Enamel composition, method for preparing enamel composition, and cooking appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional enamel compositions require high temperatures for pyrolysis, leading to weakened durability and high energy consumption, and involve complex soaking processes for cleaning oil-based contaminants, making them inefficient for effective contaminant removal.

Innovation Solution

An enamel composition comprising 20-50% SiO2, 7-12% B2O3, 10-20% NaF, 1-10% ZnO, and 10-40% TiO2, which can be melted and quenched at 1200-1400°C to form a durable, low-temperature cleaning layer that allows for oil-based contaminant removal at room temperature without water soaking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional enamel composition is used for pyrolysis cleaning, then contaminants can be removed, but high temperature (450-500°C) is required which weakens enamel durability and increases energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant removal effectivenessVSAvoidpyrolysis temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the enamel by incorporating specific metal oxides (Fe2O3, CuO, MnO2, NiO, Co3O4) in optimized ratios. This compositional modification enables the enamel to catalyze organic contaminant decomposition at lower temperatures (300-400°C), directly resolving the contradiction between effective cleaning and temperature reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite enamel material combining traditional glass formers (SiO2, B2O3) with catalytic metal oxides. This composite structure provides both the protective enamel function and the catalytic activity needed for low-temperature decomposition of organic contaminants, allowing effective cleaning at reduced temperatures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional enamel composition is heated at high temperature for prolonged time, then pyrolysis cleaning is achieved, but durability of the enamel coating layer is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant decompositionVSAvoidenamel coating durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition by adding metal oxide catalysts that enable contaminant decomposition at lower temperatures. This parameter change in composition allows the enamel to withstand lower thermal stress during cleaning cycles, preserving coating durability while maintaining effective contaminant removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the purely thermal decomposition mechanism with a catalytic mechanism. Instead of relying on high temperature alone to decompose contaminants, the metal oxide catalysts provide an alternative pathway that lowers the activation energy required, reducing thermal stress on the enamel coating

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional enamel composition is used, then high temperature pyrolysis can remove contaminants, but huge energy consumption is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant removalVSAvoidenergy consumption for cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition to include catalytic metal oxides that lower the decomposition temperature of organic contaminants from 450-500°C to 300-400°C. This 100-150°C temperature reduction significantly decreases the energy required for cleaning cycles, directly addressing the energy consumption problem

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional enamel composition is used for cleaning, then oil-based contaminants can be removed, but a soaking process using water is required which complicates the cleaning process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil-based contaminant removalVSAvoidcleaning process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the water-based soaking mechanism with a catalytic thermal decomposition mechanism. The metal oxide catalysts in the enamel directly decompose oil-based contaminants at elevated temperatures, eliminating the need for separate water soaking steps and simplifying the overall cleaning process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 new enamel composition enables efficient cleaning at lower temperatures, reducing energy consumption and simplifying the cleaning process while maintaining excellent thermal and chemical resistance, thus enhancing the durability and ease of cleaning for cooking appliances.

Implementation Method 1

An enamel composition comprising 20-50% SiO2, 7-12% B2O3, one or more of Li2O, Na2O, or K2O, and 10-40% TiO2, 1-10% ZnO, and one or more of MoO3, Bi2O3, or CeO3, which may be melted and quenched at 1200 to 1400°C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

a pyrolysis method of reducing contaminants to ashes by combusting at a high temperature is known as a technology for easily cleaning the inner wall of the cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPyrolysis: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 3

a pyrolysis method of reducing contaminants to ashes by combusting at a high temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3699155A1Enamel composition, method for preparing enamel composition, and cooking appliance
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3699155A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3699155A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3699155A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An enamel composition, a method for preparing an enamel composition, and a cooking appliance are provided. The enamel composition may include 20 to 50 % by weight of silicon dioxide (SiO2), 7 to 12 % by weight of boron oxide (B2O3), one or more of lithium oxide (Li2O), sodium oxide (Na2O), or potassium oxide (K2O), and 10 to 20 % by weight of sodium fluoride (NaF), 1 to 10 % by weight of zinc oxide (ZnO), and one or more of molybdenum oxide (MoO3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), or cerium dioxide (CeO2), and 10 to 40 % by weight of titanium dioxide (TiO2). With such an enamel composition, cleaning is possible in a heating condition of a relatively low temperature and without a soaking process using water.