Method for producing a ceramic component

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing a technical ceramic component (10). Said method notably comprises the following steps: i) arranging in a mould at least one composition (p1; p1, p2; p1, p2, p3) of ceramic powder comprising at least one metal oxide; ii) carrying out an SPS sintering cycle in order to obtain a blank (12) of the ceramic component with at least one grey shade (n1; n1, n2; n1, n2, n3) on the surface of the component, and iii) machining the blank (12) in order to obtain a blank of predetermined shape (14). Step iii) is followed by an additional step iv) of performing an oxidation operation on the blank of predetermined shape (14) in order to reveal at least one colour (c1; c1, c2; c1, c2, c3) resulting from the oxidation of said at least one metal oxide at least on the surface of a first part of the ceramic component (10), the surface of a second part of the ceramic component (10) assuming said at least one grey shade.

Description

Process for manufacturing a ceramic part Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a technical ceramic part, in particular a decorative component in the field of watchmaking or jewelry. The method comprises, among other things, an oxidation operation making it possible to produce ceramic parts with a greater variety of aesthetic effects without compromising their mechanical properties. State of the art

[0002] In the watchmaking field, the mechanical performance of watch parts, particularly those of a watch case, is important in order to withstand untimely shocks. However, ceramic elements have the disadvantage of being fragile due to their structure. There are various methods for producing ceramic-based parts with improved mechanical performance.

[0003] CH718069 discloses a method for manufacturing a ceramic cladding element making it possible to obtain cladding elements having an original appearance while being substantially homogeneous from the point of view of its structure and its mechanical properties. This method comprises the steps of: i) preparing a first base composition, comprising a powder intended to undergo a sintering operation aimed at producing a ceramic, ii) preparing a second base composition, comprising a powder intended to undergo a sintering operation aimed at producing a ceramic, iii) treating at least one of the first and second base compositions, prior to carrying out the sintering operation, to introduce at least one pigment therein and to define i first and second respective reagents, iv) placing the first and second reagents in a mold in the form of at least two at least partially adjacent layers to define between them an interface of predefined shape, and v) implementing a sintering operation applied to the mold containing the first and second reagents.

[0004] This method further comprises at least one step of machining the ceramic product obtained after the sintering operation, comprising at least one material removal operation along a path intersecting the interface, in such a way that at least a portion of the interface is visible on the surface of the cladding element and that the latter has variations in shade and / or color on its surface.

[0005] This process has the disadvantage of being complex to implement since it involves many steps, including the preparation of the powder comprising a binder and a stabilizing agent as well as a debinding step. The complexity of this process therefore has a significant impact on the cost of the parts produced. Brief summary of the invention

[0006] An aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a method for manufacturing a technical ceramic part, the implementation of which is simplified compared to the aforementioned prior art.

[0007] Another aim of the present invention is to propose a method for manufacturing a technical ceramic part with increased mechanical performance.

[0008] Another aim of the present invention is to propose a method for manufacturing a technical ceramic part, in particular a watch case, allowing the production of parts with a greater variety of aesthetic effects without compromising their mechanical properties.

[0009] An additional aim of the present invention is to propose a method for manufacturing a technical ceramic part, in particular a watch case, comprising a decoration step without adding new material.

[0010] These aims are at least partly achieved in particular by a method for manufacturing a technical ceramic part, comprising the following steps: i) placing in a mold at least one ceramic powder composition comprising at least one metal oxide; ii) carrying out an SPS sintering cycle in order to obtain a rough cut of the ceramic part in the reduced state with at least one shade of gray on the surface of the part, and iii) machining the rough cut in order to obtain a rough cut of predetermined shape. Step iii) is followed by an additional step iv) consisting of carrying out an oxidation operation on the rough cut of predetermined shape in order to reveal at least one color resulting from the oxidation of said at least one metal oxide at least on the surface of a first part of the ceramic part, the surface of a second part of the ceramic part coating said at least one shade of gray.

[0011] According to one embodiment, step i) consists of placing in the mold a first and a second composition each comprising ceramic powder and a different metal oxide in order to obtain a first and a second shade of gray after step ii).

[0012] According to one embodiment, step i) consists of filling the mold with at least three compositions each comprising powder of ceramic and a different metal oxide in order to obtain three shades of gray after step ii).

