexibility: The metallization process involves multiple steps such as cold acid treatment, degreasing, etching, bleaching, formation, and sealing, and each chemical solution step requires a subsequent cleaning step to remove residual chemicals. Large tanks are mostly designed as "multi-process integrated" systems, making it impossible to break down or adjust the sequence of processes according to specific process requirements. If a problem occurs in one process, the entire production process must be suspended, severely impacting the continuity of R&D testing.

[0006] In the current technology, there is no dedicated equipment for prototyping small metal samples for chemical formation processes. The technical defects of large tanks lead to low R&D efficiency and high costs, which has become a key problem restricting the R&D of metal surface treatment solutions and the processing of small batches of samples. There is an urgent need for a prototyping equipment for chemical formation processes that is suitable for small samples, low cost, and highly flexible. Utility Model Content

[0007] To overcome the shortcomings mentioned above, this utility model aims to provide a technical solution that can solve the above problems.

[0008] This utility model provides a small metal sample formation process prototyping line, including multiple chemical solution tanks arranged sequentially along the formation process steps and multiple cleaning tanks corresponding one-to-one with each chemical solution tank and arranged sequentially along the formation process steps. The chemical solution tank includes a cold acid tank, a degreasing tank, an etching tank, a bleaching tank, a formation tank, and a sealed tank. Each chemical solution tank contains a corresponding metal surface treatment solution for performing corresponding surface treatment processes on metal samples. The cold acid tank is filled with an acidic solution for preliminary treatment of the surface of metal samples. The degreasing tank is filled with a degreasing agent to remove organic contaminants such as grease, sweat, and dust from the surface of the metal sample. The etching tank is filled with acidic or alkaline etching solution for slight corrosion of the metal sample surface. The bleaching tank is filled with bleach to remove defects such as dullness and dust that may occur on the surface of the metal sample after etching. The formation tank is filled with a formation solution, which is used to generate a dense and stable formation film on the surface of the metal sample. The sealed tank is filled with a sealing agent to fill or cover the tiny pores of the chemically formed film. The cleaning tank is filled with cleaning liquid, which is used to clean the residual drug on the surface of the metal sample after treatment in the previous drug tank.

[0009] Furthermore: the cleaning tank is made of PP material; the upper side wall of the cleaning tank is provided with a water inlet and an overflow outlet, the water inlet is connected to a water inlet pipe to inject cleaning liquid, and the overflow outlet is connected to an overflow pipe to discharge overflow liquid; the bottom of the cleaning tank is provided with a drain outlet, and the drain outlet is connected to a drain pipe to discharge the cleaning liquid in the tank.

[0010] Furthermore: the cleaning tank includes a first cleaning tank and a second cleaning tank arranged sequentially along the formation process steps; the first cleaning tank is used for preliminary cleaning of the metal sample, and the second cleaning tank is used for secondary cleaning of the metal sample after preliminary cleaning.

[0011] Furthermore: the cold acid tank, etching tank, formation tank, and closed tank are all made of PP material; the upper side wall of the cold acid tank, etching tank, formation tank, and closed tank is provided with a liquid inlet, which is connected to a liquid inlet pipe to inject the corresponding process solution; the bottom of the cold acid tank, etching tank, formation tank, and closed tank is provided with a drain port, which is connected to a drain pipe to discharge the remaining solution in the tank.

