Ceramic Liquid Contact Surface for Bubble-Free Analyzer Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In analyzers, air bubbles adhering to the inner syringe walls or plunger surfaces during liquid dispensing lead to inaccurate liquid dispensing due to variations in liquid volume, affecting dispensing accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A liquid contact member with a ceramic surface having a higher silicon concentration on the liquid contact surface than the virtual internal surface, which enhances hydrophilicity and dirt removal efficiency, is used, along with a method involving polishing and heat-treating the ceramic at 1,600° C. to 1,700° C. for improved hydrophilicity and mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a hydrophilic film is formed on the inner wall of the syringe or surface of the plunger, then air bubble adhesion is reduced and dispensing accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing process become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the ceramic material by controlling the silicon concentration distribution, specifically creating a higher silicon concentration on the liquid contact surface compared to the virtual internal surface. This parameter change achieves hydrophilicity without requiring additional film formation processes, thus improving dispensing accuracy while avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite ceramic structure with non-uniform silicon distribution, combining different silicon concentrations within the same material body. The ceramic includes crystal grains and grain boundary phase with specific silicon concentration gradients, creating a composite material that provides both structural integrity and surface hydrophilicity inherently
2Reliability
If the ceramic is heat-treated at high temperature for extended holding time, then hydrophilicity and mechanical properties are improved, but the production time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the heat treatment parameters by specifying a temperature range of 1,600°C to 1,700°C and a holding time of 1 to 4 hours. This parameter optimization achieves the desired silicon redistribution and hydrophilicity improvement while minimizing unnecessary time and energy consumption, balancing material property enhancement with production efficiency
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 significantly reduces the contact angle with water, increases dirt removal efficiency, and maintains binding force between crystal grains, ensuring accurate and reliable liquid dispensing while preventing particle shedding.
Implementation Method 1
heat-treating the ceramic at a temperature of 1,600° C. to 1,700° C. for a holding time of 1 hour to 4 hours
Implementation Method 2
the concentration of silicon on a liquid contact surface of the ceramic is higher than that of silicon on a virtual internal surface parallel to the liquid contact surface
Data Source
AI summary
ObjectTo provide a liquid contact member having high hydrophilicity and exhibiting high dirt removal efficiency by cleaning.SolutionA liquid contact member includes a ceramic including a plurality of crystal grains and a grain boundary phase, and the concentration of silicon on a liquid contact surface of the ceramic is higher than that of silicon on a virtual internal surface parallel to the liquid contact surface.