[0013] According to one embodiment, the oxidation operation in step iv) is carried out by a laser beam or a plasma jet supplied by a flow of oxygen.

[0014] According to one embodiment, at least one of the laser beam and the plasma jet is used to produce patterns at a level of detail whose resolution is a function of the diameter of the beam, respectively of the useful diameter of the plasma jet.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the oxidation operation consists of carrying out oxidation at least on the surface of a selection of one or more distinct regions of the ceramic part.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the oxidation of said selection of one or more distinct regions of the ceramic part leads to the production of one or more patterns of determined shape having at least one color depending on the metal oxide contained in the oxidized region of the ceramic part.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises, between steps iii) and iv), a surface treatment operation of at least one region of the blank of predetermined shape in order to obtain at least one treated surface in which the oxidation operation is carried out on one or more regions whose surface has been previously treated.

[0018] According to one embodiment, relative motion is induced between the plasma jet, or the laser beam, and the predetermined shaped blank while varying the distance between the plasma jet and said blank, respectively the power of the laser beam, in order to obtain a variation in the degree of oxidation on said first part of the ceramic part so that it takes on a gradient of colors.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the oxidation operation in step iv) is carried out by placing the blank of predetermined shape in an oven under oxygen or in air for a predetermined duration and temperature cycle. The duration and temperature cycle are determined so that the oxidation occurs, on the one hand, on at least part of the surface of the blank to obtain a color depending on the metal oxide present on the surface of the blank and, on the other hand, in the mass of the blank to a predetermined depth. The oxidation operation is followed by an operation consisting of selectively removing a layer of oxide in order to reveal at least one shade of gray and / or a color gradient.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the predetermined temperature cycle has a temperature rise cycle from approximately 20°C to a temperature between 800°C and 1200°C, in a time interval between 3h and 5h. The temperature rise cycle is followed by a temperature fall cycle to approximately 20°C in a time interval between 2h30 and 3h30. This makes it possible to oxidize, on the one hand, said at least one part of the surface of the blank to obtain a color depending on the metal oxide present on the surface and, on the other hand, the underlying material in a thickness between 50 and 300 micrometers.

[0021] According to one embodiment, material is removed, in a predetermined pattern, to a depth beyond that of the oxidized mass of the blank, in order to reveal one or more shades of gray.

[0022] According to one embodiment, material is removed, in a predetermined pattern and a variable depth, along a path in the oxidized mass to reveal a color gradient.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the SPS sintering cycle is carried out at a temperature between 1100 and 1300°C and in a time interval between 10 and 45 min.

[0024] Another aspect of the invention relates to a component for a timepiece or piece of jewelry obtained by the above-mentioned method, in particular a watch case or bezel. Brief description of the figures

[0025] Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which: - figures 1a to 1e illustrate schematic views of a watch case during the different stages of its manufacture, according to one embodiment; - figures 2a to 2e illustrate schematic views of a watch case during the different stages of its manufacture, according to another embodiment; - figures 3a to 3d illustrate schematic views of a watch case during the different stages of its manufacture, and figures 4a and 4b illustrate a final decoration stage according to two examples, according to another embodiment; - figures 5a to 5d illustrate schematic views of a watch case during the different stages of its manufacture, according to another embodiment; - figures 6a to 6e illustrate schematic views of a watch case during the different stages of its manufacture, according to another embodiment; - Figure 7 illustrates a schematic top view of the watch case of Figure 6e during the oxidation process which generates a color gradient by the projection of an oxygen plasma via a plasma jet by means of a nozzle; - Figure 8 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the degree of oxidation of the watch case and the distance between the nozzle and the case, and - figure 9 illustrates the watch case of figure 7 with a color gradient at its central part depending on the degree of oxidation and the distance between the nozzle and the central part of the case. Examples of embodiments of the invention

[0026] The following description seeks to describe a method for manufacturing a technical ceramic component for the fields of watchmaking or jewelry, according to different embodiments chosen as non-limiting examples. More particularly, the ceramic component manufactured by implementing the method, according to any one of the embodiments described below, is a watch case. Of course, those skilled in the art will be able to implement the same method for the manufacture of other ceramic parts without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0027] In the context of the present invention, "color" means colors other than the range of shades of gray. A color or a range of colors refers in the context of the present invention to the visual appearance given to the surface or a visible part of a ceramic part that has been revealed by an oxidation operation. The range of colors that can be obtained depends on the metal oxides present in the ceramic powder. Furthermore, "at least one shade of gray" means the visual appearance given to the surface of a ceramic part once the ceramic powder has undergone an SPS sintering cycle in order to obtain a rough version of the ceramic part in the reduced state without having been subjected to an oxidation operation. The shade of gray is one of the tones that, to the human eye, appears as being between white and black.