[0012] Furthermore, the degreasing tank and the bleaching tank are both made of 304 or 316 stainless steel.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes at least one built-in basket; the built-in basket is made of PP material, and its side walls and bottom walls are provided with through holes in an array; the interior of the built-in basket forms a receiving space for accommodating metal samples, and the outer wall size of the built-in basket is adapted to the inner cavity size of the drug solution tank and the cleaning tank, so that the built-in basket can be placed into the inner cavity of the drug solution tank or the cleaning tank, and can also be taken out from the inner cavity of the drug solution tank or the cleaning tank.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a top cover that corresponds one-to-one with the medicine tank and the cleaning tank; the outer dimensions of the top cover are slightly larger than the top opening size of the medicine tank and the cleaning tank, and the edge of the top cover can be placed on the side wall of the top of the tank to completely cover the top opening of the tank; the top cover is made of PP material or stainless steel material, and at least one handle is fixed on the upper part of the top cover.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: ① Significantly reduce costs and minimize resource waste In terms of equipment cost: The design adopts "single-process independent small tank", and the tank size of each tank is uniformly 600mm long × 400mm wide × 400mm high. The effective volume of a single tank is about 96L (based on 80% liquid level). The manufacturing cost is only 1 / 5 to 1 / 3 of that of a large tank, which greatly reduces equipment investment. In terms of material and energy costs: the amount of medicine used in a single tank is only 1 / 5 to 1 / 10 of that in a traditional large tank, effectively avoiding waste of medicine; at the same time, the auxiliary equipment such as coolers and heating devices in small tanks have lower power consumption, reducing energy consumption by more than 60%, and can significantly reduce resource consumption in the long term.

[0016] ② Adapt to R&D needs and improve testing efficiency Enables parallel testing of multiple formulations: Each reagent tank is set up independently, and different formulations of reagents (such as different concentrations of formation solution and etching solution) can be injected separately. With multiple PP material built-in baskets to carry different batches of samples, multiple sets of experiments can be carried out simultaneously, improving testing efficiency by 3-5 times. Quick switching between processes and solutions: The solution in a single tank can be changed without emptying the entire tank. Each solution process is followed by an independent cleaning tank to avoid cross-contamination. The testing cycle for a single formula is shortened from 24 hours in traditional large tanks to 4-6 hours, significantly improving the R&D progress.

[0017] ③ Strong process adaptability, ensuring processing quality Precisely matching the requirements of the chemical formation process: The tank material is strictly adapted to the characteristics of the chemical solutions in each process (such as cold acid and etching tanks using strong acid and alkali resistant PP material, and degreasing and bleaching tanks using 304 / 316 stainless steel material), and is equipped with auxiliary equipment such as coolers, heating devices, and gas stirring devices to ensure that the process parameters of each process are stable and controllable, and the quality of the chemically formed film and the cleaning effect are consistent with the mass production level of large tanks. The process layout is flexible and controllable: the tanks are set up in a standardized process sequence of "cold acid → cleaning → degreasing → cleaning → etching → cleaning → bleaching → cleaning → formation → cleaning → sealing → cleaning". The number of tanks or the process sequence can be increased or decreased or adjusted according to actual needs to adapt to the personalized processing needs of different metal samples.

[0018] ④ Convenient and safe operation, enhancing the user experience Convenient design: The built-in basket adopts a hollow structure (20mm diameter through hole) to facilitate the flow of liquid and sample transfer, and the outer wall size is precisely adapted to the inner cavity of the tank. Operators can easily transfer the sample by lifting it by the edge or by adding a handle. The top cover has an edge-overlay design (20mm larger than the tank opening) and a top handle, which makes it easy to pick up and prevents dust from contaminating the liquid inside the tank. Safety Assurance: Both PP and stainless steel materials have good corrosion resistance, avoiding safety risks caused by liquid leakage or tank corrosion; the cleaning tank is equipped with an inlet, overflow outlet and drain outlet, which can control the liquid level in real time to prevent liquid overflow and further improve operational safety.

[0019] Therefore, the small metal sample formation process prototyping line of this utility model, through the design of a single-process independent small tank, significantly reduces the cost of equipment, materials and energy consumption, adapts to parallel testing of multiple formulas to improve R&D efficiency, and can also accurately match the formation process to ensure processing quality, thus solving the defects of existing large tanks.

[0020] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is the process layout frame of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the core components and functional matching of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning tank and top cover of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning tank and the built-in basket of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of the water inlet, overflow outlet, and drain outlet of the cleaning tank of this utility model; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning tank, the built-in basket, and the top cover of this utility model in a separated state; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the medicine tank of this utility model.

