AlN Coating Scratch Resistance Cleanability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scratch-resistant coatings face limitations in thermal expansion compatibility with substrates, leading to stress issues and poor cleanability, especially on surfaces like glass ceramics, which require both high scratch resistance and easy contamination removal.
Innovation Solution
A transparent high refractive index hard material layer based on aluminum nitride (AlN) with a crystalline structure and hexagonal crystal orientation, achieving high scratch resistance, low surface roughness, and improved cleanability through a sputtering process, while maintaining high transmittance and mechanical resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a hard material coating with high scratch resistance is applied, then scratch resistance is improved, but cleanability deteriorates due to surface roughness and contamination adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface energy parameters of the coating by selecting specific material compositions (silicon oxide, silicon nitride, boron nitride) and controlling deposition parameters to achieve low surface energy. This parameter change enables the coating to have both high hardness for scratch resistance and low surface energy for improved cleanability, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite coating materials comprising multiple compounds (silicon oxide, silicon nitride, boron nitride) in specific ratios. This composite approach allows the coating to exhibit both high mechanical strength for scratch resistance and appropriate surface properties for cleanability, combining the benefits of different materials to resolve the contradiction.
2Strength
If a crystalline coating structure is used to improve hardness, then scratch resistance is improved, but surface roughness increases leading to poor cleanability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the deposition parameters and material composition to achieve a unique surface morphology. By controlling the sputtering process parameters and using specific material ratios, the coating achieves high hardness through crystalline structure while maintaining low surface roughness, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
3Illumination intensity
If a coating with high refractive index is applied to improve optical properties, then transmittance is improved, but surface properties for cleanability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite materials with specific refractive index properties combined with low surface energy characteristics. The multi-component system (silicon oxide, silicon nitride, boron nitride) allows simultaneous optimization of optical transmittance and surface cleanability, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
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 AlN-based coating provides enhanced scratch resistance, resistance to wearing and polishing stress, and excellent cleanability with low surface energy and friction, making it suitable for applications like cooktops and optical components.
Implementation Method 1
The coating is produced in particular by sputtering
Data Source
AI summary
A substrate having a scratch resistance enhancing coating with improved cleanability and methods for producing such a coating are provided. The coating includes at least one high refractive index transparent hard material layer and includes aluminum nitride. The coating exhibits a contact angle for water of greater than 75°.