[0028] Generally speaking, the method for manufacturing a watch case comprises two steps common to the embodiments described below. The first step aims to place in a mold at least one ceramic powder composition comprising at least one metal oxide. This step is followed by a second step aimed at carrying out a flash sintering operation, or "Field Assisted Sintering Technique / Spark Plasma Sintering (FAST / SPS)" in English. More commonly known as SPS sintering, this operation is a process similar to hot isostatic pressing but which uses the Joule effect to heat a pre-compacted powder in a mold between two graphite electrodes under an inert atmosphere or under vacuum, the mold comprising the pre-compacted powder being subjected to a pressure of several megapascals under the action of a hydraulic press.A direct or alternating current of several kiloamperes, pulsed or not, is applied between the electrodes with a voltage of a few volts.

[0029] The sintering plasma ionizes the residual gas between the powder particles and generates negative ions that consume all the oxygen in the metal oxide contained in the ceramic powder. Although the sintering operation is typically carried out in a vacuum or inert atmosphere, this ionization of the residual gas creates a so-called reducing atmosphere within the plasma. Due to this reducing atmosphere, the resulting part, once the flash sintering operation is carried out, is therefore necessarily in a reduced state.

[0030] SPS sintering is carried out at a determined temperature and sintering pressure so that none of the powders melt. The sintering pressure may in this case be a mechanical pressure. Preferably, the sintering temperature is determined so as to remain below the lowest of the melting temperatures of the powders under the sintering conditions. The appropriate sintering temperature may be evaluated as a function of the sintering pressure so as not to reach or exceed, or to remain below the melting temperatures of the powders at the sintering pressure.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the SPS sintering temperature is less than 2000°C, or even less than 1500°C. The SPS sintering temperature is for example between 1000°C and 1300°C in a time interval of between 10 and 45 min.

[0032] SPS sintering pressure can be between 20 and 180 N / mm 2or between 50 and 100 N / mm 2 . Other pressure values ​​may be preferred depending on the components selected and / or the required quality of the final mechanical part.

[0033] The SPS sintering operation makes it possible to obtain a sintered part preserving the fineness of the granularity of the ceramic, which has the advantage to optimize mechanical properties, including hardness and toughness compared to a conventional sintering cycle. Since sintering is carried out under an inert atmosphere or under vacuum, a sintered part is obtained which is in a reduced state and whose shape is dictated by the final shape of the part.

[0034] According to the example of a watch case, the shape of the sintered blank is substantially cylindrical with a diameter which can vary between 40mm and 60mm, for example substantially equal to 50mm and whose thickness is between 15 and 20mm, for example 18mm.

[0035] According to a first embodiment and with reference to figures 1a to 1e, the method for manufacturing the ceramic watch case 10 comprises a first step S1 consisting of placing in a mold (not shown) a first and a second composition p1, p2 each comprising powdered ceramic, preferably zirconia, in particular zirconia stabilized with yttrium oxide, and at least one different metal oxide, preferably selected in particular from iron oxide, aluminum oxide, bismuth oxide and chromium oxide.

[0036] The first and second compositions p1, p2 are distributed in the mold without being mixed as illustrated in Figure 1a. More particularly, the first and second compositions p1, p2 are arranged next to each other in order to form an interface between the two compositions p1, p2 extending in a direction which may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the mold.

[0037] In a second step S2, an SPS sintering operation is carried out in order to obtain a blank 12 of the watch case, according to figure 1 b, which has on the surface two shades of gray n1, n2 joining at an interface which can be substantially perpendicular to the average general plane of the case 10. According to a variant not illustrated three, four, or even five or more different compositions are arranged next to each other in order to obtain, after the SPS sintering operation, a rough copy of the watch case with as many or a plurality of shades of gray on the surface so that their respective interfaces extend, preferably, substantially perpendicular to the general average plane of the case.

