Colored Forged Carbon Timepiece Component
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current composite materials for horological components, such as those made of coloured forged carbon, face issues with porosity leading to brittleness and unpredictable colour distribution due to pigment migration during the manufacturing process, making them unsuitable for impact-resistant or small dimension components like control push-pieces.
Innovation Solution
The use of solid pigment particles that are not soluble in the resin matrix, applied directly to the surface of carbon fibres and positioned in predefined regions, allowing for controlled colouring and reduced porosity through a specific manufacturing method involving pre-impregnation, moulding, and a pressure-temperature cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pigment is dissolved in the resin matrix, then the resin can be coloured, but the pigment migrates during pressurized temperature raising operation causing unpredictable colour distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The pigment is applied to the carbon fibres before they are placed in the mould, establishing the colour pattern in advance. This preliminary action ensures that the pigment remains in predefined regions and does not migrate during subsequent pressurized temperature raising operations, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision of colour distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The pigment is segmented and applied individually to carbon fibres rather than being dissolved in the resin matrix. This segmentation prevents pigment migration and allows precise control over colour distribution in the final composite product.
2Strength
If conventional forging process is used, then carbon fibres can be consolidated, but high porosity is caused leading to brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process parameters are changed to include a specific pressure-temperature cycle with controlled heating rates, holding periods, and cooling rates. These parameter changes reduce porosity during consolidation while maintaining mechanical strength, thereby improving impact resistance without sacrificing structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of resin-impregnated carbon fibres creates a composite material structure that consolidates fibres more effectively while reducing porosity. The resin acts as a binding matrix that fills voids and strengthens the composite, simultaneously improving both mechanical strength and impact resistance.
3Manufacturing precision
If pigment particles are applied to carbon fibre surface, then colour patterns can be controlled, but additional manufacturing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The pigment is applied to the carbon fibres in advance, before they are placed in the mould. This preliminary action simplifies the overall manufacturing process by establishing the colour pattern early, avoiding the need for complex post-processing steps to achieve precise colour control.
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
This approach enables the production of high-quality, impact-resistant horological components with predefined and reproducible colour patterns, avoiding colour mixing and achieving low porosity, thus enhancing mechanical strength and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
cut carbon fibres, secured to one another by a matrix comprising at least one resin as component
Implementation Method 2
applying a pressure-raising and temperature-raising cycle suitable for producing a densification
Implementation Method 3
applying a pressure-raising and temperature-raising cycle suitable for producing a densification and a crosslinking
Implementation Method 4
applying a pressure-raising and temperature-raising cycle suitable for producing a densification and a crosslinking of the mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A horological component is disclosed, which comprises at least one portion made of colored forged carbon comprising cut carbon fibers, secured to one another by a matrix comprising at least one resin as component, and at least one pigment, the pigment taking the form of solid particles that cannot be mixed with, or are not soluble in, the resin or resins of which the matrix is composed, and the particles of pigment being situated on the surface of at least some of the carbon fibers and located in one or more predefined regions of the portion of horological component. A manufacturing method allowing such a horological component to be produced is also disclosed.