[0023] The reference numerals and names in the figure are as follows: 10. Medicine tank; 11. Liquid inlet; 12. Liquid inlet pipe; 13. Liquid outlet; 14. Liquid outlet pipe; 20. Cleaning tank; 21. Water inlet; 22. Water inlet pipe; 23. Overflow outlet; 24. Overflow pipe; 25. Drain outlet; 26. Drain pipe; 30. Internal basket; 31. Handle; 40. Top cover; 41. Handle. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0025] Please see Figures 1 to 7 In this embodiment of the present invention, a small-scale metal sample formation process prototyping line includes multiple chemical solution tanks 10 and multiple cleaning tanks 20 arranged sequentially along the process steps of the formation process. The chemical solution tanks 10 contain metal surface treatment solutions for surface treatment of metal samples. The cleaning tanks 20 contain cleaning liquid and are installed after the chemical solution tanks 10 to clean residual chemical solutions from the metal surface in the preceding process. The chemical solution tanks 10 include the following specific tank structures: The cold acid tank is filled with an acidic solution, which is used to perform preliminary treatment on the metal surface. The degreasing tank is filled with degreasing agent to remove organic contaminants such as grease, sweat, and dust from metal surfaces. The etching tank is filled with acidic or alkaline etching solution for slight corrosion of metal surfaces. The bleaching tank is filled with bleach to remove imperfections such as dullness and dust that may occur on the surface after etching. A formation tank, filled with a formation solution, is used to form a dense and stable formation film on the metal surface; and A sealed tank containing a sealing agent is used to fill or cover the tiny pores of the formed film.

[0026] Specifically, the metal surface treatment chemical conversion process utilizes chemical reactions to form a chemically altered layer on the metal surface, creating a durable coating that alters the physical and chemical properties of the metal surface, improving its corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and adhesion. The conversion solution mainly consists of acids, alkalis, and additives such as chelating agents, surfactants, and other active ingredients. These components react to remove rust, oil, and dust from the metal surface, forming a chemical reaction layer that enhances surface performance. Based on this process principle, different needs and challenges exist in actual factory production and R&D enterprise testing scenarios. In actual factory production, large-scale centralized treatment tanks are typically used to treat a large number of metal workpieces at once, improving overall production efficiency. However, large treatment tanks are costly and require a large volume of chemicals, making them unsuitable for surface treatment of small metal samples.

[0027] Especially for companies that research and produce metal surface treatment solutions, the R&D process requires experimenting with, testing, or comparing various formulations of solutions, or processing metal samples provided by factories to evaluate the effectiveness of the solutions. In these cases, the metal samples to be processed are small. If existing treatment tanks are used, it is easy to waste solutions and consume too much energy. Therefore, it is necessary to improve this approach.

[0028] This invention analyzes and breaks down the processing of large treatment tanks, and sets up smaller tanks for each step. Utilizing the low cost and flexibility of these smaller tanks, each step is handled independently, reducing tank complexity and manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the smaller tanks allow for the use of less reagent for independent surface treatment of small metal samples, optimizing the overall processing flow and saving on prototyping and R&D costs.

[0029] Secondly, the core principle of the metal surface treatment formation process in this embodiment is to utilize a chemical reaction to form a chemically altered layer on the surface of the metal sample. This altered layer is a non-removable coating that can change the physical and chemical properties of the metal surface, thereby improving its corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and the adhesion of subsequent coatings. The main components of the formation solution include acids (such as phosphoric acid and chromic acid), alkalis (such as sodium hydroxide), and additives (such as the chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, the surfactant sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and the surfactant fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether). These components work synergistically to remove rust, oil, and dust from the metal surface, and simultaneously form a uniform chemical reaction layer on the metal surface, further enhancing surface properties.