[0038] According to another variant not illustrated, at least two different compositions, for example three, four or even five or more different compositions are distributed in the mold in order to form as many or a plurality of distinct superimposed layers. A blank of the watch case comprising two, three, four or even five or more shades of gray meeting at respective interfaces which may be substantially parallel, is thus obtained after the SPS sintering operation. These interfaces may be essentially parallel or inclined relative to the general plane of the watch case.

[0039] Each composition p1, p2 may contain one or more different metal oxides, including in particular an iron oxide, an aluminum oxide, a cerium oxide, a bismuth oxide and a chromium oxide. The two compositions p1, p2 may, for example, each represent a substantially equivalent volume. The compositions p1, p2 are arranged in the mold relatively to each other depending on the desired location of the different shades of gray n1, n2 on the finished part. The compositions p1, p2 may also be differentiated on the basis of their powdered ceramics, for example a composition p1 based on zirconia and a composition p2 based on alumina or other,

[0040] Once the SPS sintering operation has been carried out, the method comprises a third step S3 consisting of machining the blank 12 in order to obtain a blank of predetermined shape 14 which generally corresponds to the final dimensions of the ceramic part, i.e. to the shape of a watch case in this case, as illustrated in Figure 1c. Machining is carried out by conventional means, in particular by milling and / or grinding.

[0041] The method may include a surface treatment step S4 according to FIG. 1d. This step, which is optional, consists of performing on one or more regions at the surface of the part, in particular on the flank of the caseband, a decoration by a mechanical and / or chemical operation. The mechanical operation may in particular be polishing, sandblasting, satin finishing of the rectilinear, circular or spiral type, micro-blasting, guilloché, perlage, Côtes de Genève finishing or hand engraving. In this example, the machined blank 14 has undergone a surface treatment in order to include one or more surfaces 16 with a decoration obtained by one or other of the aforementioned mechanical operations.

[0042] For parts comprising several regions separated from each other that have undergone a surface treatment, the same type of surface treatment may be applied to all these regions, for example sandblasting, or alternatively, the type of treatment may vary from one region to another, for example sandblasting for a first region, satin-finishing for a second region and polishing for a third region. Alternatively, these different regions may be adjacent.

[0043] The method comprises a final step S5 consisting of decorating the blank, for example according to the schematic illustration of Figure 1e. This decoration step S5 consists of carrying out an oxidation operation on at least a portion of the watch case, in particular on its flank, in order to reveal the color of the metal oxide on the surface of the part. According to Figure 1e, the oxidation operation consists of selectively oxidizing the surface of the watch case 10, for example to a depth of 50 micrometers, so that the shape of the oxidized surface corresponds to the shape of the desired pattern. This operation involves a chemical reaction triggered by oxygen in contact with the metal oxide or oxides present on the surface of the part. This reaction allows the different oxides to reveal their bright colors. This last operation is therefore a chemical transformation of the material unlike the process according to CH718069 whose last step consists of removing material using a CNC machine or laser.

[0044] The patterns 18a, 18b, 18c, which are represented schematically in this example by three stars, have different colors. The first star 18a has a first color specific to the metal oxide or oxides present in the first composition p1, the second star 18b has two different colors specific to the metal oxide or oxides present respectively in the first composition p1 and in the second composition p2 while the third star 18c has another color specific to the metal oxide or oxides present in the second composition p2.

[0045] For example, compositions p1 and p2 may respectively comprise a bismuth oxide and aluminum oxide in order to obtain a blank according to figure 1 b where compositions p1 and p2 in the reduced state have a dark gray and light gray shade respectively. The shade of the dark gray and light gray may be more or less intense depending on the concentration of the oxides in the two compositions. After the oxidation step illustrated in figure 1 e, the first pattern 18a will have a homogeneous color c1 tending towards more or less intense blue depending on the concentration of the bismuth oxide. The third pattern 18c will have a color c3 tending towards more or less intense white depending on the concentration of the aluminum oxide while the second two-color pattern will have a combination of the two aforementioned colors.

