Method for making timepieces or jewelry elements inlaid with ceramic decoration

Abstract

To provide a horological or jewelry element inlaid with a decoration which combines high mechanical strength, wear resistance, constancy, and an aesthetic effect.SOLUTION: The invention provides a process for manufacturing a horological or jewelry external part element which includes a body made of a hard material and is inlaid with a decoration made of a second material. The method is such that: in a first step 100, the body made of the hard material is formed; during the first step 100 or in a second step 200, a hollow is formed in a face of the body; in a third step 300, a surface condition of a bottom and / or walls of the hollow is modified to increase the contact area thereof; in a fourth step 400, the hollow is filled with the second material that is a composite material including at least one bio-sourced charged polymer chosen for wear resistance, so as to configure an insert forming the decoration; and, in a fifth step 500, surface finishing of the insert is performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a timepiece or jewellery element made of a hard material and inlaid with at least one ornamentation made of a second material.

[0002] The invention further relates to an element of an external piece of timepiece or jewellery made of a hard material and inlaid with at least one ornamentation made of a second material.

[0003] The invention further relates to timepieces and articles of jewellery comprising at least one element of such an outer part.

[0004] The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing external parts of timepieces or jewellery, which combine high mechanical strength, wear resistance, invariability and a particular aesthetic effect. [Background technology]

[0005] It is difficult to create exterior components based on hard materials, especially ceramics, with a decoration that contrasts with the appearance of the hard material, since the decoration must have the same qualities of mechanical strength, wear resistance and permanence as the hard substrate, and the bond between the hard material and the decoration attached to it must be perfect and either aesthetically pleasing (e.g. in the case of a jewelry setting) or invisible to the user.

[0006] Prior art techniques include overmolding with rubber, filling the cavities with lacquer, and filling with other materials such as Hyceram® or Liquidmetal®, especially by two-component injection molding.

[0007] The challenge in selecting materials and defining procedures is to ensure good mechanical behavior of the elements of the outer part, in particular good bonding of the decoration to the body made of hard materials, good scratch resistance and good durability. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The invention finally proposes to develop a method for making a timepiece or jewellery element made of a hard material and inlaid with at least one decoration, in particular made of a second material different from said hard material, which combines high mechanical strength, resistance to wear, invariance and a particular aesthetic effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to a method for making a timepiece or jewellery element made of a hard material and inlaid with at least one decoration made of a second material different from said hard material, as claimed in claim 1.

[0010] The invention further relates to an element of an external piece of timepiece or jewellery made of a hard material and inlaid with at least one ornamentation made of a second material.

[0011] The invention further relates to timepieces and articles of jewellery comprising at least one element of such an outer part.

[0012] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention may be more clearly understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 2 is a flow chart showing steps for carrying out a method according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 shows diagrammatically a timepiece, in particular a watch (eg wristwatch, pocket watch), including an element with a decorated outer part made according to this method. [Diagram 3]FIG. 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of an element of an outer part made of a hard material in which a cavity is formed, the cavity being intended to receive a second material to form a decoration. [Figure 4] 3 shows the same element, with undercut contours formed in the wall and a cavity bounded by the undercut surface formed in the bottom surface of the cavity, and the dashed and dotted lines show the trajectory of a laser beam passing through an orifice in the cavity, which can be machined to form these undercut contours and a bonding surface. [Diagram 5] Similar to FIG. 4, the same element is shown with a second material inserted within the cavity, the second material being a composite material that includes partially or entirely at least one bio-charged polymer. [Figure 6] Similar to FIG. 5, it shows the same element with a protrusion of a second material flush with the top surface of the body made of a hard material. [Figure 7] As in FIG. 6, another element is shown, in which two cavities are formed on either side of a thin wall, the walls and the bottom are machined as in FIG. 4, and these cavities are also filled with a second material, the protruding part of which is flush with the upper surface of the body made of the hard material in the first cavity and machined against this upper surface up to the inside of the cavity in the second cavity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an element 10, in particular an element of an external piece of a timepiece or jewellery, whose body is made of a hard material and which is inlaid with at least one decoration 5 made of a second material, in particular different from said hard material.

