Ceramic Polymer Inlay Process for Watch Cases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Producing external part components for timepieces and jewelry made of hard materials with embedded decorations that match mechanical strength, wear resistance, and aesthetic appeal is challenging, as existing methods struggle to achieve perfect bonding and durability.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the creation of hollows in hard material bodies, modification of surface conditions for enhanced bonding, and filling with a composite material including bio-sourced charged polymers, which are then machined to match the surface finish, ensuring strong and aesthetically integrated decorations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If rubber overmoulding or filling with lacquer is used to create decorations on hard material, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the mechanical strength and wear resistance of the decoration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of ceramic particles embedded in a polymer matrix to create decorations that combine the wear resistance of ceramic with the manufacturability of polymer processing. This allows the decoration to achieve both good mechanical properties and ease of manufacture through injection molding techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface conditions of the hollows by controlling surface roughness parameters (Ra 1-10 μm) to optimize bonding between the hard material body and the decorative material. This parameter control enables achieving strong bonding while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Shape
If filling with Hyceram or Liquidmetal is used to create decorations, then the aesthetic effect is improved, but the bonding reliability and scratch resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials with ceramic particles (such as alumina, silica, or zirconia) dispersed in a polymer matrix. This composite structure provides both the desired aesthetic appearance and superior bonding reliability, while the ceramic content enhances scratch resistance comparable to the hard material body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coupling agent as an intermediary substance that promotes bonding between the hard material body and the decorative material. This coupling agent ensures reliable adhesion while maintaining scratch resistance and aesthetic qualities.
3Productivity
If two-component injection moulding is used to create decorations, then the productivity is improved, but the control of bonding quality and surface integration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes processing parameters including temperature, pressure, and injection speed to control the bonding quality and surface integration of the decoration. By precisely controlling these parameters during injection molding, the patent achieves both high productivity and consistent bonding quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms during the injection molding process to monitor and adjust bonding conditions in real-time. This allows for quality control of the bonding interface while maintaining efficient production through automated process adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the invention relates to a process for manufacturing a horological or jewellery external part element, including a body made of hard material, inlaid with a decoration made of a second material, where in a first step the body made of the hard material is formed, during this first step or in a second step, a hollow is produced in a face of the body, in a third step, the surface condition of the bottom and/or walls of said hollow is modified to increase the contact area thereof, in a fourth step, this hollow is filled with the second material is a composite material including at least one bio-sourced charged polymer including at least one bio-sourced charged polymer chosen for the wear resistance thereof, to constitute an insert forming a said decoration, in a fifth step, a surface finishing of said insert is performed.