Watch Component ALD Coating for Corrosion Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coatings for watch components, such as lacquer or paint, are too thick and can alter the appearance or dimensions of complex watch components, leading to aesthetic degradation and potential scrapping, especially in after-sales services where long-term protection against corrosion and environmental factors is crucial without interfering with optical or geometrical properties.
Innovation Solution
A thin protective coating is applied using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology to create a barrier against gases and vapors, ensuring the coating is imperceptible to the naked eye and maintaining the component's original appearance and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional coatings (lacquer, paint) are applied to protect watch components, then protection against corrosion and environmental factors is achieved, but the coating thickness alters the appearance and dimensions of the component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies atomic layer deposition (ALD) to create an ultra-thin protective coating that functions as a flexible barrier against corrosion while being imperceptibly thin to the naked eye, thus maintaining the component's original appearance and dimensional precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the coating thickness parameter from conventional micrometer-scale thickness to nanometer-scale thickness through ALD technology, transforming the coating from visibly thick to imperceptibly thin while maintaining protective functionality
2Reliability
If thicker protective coatings are applied to ensure adequate protection, then corrosion resistance is improved, but the coating becomes visible and affects the optical properties of the component
Solution Approach 1:
The ALD coating creates a transparent thin film that provides corrosion protection without blocking light or altering optical properties, as the nanometer-scale thickness allows light to pass through unaffected
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite protective layers through ALD deposition that combine multiple functional properties (corrosion resistance, transparency, adhesion) in a single ultra-thin coating structure
3Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional coating methods are used for long-term storage protection, then basic protection is achieved, but aesthetic degradation occurs over time leading to component scrapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional short-lived coatings with a durable ALD coating that provides long-term protection, effectively extending the service life of the watch component and preventing aesthetic degradation that would lead to scrapping
Solution Approach 2:
The ALD coating creates a multi-functional protective layer that maintains both protective and aesthetic properties over extended periods, preventing the degradation that occurs with conventional coatings
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ALD coating effectively protects watch components from corrosion and environmental factors for extended periods without altering their appearance or properties, ensuring long-term reliability and sustainability, even after long-term storage or use in harsh conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The ALD deposition of oxide layers on watch parts is known e.g. from Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)... The ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) technology is a variation of CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) techniques and involves chemisorption of chemical species issuing from gaseous precursors on the surface of the component
Implementation Method 2
The ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) technology is a variation of CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) techniques and involves chemisorption of chemical species issuing from gaseous precursors on the surface of the component
Implementation Method 3
The ALD deposition of oxide layers on watch parts is known e.g. from Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)... monomolecular layers can be generated by this technique, thereby allowing a very controlled growth of the coating. If several layers are deposited on top of each other, a very dense coating can be obtained, with practically no pin-holes or defects
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a method for protecting a complex watch component against gaseous environment, characterized in that the entire surface of the complex watch component or parts of said surface is/are coated with a protective coating by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Further provided are a method for obtaining a complex watch component, and a complex watch component comprising a protective ALD coating.