[0015] Since the introduction of ceramic materials in the manufacture of external parts of timepieces and jewellery, attempts have been made to incorporate ornamental or aesthetic decoration into these components, such as numbers, indexes, scales and readings.

[0016] European patent document EP 2855400 by The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd describes a ceramic element inlaid with at least one composite ceramic decoration. This composite ceramic decoration is made by an organic matrix charged with ceramic particles, which are inserted into the voids of the ceramic element and then crosslinked and densified in a controlled atmosphere. The teachings herein are also applicable to specific variants of the invention for producing, for example, polychrome decorations, decorations containing phosphorescent materials such as Superluminova®, decorations containing phosphorescent strontium aluminate, etc.

[0017] European patent document EP4001356 by ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse describes an article made of a charged plastic material, which comprises a filler made of metallic and / or ceramic material, at least one polymer, and optionally coupling agents, reinforcing agents, pigments, diluents, and / or plasticizers to very specific extents. Again, the teachings herein are applicable to specific variants of the invention, such as the compositions of the second material disclosed below.

[0018] According to the invention, in a first step 100, a body 1 made of such a hard material is formed.

[0019] During this first step 100, or in a second step 200 subsequent to this first step 100, at least one cavity 9 is made in the surface of the body 1 made of hard material, said at least one cavity 9 being adapted to form such a decorative image.

[0020] In a third step 300, the surface condition of the bottom and / or walls of this cavity 9 is altered to increase the contact area. Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which an undercut contour 91 is formed in the wall and a cavity 92 bounded by the undercut surface is also formed in the bottom of the cavity 9. The dashed and dotted lines show the trajectory of a laser beam passing through the cavity orifice 9, which can machine these undercut contours and the bonding surface.

[0021] In a fourth step 400, at least one void 9 is filled with said second material, which is a composite material partially or entirely comprising at least one bio-charged polymer selected for its wear resistance, thereby constituting an insert 2 forming such a decoration 5.

[0022] In particular, the bio-charged polymer can be or include a bioceramic, such as Swatch® Bioceramic®, which includes ceramics that include bio-derived materials made from castor oil.

[0023] In a fifth step 500, the insert 2 is surface-finished by machining its surface 12 so as to be recessed and flush with the surface 11 of the body 1, in particular around the recess 9.

[0024] In particular, during the second step 200 and / or the third step 300, micro-reliefs 91, 92 are formed in the walls and / or the bottom.

[0025] In particular, during the second step 200 and / or the third step 300, an undercut microrelief 91, 92 is produced in the walls and / or bottom. In particular, an oblique laser shot makes it possible to produce such a cavity contour in the walls or bottom even in the case of small cavity openings, which facilitates the bonding of the second material to the first material.

[0026] In particular, during the second step 200 and / or the third step 300, the walls and / or the bottom of the cavity are made to have a roughness of 7 to 13 μm·Ra, more particularly 8 to 10 μm·Ra.

[0027] In particular, during the fifth step 500, the insert 2 is machined flush with or recessed relative to the body 1, limiting the volume of the insert 2 to the volume of the cavity 9 forming the insert 2, so that the second material is present only in the cavity of the cavity 9. The insert 2 made of the second material therefore does not protrude beyond the face of the body in which the cavity is formed.

[0028] In particular, said hard material of the body is selected from the oxides, carbides or nitrides of titanium, zirconium, silicon or aluminium, respectively.

[0029] In particular, the hard material of the body is selected from cermets, sapphire or spinel, or from MgAlO4, Mn3O4, ZnFeO4, FeCrO4, LiMnO4, MgSe 0.1-0.4 Al 0.9-0.6 It is selected according to its composition from O4, YAG, precious stones, semi-precious stones, or hard stones, meteorites, mother of pearl, fossils, and the like.