[0030] In practical applications, traditional factory production often uses large processing tanks for centralized processing to process a large number of metal workpieces at once to improve efficiency. However, the manufacturing cost of large processing tanks is high, and the amount of chemical solution injected into a single tank is large. For the processing of small metal samples (such as magnesium alloy samples with dimensions of 50mm×50mm×5mm), it is easy to cause waste of chemical solution and excessive energy consumption.

[0031] This utility model's prototyping line addresses the core needs of R&D enterprises (such as drug formulation testing and sample prototyping evaluation). It breaks down the processes of large treatment tanks, with each process using a separate small tank. The internal dimensions of the drug tank 10 and the cleaning tank 20 are uniformly 600mm long × 400mm wide × 400mm high, with an effective volume of approximately 96L per tank (based on 80% liquid level). Compared to large tanks (typically 500-1000L), the drug consumption per tank is only 1 / 5 to 1 / 10 of that of traditional large tanks, significantly reducing drug consumption costs. Simultaneously, each tank is strictly matched to the material and auxiliary conditions required for the metallization process. For example, the degreasing tank uses 304 or 316 stainless steel and is equipped with heating / ultrasonic devices, while the cold acid tank uses PP material and is equipped with a cooler. This ensures process stability and allows for the independent replacement of the drug solution in a specific tank, enabling rapid comparative testing of different formulations and significantly improving R&D efficiency.

[0032] In addition, in the prototyping line of this utility model, the sequential arrangement of the chemical solution tank 10 and the cleaning tank 20 strictly matches the sequence of the 18 core processes in the metallization process. That is, a set of cleaning tanks 20 is sequentially set after the cold acid tank, a set of cleaning tanks 20 is sequentially set after the degreasing tank, and the etching tank, bleaching tank, formation tank and sealing tank also correspond to a set of cleaning tanks 20 respectively. All tanks are arranged in the process sequence of 'cold acid → cleaning → degreasing → cleaning → etching → cleaning → bleaching → cleaning → formation → cleaning → sealing → cleaning' to form a continuous processing flow, ensuring that the residual chemical solution in the previous step is thoroughly cleaned and does not interfere with the subsequent steps.

[0033] like Figures 3 to 6 As shown, preferably, the cleaning tank 20 is made of PP material, and an inlet 21 and an overflow outlet 23 are provided on the upper side wall of the cleaning tank 20, which are respectively connected to the inlet pipe 22 for liquid injection and the overflow pipe 24 for liquid overflow treatment, and a drain outlet 25 is provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank 20, which is connected to the drain pipe 26 for liquid discharge.

[0034] Specifically, considering that the water washing process in the metallization process needs to come into contact with the residual chemicals (mostly strong acids or alkaline liquids) from the preceding cold acid, degreasing, and etching processes, in order to prevent tank corrosion and meet process requirements, it is preferable to make the cleaning tank 20 of PP material that is resistant to strong acids and alkalis to ensure long-term stable use of the tank.

[0035] In terms of liquid flow structure design, inlets 21 and overflow ports 23 are spaced circumferentially along the upper side wall of the cleaning tank 20. Inlets 21 are connected to inlet pipes 22, allowing the injection of tap water or pure water required for the water washing process, providing a cleaning medium for the metal samples. Since sufficient liquid volume is required to cover the samples during cleaning, placing samples after liquid injection can easily cause the liquid level to rise. Overflow ports 23 can promptly drain excess liquid through overflow pipes 24, preventing contamination of the external environment of the tank. When the cleaning solution needs to be replaced (e.g., the cleaning medium needs to be updated between multiple water washing processes), drain ports 25 at the bottom of the tank can quickly drain the old liquid through drain pipes 26, facilitating efficient switching of cleaning processes.

[0036] Secondly, for ease of operation, it is preferable to install corresponding valves on the inlet pipe 22 and the outlet pipe 26 to control the water inflow or outflow. The overflow pipe 24 does not need to be equipped with a valve; when liquid overflows, it can be discharged directly.