[0046] The case 10 obtained according to this first embodiment therefore has two shades of gray n1, n2 on the surface and different decorations 18a, 18b, 18c which are in the form of stars in this example and which have bright colors, which depend on the metal oxide or oxides present on the surface at the level of these stars. The stars 18 are preferably produced on the regions of the case that have undergone a surface treatment 16, as described previously, to give additional contrast to the decorations 18a, 18b, 18c. The decorations can just as easily be produced on regions of the watch case that have not undergone any surface treatment beforehand according to a variant not illustrated.

[0047] The oxidation operation may for example be carried out by a laser source whose localized heat makes it possible to create a localized oxide layer. The laser source may for example be controlled so that the laser travels over the surface of the caseband 10 along a predefined path reproducing a pattern, for example a repetitive pattern or even text.

[0048] According to a second embodiment and with reference to figures 2a to 2e, the method for manufacturing the ceramic part comprises a first step S1 consisting of filling the mold (not shown) with a single composition p1 comprising one or more metal oxides and then carrying out, during a second step S2, an SPS sintering operation, as described with reference to the first embodiment, in order to obtain a blank 12 of the watch case in the form of a disk in the reduced state. The visual appearance of the ceramic at this time has only one homogeneous shade of gray n1 as illustrated in figure 2b.

[0049] Like the first embodiment, the method comprises a third step S3 consisting of machining the blank 12 of the middle part of shows in its final dimensions after the sintering operation has been carried out, as illustrated in Figure 2c.

[0050] The operation of decorating the machined blank 14 comprises, according to this embodiment, two steps. The preliminary step S4 consists of carrying out an oxidation operation on at least part of the surface of the blank. Preferably, the entire surface of the blank is oxidized.

[0051] To do this, the machined blank 14 is placed in a furnace under oxygen or in air for a predetermined duration and temperature cycle so that oxidation occurs, on the one hand, on the surface of the blank of the part in order to obtain a color associated with the type of metal oxide or oxides present on the surface of the part and, on the other hand, in the mass of the part, namely at least at a certain depth which can no longer be considered as part of the surface of the part. Step S4 is a step of chemical transformation of the material, in particular at the surface of the blank. This step is distinct from the previous step S3 consisting of machining the blank 12 of the watch case in its final dimensions. This contrasts with the method according to CH718069, the last step of which consists of removing material using a CNC machine or laser.

[0052] The predetermined temperature cycle typically has a temperature rise cycle from about 20°C to a temperature between 800°C and 1200°C, preferably around 1000°C, in a time interval between 3h and 5h, preferably around 4h. The temperature rise cycle is followed by a temperature fall cycle to around 20°C in a time interval between 2h30 and 3h30, preferably around 3h. This temperature cycle makes it possible to oxidize, on the one hand, the surface of the blank of the part in order to obtain a single homogeneous color c1 associated with the type of the metal oxide or oxides present on the surface of the blank and, on the other hand, the underlying material in a thickness preferably between 50 and 300 micrometers.

[0053] The oxidation operation is followed by step S5 aimed at selectively removing the entire thickness of the oxide layer on the surface of the part and close to the surface according to one or more decorative shapes, which are three stars 18a, 18b, 18c in this example, to reveal the ceramic in the reduced state, present under the oxide layer, corresponding to a shade of gray n1.

[0054] Selective removal of the oxide layer can be done, for example, by conventional machining or for high-detail patterns using a laser source as a machining tool.

[0055] The watch case 10 obtained by the method according to this embodiment thus has a general visual appearance comprising a substantially homogeneous surface tinted with a bright color depending on the metal oxide or oxides on the surface of the part as well as one or more decorations 18a, 18b, 18c revealing a shade of gray n1 which corresponds to the underlying ceramic in the reduced state.

[0056] In a non-illustrated variant, the depth of material removal varies in the thickness of the oxide layer along a trajectory in order to reveal a color gradient corresponding to different degrees of oxidation of the oxide or oxides present in composition p1.

[0057] According to a third embodiment and with reference to figures 3a to 3d, the method for manufacturing the ceramic part comprises a first step S1 consisting of filling the mold (not illustrated) with three compositions p1, p2, p3, each comprising powdered ceramic, preferably zirconia, in particular zirconia stabilized at yttrium oxide, and at least one different metal oxide. The three compositions p1, p2, p3 are distributed in the mold without being mixed. Each composition p1, p2, p3 may contain one or more different metal oxides.