[0030] In particular, as hard materials, cermets containing oxides, carbides, or nitrides of titanium, zirconium, silicon, or aluminum, respectively, are selected.

[0031] In one variant, composite ceramics are chosen as the second composite material.

[0032] In particular, this second composite material is selected to contain ceramic particles.

[0033] In particular, the second composite material is selected to include ceramic particles formed by the oxides, carbides or nitrides of titanium, zirconium, silicon or aluminium, respectively.

[0034] In particular, the second material is selected to contain 50 to 85% by weight of ceramics.

[0035] In one variant, this second composite material is chosen to include particles of a third material, which is a hard material.

[0036] In particular, the second material is selected to contain 50 to 85% by weight of metal.

[0037] In particular, the metal filler may include titanium, tungsten, platinum, gold, and iridium.

[0038] In particular, a material is selected as the second material, comprising, out of a total of 100% by weight, 50-85% by weight of a filler made of a biological material and / or a metallic material and / or a ceramic material, 15-50% by weight of at least one polymer, 0-10% by weight of a coupling agent, 0-10% by weight of a reinforcing material, 0-5% by weight of a pigment, and 0-5% by weight of a diluent and / or a plasticizer, said polymer being bonded to said filler and / or, if said second material comprises at least one coupling agent, said coupling agent being bonded to said filler by one or more bonds selected from hydrogen bonds, coordinate bonds and ionic bonds, respectively.

[0039] In particular, the polymer includes a hydrogen bond donor and the optional coupling agent includes a hydrogen bond donor.

[0040] In particular, the polymer is a polyamide and the optional coupling agent is a polyurethane.

[0041] In particular, the polymer is a polyurethane.

[0042] In particular, the polymer is a polyester and the optional coupling agent is a hydroxysilane containing an amide or amine group.

[0043] In particular, said second material comprises a reinforcement formed by glass fibres, and / or glass beads, and / or carbon fibres, and / or aramid fibres, and / or plant fibres and / or animal fibres.

[0044] In particular, during a fourth step 400, the voids are filled with an organic matrix that is at least partially charged with organic particles.

[0045] In particular, between the fourth step 400 and the fifth step 500, an intermediate step 450 is performed in which said organic matrix is ​​crosslinked and densified at a temperature between 20 and 300° C. in a controlled atmosphere.

[0046] In particular, this intermediate step 450 is 300 to 650 × 10 5 N / m 2 (300~650bar), more specifically 400~600×10 5 N / m 2 The pressure is between 400 and 600 bar.

[0047] In particular, this organic matrix is ​​formed by an optionally modified epoxide and / or an optionally modified acrylic and / or polyurethane and / or silicone, in particular, this organic polymer matrix is ​​charged with ceramics, in particular the ceramic filler comprises 55-65% by weight, in particular close to 60% by weight, more particularly 58-62% by weight of the second material.

[0048] In particular, a first step 100 is performed by sintering.

[0049] In particular, the second step 200 and / or the third step 300 are performed by laser scanning. It can also be performed by mechanical etching, but the cost of the diamond tools required is high.

[0050] In particular, during the second step 200, a cavity is created having a depth of between 80 μm and 500 μm relative to the upper surface of the body made of hard material.

[0051] In particular, during the second step 200 and / or the third step 300, a cavity or groove is formed in the bottom and / or wall of the cavity, the depth of which is less than one fifth of said cavity.

[0052] In particular, the third step 300 is at least partly performed by sandblasting.

[0053] In particular, during another intermediate step 350 between the third step 300 and the fourth step 400, a bonding layer is formed on the bottom and / or walls of the cavity to ensure better bonding of the second material.

[0054] In particular, for this bonding layer a lacquer or a layer comprising at least one metal and / or metal alloy is chosen.

[0055] In particular, for this bonding layer, a layer is selected which comprises at least a metal nitride, and / or a metal carbide, and / or a silane, and / or an organosiloxane, and / or an alkanethiol, and / or a disulfide alkane, and / or a zirconate, and / or a titanate, and / or an aluminate.