[0037] The cleaning method can be adjusted according to the requirements of different water washing processes in the process: for cleaning processes with lower requirements, metal samples can be directly immersed in the cleaning solution or manually pulled and swung for cleaning; for cleaning processes with higher requirements, a gas stirring device required by the process can be connected in the cleaning tank 20 to enhance the convection of the cleaning solution through gas disturbance, thoroughly remove residual solution from the sample surface, improve cleaning efficiency and effect, and match the auxiliary conditions required for the water washing process in the process.

[0038] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, preferably, the cleaning tank 20 is provided with a first cleaning tank and a second cleaning tank. The first cleaning tank is used to perform a first preliminary cleaning of the metal sample, and the second cleaning tank is used to perform a second cleaning of the metal sample after the preliminary cleaning.

[0039] Specifically, in accordance with the process requirement of "two water washes after each chemical solution step" in the metallization process, in order to thoroughly remove residual chemicals (such as cold acid residue, degreasing agent residue, etc.) from the surface of the metal sample and avoid carrying residual chemicals into subsequent processes and affecting the treatment effect, it is preferable to set up the first cleaning tank and the second cleaning tank sequentially after the corresponding preceding chemical solution tank 10 along the process sequence: The first cleaning tank serves as the initial cleaning unit, using a large flow of cleaning fluid (such as tap water) to quickly rinse the sample surface, removing more than 80% of the residual chemicals and reducing the load on subsequent secondary cleaning. The second cleaning tank serves as the enhanced cleaning unit, using pure water as required by the pure water washing process, and in conjunction with a gas stirring device, to perform fine cleaning on the sample surface, ensuring that residual chemicals are completely removed. This fully matches the process objective of "gradual purification" through multiple water washing processes, ensuring the processing quality of subsequent etching, formation, and other processes.

[0040] like Figure 1 and Figure 7 As shown, preferably, the cold acid tank, etching tank, chemical formation tank and closed tank are all made of PP material, and each tank has an inlet 11 on its side wall. The inlet 11 is connected to an inlet pipe 12 to inject the corresponding liquid. The bottom of each tank has a drain port 13, which is connected to a drain pipe 14 to drain the remaining liquid in the tank.

[0041] Specifically, considering the process requirements of the cold acid, etching, formation, and sealing processes in the metallization process: the cold acid process requires contact with acidic solutions (such as nitric acid solution), the etching process requires contact with acidic / alkaline etching solutions (such as hydrofluoric acid etching solutions), and the solutions in the formation and sealing processes contain corrosive components. Therefore, the material of the above tanks is uniformly set to PP material that is resistant to strong acids and alkalis to avoid corrosion of the tanks by the solutions, ensure long-term stable use, and fully match the material requirements of the corresponding tanks in the process.

[0042] Regarding the supply and preparation of pharmaceutical solutions, considering the need for "rapid testing of multiple formulations" in the R&D scenario, it can be operated in two ways: First, the corresponding pre-prepared pharmaceutical solution (such as dilute nitric acid solution in the cold acid tank or phosphoric acid-based formation solution in the formation tank) can be injected directly through the liquid inlet pipe 12 to quickly start the process; Second, the pharmaceutical raw materials (such as acid and additives in the etching tank) can be added directly into the tank, and then pure water can be injected through the liquid inlet pipe 12 to complete the preparation in the tank, reducing waste and pollution during the raw material transfer process.

[0043] Based on the internal dimensions of the sample production line tank (600mm long × 400mm wide × 400mm high, effective volume approximately 96L), to reduce reagent costs (avoid excessive consumption) and prevent overflow when samples are placed in, the reagent injection level is controlled at 80% (approximately 77L). At this level, the liquid level is approximately 80mm from the tank opening, eliminating the need for additional overflow outlets and overflow pipes, thus simplifying the structure and saving costs. Simultaneously, each tank is strictly matched to the process auxiliary conditions: the cold acid tank is equipped with a cooler to control the tank temperature; the etching and sealing tanks are equipped with heating devices to adjust the reagent temperature; and the formation tank is equipped with a gas agitator to ensure uniform mixing of the reagents. The cold acid tank is equipped with a cooler to control the acid temperature, the etching and sealing tanks are equipped with heating devices to meet process temperature requirements, and the formation tank is equipped with a gas agitator to ensure uniform film formation, ensuring that the process effect is consistent with the process standards.