[0058] An SPS sintering operation S2 is carried out, according to the process described with reference to the first embodiment, in order to obtain a blank 12 of a watch case in the reduced state, as illustrated in FIG. 3b. The SPS sintering operation makes it possible to reveal three homogeneous shades of gray n1, n2, n3 joining at two interfaces. A machining operation S3 is carried out on the sintered part in order to obtain the final dimensions of the blank of predetermined shape 14 of the watch case illustrated in FIG. 3c.

[0059] An oxidation operation S4 is then carried out on the entire surface of the blank 14 according to figure 3d. The oxidation of the parts coated with the three shades of gray makes it possible to reveal three different bright colors c1, c2, c3. Like the first two embodiments, step S4 is a step of chemical transformation of the material on the surface of the blank. This step is distinct from the previous step S3 consisting of machining the blank 12 of the watch case in its final dimensions.

[0060] The oxidation operation is followed by an operation S5 consisting of selectively removing the oxide layer in order to form a decoration comprising one or more patterns. Figures 4a, 4b illustrate a watch case 10, obtained by the method according to this embodiment, comprising a general surface having three distinct bright colors with two examples of decoration. The case 10 according to Figure 4a has a decoration on its side in the form of a groove 18 along which the three shades of gray n1, n2, n3 appear successively. middle 10 of figure 4b has a decoration on its side in the form of three distinct patterns, for example three stars 18a, 18b, 18c respectively covering the three shades of gray n1, n2, n3.

[0061] Figures 5a to 5d illustrate a fourth embodiment, the first three steps S1, S2, S3 of which are identical to the first three steps of the embodiment just described. The surface of the blank of predetermined shape 14 obtained in Figure 5c is then, during step S4, selectively oxidized according to one or more arbitrary patterns 18 in order to create a decoration at a region grouping the three shades of gray n1, n2, n3. The oxidation makes it possible to reveal three bright colors c1, c2, c3 specific to the type of metal oxide or oxides present in the different compositions p1, p2, p3. This chemical transformation of the material on the surface of the blank 14 is also distinct from the previous step S3 consisting of machining the blank of the watch case in its final dimensions.

[0062] The watch case 10 obtained by the method according to this embodiment has a general visual appearance comprising a surface with three shades of gray n1, n2, n3 as well as one or more decorations revealing three bright colors c1, c2, c3.

[0063] According to another embodiment illustrated by figures 6a to 6e, the first three steps S1, S2, S3 are identical to the first three steps of the method according to the second embodiment. The machining step S3 can be followed by an optional step S4 consisting of carrying out a surface treatment, described previously, in order to obtain on the flank of the caseband one or more surfaces with a certain type of finish. The machining step S3 or the surface treatment step S4 is followed by an oxidation step S5 on a central part 20 of the watch caseband by spraying an oxygen plasma flow. The caseband 10 thus obtained comprises a general surface of a bright color c1 as well as a shade of gray n1 at the level of a part 22 comprising the horns.

[0064] Referring to Figures 7-9, the projection of an oxygen plasma flow is carried out by means of a nozzle generating a plasma jet 30. The case 10 or the plasma jet 30, in particular the nozzle from which this jet is emitted, can be moved in order to induce a relative movement of the projection of the oxygen plasma flow onto the central part 20 of the case. In an advantageous embodiment, the nozzle or the case 10 can be moved so as to vary the distance between the plasma jet 30 and the case, more particularly between the useful diameter of the essentially conical plasma jet and the case, and in practice the distance d between the nozzle and the case. This variation in distance makes it possible to obtain, on the one hand, a variation in the degree of oxidation on the central part 20 so that it takes on a gradient of colors and, on the other hand, a shade of gray at the level of the horns 22.

[0065] It will be noted that, whatever the embodiment envisaged, the use of the laser beam and / or the plasma jet 30 to carry out the oxidation operation can be used both to obtain selected, or even random, patterns and flat areas on the surface of the blank of predetermined shape 14. Such flat areas can consist of surfaces or zones that are either plain, degraded or mixed. The same applies to the aforementioned patterns, which could also be produced in whole or in part outside or within these surfaces.

[0066] Although the method has been described primarily for the manufacture of a technical ceramic watch case, the method may be applied to other ceramic parts without departing from the invention as defined by the claims. This method may, for example, be applied to any type of watch component, in particular to components of a watch movement intended to be visible on the back of a watch case through a sapphire crystal, or as exterior components in both the watchmaking and jewelry fields.