[0056] In an alternative embodiment, at least a portion of the fourth step 400 is performed by overmolding or injection.

[0057] Depending on the selection of the first and second materials, the method may incorporate at least one step of sintering, curing, or passing through a particular atmosphere.

[0058] In particular, the first material and / or the second material are selected to contain more than 75% by weight of gold and / or platinum, in such a way that titratable components can be obtained under certain mass distribution conditions.

[0059] In an alternative embodiment, the first step 100 and / or the fourth step 400 are performed by 3D printing based on a 3D file.

[0060] In this way, a three-dimensional data set is pre-generated, which defines a model with at least one cavity 9 and at least one discharge orifice necessary for the execution of the method, to create an object, here the body 1 and / or the insert 2. This three-dimensional data set is converted into a number of layers, each layer representing a cross-section of the object, which is built layer by layer with powder material using an additive manufacturing method such as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) to manufacture the object in one piece. The loosened powder is removed from each cavity, in particular each cavity, via at least one powder discharge orifice formed between the cavity and the outer surface of the object. If necessary, at least one through orifice formed through the object is formed by machining to receive a control mechanism or the like, this through orifice being optionally pre-formed during the three-dimensional construction of the object.

[0061] In particular, the first step 100, the second step 200 and the third step 300 are combined to be performed in a single three-dimensional printing operation based on a three-dimensional file, thereby producing the body 1 in a first material. In particular, during a fourth step 400 of three-dimensional printing in a second material, at least one insert 2 is produced on the base of the body 1.

[0062] In another three-dimensional printing alternative embodiment, the first step 100, the second step 200, the third step 300 and the fourth step 400 are combined to perform a single three-dimensional printing operation based on a three-dimensional file, where the three-dimensional data set defines a supply of powder corresponding to the first material and the second material, and the machine program defines a time sequence of laser sintering of each of the first and second materials at each associated location.

[0063] The composite inlay method can use a petroleum-based polymer that has better mechanical properties than other polymers but is limited in its scratch resistance. The mechanical behavior of the second material made from the charged plastic is better than that of the second epoxy-based material with 60% ceramic filler, making it preferable for timepiece applications.

[0064] In short, thanks to the invention it is possible to create an element made of a hard material inlaid with at least one composite ceramic decoration, the composition of which includes a biological matrix.

[0065] This overmolding technique is more suitable for polymers with bases containing hydrogen bond donors such as epoxides, acrylics, polyurethanes, silicones, etc. Such composites are developed for injection techniques and are easy to integrate into the production cycle.

[0066] The choice of bio-based polymers makes this method more economical and environmentally friendly than previously known methods, and the process can be automated, unlike traditional lacquers, making it highly reproducible.

[0067] The durability is good and it is possible to produce components with acceptable hardness and good wear resistance.

[0068] The invention further relates to an element 10 of an external piece of timepiece or jewellery, in particular made by said method, comprising a body 1 made of a hard material, inlaid with at least one decoration 5 made of a second material different from said hard material, in particular the face of at least one such decoration 5 consisting of a face of an insert 2 made of a charged polymer of biological origin selected for its wear resistance.

[0069] The invention further relates to a timepiece or piece of jewellery 100 comprising at least one such outer part element 10.

[0070] The present invention is suitable for intricate or very fine decorative embodiments such as numbers, indexes and other symbols, as well as thin-walled decorative embodiments, and the method allows the creation of three-dimensional parts with a height that is significantly greater than the dimensions of the base. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1 Main unit 2 Insert 5. Decoration 9 Hollow part 10 Timepieces or jewellery elements 11 Body surface 12 Insert Face 91 Undercut Contour 92 Cavity 100 Timepieces or jewellery