[0044] like Figure 1 and Figure 7 As shown, preferably, the degreasing tank and the bleaching tank are both made of 304 or 316 stainless steel; both the degreasing tank and the bleaching tank are equipped with heating devices, and can optionally be equipped with ultrasonic devices.

[0045] Specifically, considering the characteristics of the chemicals used in the degreasing and bleaching processes in the metallization process: the degreasing agents used in the degreasing process are mostly alkaline surfactant solutions (such as a compound solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate), and the bleaching agents used in the bleaching process are mostly weak oxidizing solutions (such as hydrogen peroxide solution). Neither of them has strong corrosive properties, so there is no need to use PP material. Instead, 304 or 316 stainless steel material is selected, which not only meets the corrosion resistance requirements, but also has higher structural strength than PP material, extending the service life of the tank and matching the material requirements of the corresponding tank in the process.

[0046] In terms of auxiliary functions, the degreasing process requires heating to enhance the activity of the degreasing agent (process requires heating assistance), and the bleaching process requires heating or ultrasound to enhance the bleaching effect (process requires heating / ultrasound assistance). Therefore, a heating device is integrated into the stainless steel tank, and an interface for an ultrasonic device is reserved. In R&D scenarios, if higher processing efficiency is required, an ultrasonic transducer can be directly connected; if the requirements are simpler, a commercially available integrated ultrasonic cleaning machine with a stainless steel tank and heating / ultrasound function, compatible with the tank dimensions of this prototyping line (600mm long × 400mm wide × 400mm high), can be used directly. This eliminates the need for a separate design of the tank and auxiliary device connection structure, simplifying the assembly process of the prototyping line and adapting to the limited installation space in the laboratory, reducing the difficulty of equipment layout. At the same time, the thermal conductivity of stainless steel is better than that of PP material, resulting in better temperature uniformity during heating, which can further ensure the processing effect of the degreasing and bleaching processes and meet relevant process standards.

[0047] like Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, preferably, it also includes a built-in basket 30, which is made of PP material and has through holes on its side wall and bottom wall. The built-in basket 30 has an internal space for placing and accommodating metal samples, so that the metal samples can be placed into the liquid tank 10 or the cleaning tank 20 through the built-in basket 30.

[0048] Specifically, considering the process characteristics of "multiple chemical solutions / cleaning steps requiring frequent sample transfer" in the metallization process, in order to avoid direct manual contact with the chemical solutions (reducing the risk of corrosion) and improve sample transfer efficiency, an internal basket 30 is set as a sample carrier and transfer medium.

[0049] In terms of material selection, since the built-in basket 30 needs to be immersed in corrosive solutions such as cold acid and etching solution along with the sample, it is made of PP material that is resistant to strong acids and alkalis, the same material as the tank body, to ensure that it will not be corroded during long-term use and to match the corrosion resistance requirements of the overall process.

[0050] In terms of structural design, the built-in basket 30 features arrayed 20mm diameter through holes on its side and bottom walls. This size ensures that the chemical / cleaning solution quickly penetrates the basket and makes full contact with the sample surface (e.g., ensuring uniform application of the etching solution to the sample surface during etching and thorough rinsing of residual chemical solution during cleaning), while also preventing small samples from falling out of the holes. Meanwhile, the outer wall dimensions of the built-in basket 30 are 560mm (length) × 380mm (width) × 380mm (height), which corresponds to the dimensions of the chemical solution tank 10 / cleaning tank 20 (length) × 400mm (width) × 40mm (height). The 0mm inner tank size is precisely fitted, and a 20mm gap is reserved around the perimeter after it is placed into the tank cavity. This does not affect the flow of the liquid medicine and ensures that the basket is placed stably. After a certain process is completed, the operator can directly lift the edge of the inner basket 30 by hand, or two handles 31 (made of PP material and integrally formed with the inner basket 30) can be symmetrically fixed on the top of the basket for easier transfer of the inner basket 30 from the tank cavity to the tank of the next process. The entire process does not require contact with the sample and liquid medicine, which balances efficiency and safety.