Claims

Claims 1. Method for manufacturing a technical ceramic part (10), comprising the following steps: i) placing in a mold at least one composition (p1; p1, p2; p1, p2, p3) of ceramic powder comprising at least one metal oxide; ii) carrying out an SPS sintering cycle in order to obtain a blank (12) of the ceramic part with at least one shade of gray (n1; n1, n2; n1, n2, n3) on the surface of the part, and iii) machining the blank (12) in order to obtain a blank of predetermined shape (14), characterized in that step iii) is followed by an additional step iv) consisting of carrying out an oxidation operation on the blank of predetermined shape (14) in order to reveal at least one color (c1; c1, c2;c1, c2, c3) resulting from the oxidation of said at least one metal oxide at least on the surface of a first part of the ceramic part (10), the surface of a second part of the ceramic part (10) coating said at least one shade of gray.; 2. Method according to claim 1, in which step i) consists of placing in the mold a first and a second composition (p1, p2) each comprising ceramic powder and a different metal oxide in order to obtain a first and a second shade of gray (n1, n2) after step ii).

3. Method according to claim 1, in which step i) consists of filling the mold with at least three compositions (p1, p2, p3) each comprising ceramic powder and a different metal oxide in order to obtain three shades of gray (n1, n2, n3) after step ii).

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the oxidation operation in step iv) is carried out by a laser beam or a plasma jet (30) supplied by a flow of oxygen.

5. Method according to the preceding claim, in which at least one of the laser beam and the plasma jet (30) is used to produce patterns at a level of detail whose resolution is a function of the diameter of the beam, respectively of the useful diameter of the plasma jet (30).

6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, in which the oxidation operation consists of carrying out oxidation at least on the surface of a selection of one or more distinct regions of the ceramic part.

7. Method according to the preceding claim, in which the oxidation of said selection of one or more distinct regions of the ceramic part leads to the production of one or more patterns (18) of determined shape having at least one color (c1, c2, c3) depending on the metal oxide contained in the oxidized region of the ceramic part.

8. Method according to one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising, between step iii) and iv), a surface treatment operation of at least one region of the blank of predetermined shape (14) in order to obtain at least one treated surface (16) in which the oxidation operation is carried out on one or more regions (16) whose surface has been previously treated.

9. Method according to claim 4, in which a relative movement is induced between the plasma jet (30), or the laser beam, and the blank of predetermined shape (14) while varying the distance between the plasma jet (30) and said blank, respectively the power of the laser beam, in order to obtain a variation in the degree of oxidation on said first part of the ceramic piece so that it takes on a gradient of colors.

10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the oxidation operation in step iv) is carried out by placing the blank of predetermined shape (14) in an oven under oxygen or in air for a predetermined duration and temperature cycle so that the oxidation occurs, on the one hand, on at least part of the surface of the blank (14) to obtain a color depending on the metal oxide present on the surface of the blank (14) and, on the other hand, in the mass of the blank according to a predetermined depth, the oxidation operation being followed by an operation consisting of selectively removing a layer of oxide in order to reveal at least one shade of gray (n1, n2, n3) and / or a color gradient (c1, c2, c3).

11. Method according to the preceding claim, in which the predetermined temperature cycle has a temperature rise cycle from approximately 20°C to a temperature between 800°C and 1200°C, in a time interval between 3h and 5h, followed by a temperature reduction cycle to approximately 20°C in a time interval between 2h30 and 3h30 in order to oxidize, on the one hand, said at least one part of the surface of the blank (14) to obtain a color depending on the metal oxide present on the surface and, on the other hand, the underlying material in a thickness between 50 and 300 micrometers.

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein material is removed, in a predetermined pattern, to a depth beyond that of the oxidized mass of the blank (14), in order to reveal one or more shades of gray (n1, n2, n3).

13. Method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the material is removed, in a predetermined pattern and a variable depth, along a trajectory in the oxidized mass in order to reveal a color gradient (c1, c2, c3).

14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the SPS sintering cycle is carried out at a temperature between 1100 and 1300°C and in a time interval between 10 and 45 min.

15. Component for a timepiece or piece of jewelry obtained by the method according to one of the preceding claims.

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