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a timepiece or jewellery element (10) made of a hard material and inlaid with at least one ornamentation (5) made of a second material different from said hard material, comprising: In a first step (100), a body (1) made of said hard material is formed, During said first step (100) or in a subsequent second step (200), forming at least one cavity (9) in the surface of said body (1) made of a hard material, said cavity (9) being adapted to form an image of said decoration (5); In a third step (300), the surface condition of the bottom and / or the wall of the cavity (9) is changed to increase the contact area of ​​the bottom and / or the wall, In a fourth step (400), at least one of said voids (9) is filled with said second material, which is a composite material comprising, partially or entirely, at least one polymer selected for its wear resistance, said polymer including a biological material, to form an insert (2) forming said decoration (5); In a fifth step (500), the insert is surface-finished. A method comprising:

2. During said second step (200) and / or said third step (300), a micro-relief (91) is formed on the wall of said cavity (9).

2. The method of claim 1 .

3. During the fifth step (500), the insert (2) is flush with the body (1) so that its volume is reduced to the volume of the cavity (9) in which it is formed, so that the second material remains only in the cavity of the cavity (9).

2. The method of claim 1 .

4. The hard material of the body is selected from oxides, carbides, or nitrides of titanium, zirconium, silicon, or aluminum.

2. The method of claim 1 .

5. The hard material of the body is selected from cermet, sapphire or spinel, or MgAlO 4 , Mn 3 O 4 , ZnFeO 4 , FeCrO 4 , LiMnO 4 , MgSe 0.1-0.4 A 0.9-0.6 O 4 and YAG 2. The method of claim 1 .

6. As the hard material, a cermet containing an oxide, carbide or nitride of titanium, zirconium, silicon or aluminum is selected.

6. The method of claim 5 .

7. The second material, which is a composite material, is selected to be a composite ceramic.

2. The method of claim 1 .

8. The composite ceramic is selected to include ceramic particles formed by oxides, carbides or nitrides of titanium, zirconium, silicon or aluminum, respectively.

8. The method of claim 7.

9. The second material is selected to contain 50-85% by weight of ceramics.

8. The method of claim 7.

10. The second material, which is a composite material, is selected to include particles of a third material, which is a hard material.

2. The method of claim 1 .

11. The second material is selected to contain 50-85% by weight of metal.

11. The method of claim 10.

12. The second material is, out of a total of 100% by weight, A filler made of 50 to 85% by weight of a biological material, and / or a metallic material, and / or a ceramic material; 15-50% by weight of at least one polymer; 0 to 10% by weight of a coupling agent; 0-10% by weight of a reinforcing material; 0 to 5% by weight of a pigment; 0-5% by weight of a diluent and / or plasticizer; The polymer is bonded to the filler, and / or, if the second material comprises at least one coupling agent, the coupling agent is bonded to the polymer and the filler, respectively, by one or more bonds selected from hydrogen bonds, coordinate bonds, and ionic bonds.

2. The method of claim 1 .

13. the polymer comprises a hydrogen bond donor; The coupling agent comprises a hydrogen bond donor.

13. The method of claim 12.

14. the polymer is a polyamide; The coupling agent is a polyurethane.

13. The method of claim 12.

15. The polymer is a polyurethane.

13. The method of claim 12.

16. the polymer is a polyester; The coupling agent is a hydroxysilane containing an amide or amine group.

13. The method of claim 12.

17. The fourth step (400) is carried out by injecting the second material into at least one of the cavities (9).

2. The method of claim 1 .

18. The first step (100) and / or the fourth step (400) are carried out by three-dimensional printing based on a three-dimensional file.

2. The method of claim 1 .

19. The first step (100), the second step (200) and the fourth step (400) are combined in a single 3D printing operation based on a 3D file.

2. The method of claim 1 .

20. An element (10) of an outer piece of a timepiece or jewellery, comprising a body (1) made of a hard material, said outer part element (10) is inlaid with at least one decoration (5) made of a second material different from said hard material, At least one of the surfaces of the decoration (5) is made of a surface of the insert (2) made of a polymer selected for its wear resistance, the polymer including a biological material. An element (10) of an outer part, characterized in that

21. The outer part comprises at least one element (10) according to claim 20. A timepiece or piece of jewellery (100).

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