[0051] In addition, to meet the need for "parallel testing of multiple formulations" in R&D scenarios, multiple built-in baskets 30 can be set up to carry different batches of samples (such as a set of test formulation A liquid and a set of test formulation B liquid), so that multiple sets of experiments can be carried out simultaneously, which greatly improves the efficiency of R&D testing.

[0052] like Figure 3 and Figure 6As shown, preferably, it also includes a top cover 40 corresponding to the medicine tank 10 and the cleaning tank 20; the outer dimensions of the top cover 40 are slightly larger than the top opening size of the medicine tank 10 / cleaning tank 20, and the edge of the top cover 40 can be placed on the side wall of the top of the tank to completely cover the top opening of the tank; the top cover 40 is made of PP material or stainless steel material, and at least one handle 41 is fixed on the upper part of the top cover 40.

[0053] Specifically, considering the process requirements in the metallization process, the design of the top cover 40 must simultaneously meet three core objectives: "contamination prevention," "compatibility with tank material," and "accommodation of special process requirements." From the perspective of pollution prevention, since the chemical solution in the chemical solution tank 10 (such as the formation tank or the closed tank) needs to maintain its purity (impurities will affect the film formation quality), and the cleaning tank 20 needs to prevent dust from falling into the cleaning solution and contaminating it, the top opening of the tank is completely covered by the top cover 40 to prevent external dust and debris from entering the tank, ensuring the cleanliness of the process medium and matching the requirements of the process for film formation quality and cleaning effect.

[0054] Regarding the compatibility of materials and structures, the material of the top cover 40 is selected according to the material of the corresponding tank: when covering PP tanks such as cold acid tanks and etching tanks, PP material top cover 40 is used (lightweight and highly consistent with the tank material); when covering stainless steel tanks such as degreasing tanks and bleaching tanks, stainless steel material top cover 40 is used (high structural strength, good temperature resistance, and suitable for the heating requirements of degreasing / bleaching processes).

[0055] Meanwhile, considering the actual structure and usage requirements of the tank, the top cover 40 must simultaneously meet the requirements of 'completely covering the opening to prevent contamination' and 'stable placement without falling off': Because the top opening size of the liquid tank 10 / cleaning tank 20 is the same as the inner tank size (600mm long × 400mm wide), the top cover 40 is designed to be 620mm long × 420mm wide (20mm larger than the opening). The edge of the top cover 40 can overlap the side wall of the top of the tank (the side wall thickness is usually 5-10mm, and the 20mm size difference ensures that there is 5-10mm of overlap width on each side). This design prevents the top cover 40 from slipping off due to its small size, and also avoids waste or inconvenience due to its large size. This 'overlapping' design also prevents the top cover 40 from directly contacting the liquid in the tank (especially for tanks in heating processes), reducing the risk of corrosion of the top cover 40. At the same time, it is not necessary to go deep into the tank when opening the top cover 40, making the operation more convenient and safer.

[0056] In addition, one or two handles 41 (preferably made of non-slip plastic) are fixed on the upper part of the top cover 40, which not only makes it easy for operators to quickly pick up the handles (such as when the sample status needs to be observed regularly during the etching process, the top cover 40 can be easily lifted), but also avoids direct contact between the hands and the top cover 40 (preventing burns caused by the heat conduction of the top cover 40 during the heating process), thus taking into account both convenience and safety.

