Cellular Metal Composite for Watch Cases
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing timepiece materials, particularly those using gold alloys, are heavy and prone to scratching, while composite materials combining ceramics with precious metals offer improved hardness and lightness but have a heterogeneous surface and color different from natural gold.
Innovation Solution
A composite material comprising a first metallic material with a cellular structure and a second metallic material that infiltrates the cells of the first, creating a unified outer surface and combining lightness and wear resistance, with the second material being a precious metal alloy or glass, such as gold, silver, or platinum, and the first material being a lighter metal like aluminium or titanium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gold alloys are used for timepiece components, then attractive metallic appearance and precious nature are achieved, but weight increases and scratch resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a cellular metallic structure (first fraction) with a precious metal infiltrate (second fraction). The cellular structure provides lightness and strength, while the precious metal infiltrate provides wear resistance and metallic appearance, resolving the contradiction between weight and scratch resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by having the precious metal selectively infiltrate the cellular structure rather than using solid precious metal throughout. The infiltrate concentrates precious metal in regions where it provides maximum benefit (surface and interface zones) while maintaining overall lightness, thus improving scratch resistance without proportionally increasing weight
2Reliability
If ceramic materials are combined with precious metals, then hardness and lightness are improved, but surface homogeneity deteriorates and color differs from natural gold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by using a cellular metallic structure as the base material, which maintains uniform mechanical properties throughout. The precious metal infiltrate distributes evenly within the cellular pores, creating a homogeneous composite structure that avoids the surface heterogeneity problems of ceramic-metal composites while maintaining improved hardness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting specific cellular structure parameters (cell size, density, geometry) and infiltrate parameters (precious metal type, infiltration depth, concentration) to optimize both hardness and surface appearance. The cellular structure parameters are tuned to provide appropriate hardness enhancement while the infiltrate parameters are optimized to maintain natural metallic appearance and color
3Weight of moving object
If a cellular structure is used, then lightness is achieved, but strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining the cellular structure with a precious metal infiltrate. The cellular structure provides the lightness advantage, while the infiltrate reinforces the cell walls and interfaces, compensating for the strength reduction caused by the cellular geometry and achieving a favorable strength-to-weight ratio
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 solution results in a timepiece component that is lighter than solid gold, with improved wear and scratch resistance, maintaining an attractive metallic appearance and incorporating precious metals for enhanced durability.
Implementation Method 1
a second fraction made from a second metallic material different from the first metallic material, in which the second fraction at least partly infiltrates the cells of the first fraction
Data Source
AI summary
Preform and manufacturing process producing heterogeneous components with a first fraction (11) made from a first metallic material and having a cellular structure with stochastic or regular cells, and a second fraction (12) made from a second metallic material different from the first metallic material, in which the second fraction (12) at least partly infiltrates the cells of the first fraction (11). The second fraction is poured into the preform which also acts as a mould. The finished product after machining may have a unified surface of the second fraction or several zones exposing the second fraction, the first fraction, the cellular structure which is open or infiltrated with the second metallic fraction, or open zones, in a predetermined design.