[0057] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention.

Claims

1. A small-scale metal sample formation process prototyping line, characterized in that, It includes multiple liquid tanks (10) arranged sequentially along the chemical formation process steps and multiple cleaning tanks (20) that correspond one-to-one with each liquid tank (10) and are arranged sequentially along the chemical formation process steps. The chemical solution tank (10) includes a cold acid tank, a degreasing tank, an etching tank, a bleaching tank, a formation tank, and a sealed tank. Each chemical solution tank (10) contains a corresponding metal surface treatment chemical solution for performing corresponding surface treatment processes on the metal samples. The cold acid tank is filled with an acidic solution for preliminary treatment of the surface of metal samples. The degreasing tank is filled with a degreasing agent to remove organic contaminants from the surface of the metal sample. The etching tank is filled with acidic or alkaline etching solution for slight corrosion of the metal sample surface. The bleaching tank is filled with bleaching agent to remove defects on the surface of the metal sample after etching. The formation tank is filled with a formation solution, which is used to generate a dense and stable formation film on the surface of the metal sample. The sealed tank is filled with a sealing agent to fill or cover the tiny pores of the chemically formed film. The cleaning tank (20) is filled with cleaning liquid, which is used to clean the residual liquid on the surface of the metal sample after treatment in the corresponding previous liquid tank (10).

2. The small-scale metal sample formation process prototyping line according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning tank (20) is made of PP material; the upper side wall of the cleaning tank (20) is provided with a water inlet (21) and an overflow outlet (23), the water inlet (21) is connected to the water inlet pipe (22) to inject cleaning liquid, and the overflow outlet (23) is connected to the overflow pipe (24) to discharge overflow liquid; the bottom of the cleaning tank (20) is provided with a drain outlet (25), and the drain outlet (25) is connected to the drain pipe (26) to discharge the cleaning liquid in the tank.

3. The small-scale metal sample formation process prototyping line according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cleaning tank (20) includes a first cleaning tank and a second cleaning tank arranged sequentially along the formation process steps; the first cleaning tank is used to perform preliminary cleaning on the metal sample, and the second cleaning tank is used to perform secondary cleaning on the metal sample after preliminary cleaning.

4. A small-scale metal sample formation process prototyping line according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cold acid tank, etching tank, chemical formation tank and closed tank are all made of PP material; the upper side wall of the cold acid tank, etching tank, chemical formation tank and closed tank are provided with liquid inlet (11), the liquid inlet (11) is connected to the liquid inlet pipe (12) to inject the corresponding process solution; the bottom of the cold acid tank, etching tank, chemical formation tank and closed tank are provided with drain outlet (13), the drain outlet (13) is connected to the drain pipe (14) to discharge the remaining solution in the tank.

5. A small-scale metal sample formation process prototyping line according to claim 1, characterized in that, The degreasing tank and the bleaching tank are both made of 304 or 316 stainless steel.

6. A small-scale metal sample formation process prototyping line according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes at least one built-in basket (30); the built-in basket (30) is made of PP material, and its side walls and bottom walls are provided with through holes in an array; the built-in basket (30) forms a space for accommodating metal samples, and the outer wall size of the built-in basket (30) is adapted to the inner cavity size of the liquid tank (10) and the cleaning tank (20), so that the built-in basket (30) can be placed into the inner cavity of the liquid tank (10) or the cleaning tank (20), and can also be taken out from the inner cavity of the liquid tank (10) or the cleaning tank (20).

7. A small-scale metal sample formation process prototyping line according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a top cover (40) corresponding to the medicine tank (10) and the cleaning tank (20) respectively; the outer dimensions of the top cover (40) are larger than the top opening size of the medicine tank (10) and the cleaning tank (20), and the edge of the top cover (40) can be placed on the side wall of the top of the tank to completely cover the top opening of the tank; the top cover (40) is made of PP material or stainless steel material, and at least one handle (41) is fixed on the upper part of the top cover (40).

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