Enamel Steel Surface Treatment Agent Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surface treatment processes for enamel steel products require the use of environmentally harmful chemicals and result in thick enamel layers, high production costs, and surface defects such as pinholes and fish eyes, while also necessitating the use of lubricating and anti-rust oils, which complicate the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

A surface treatment agent comprising an aqueous solution with specific components like polymer resin, organosilane coupling agent, molybdenum compound, and metal salts, which forms an organic composite coating that enhances adhesion, reduces enamel layer thickness, and improves resistance to chemical media, allowing for molding without lubricating or anti-rust oils.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional surface treatment processes (sand blasting, pickling, nickel plating, plasma etching) are used to clean and prepare the surface, then the surface reactivity and cleanliness are improved, but environmental pollution and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface reactivityVSAvoidenvironmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the ceramic glaze layer by incorporating specific metal oxides (Fe2O3: 0.1-5.0 wt%, MnO2: 0.1-5.0 wt%, CoO: 0.1-5.0 wt%, NiO: 0.1-5.0 wt%) and controlling the SiO2/B2O3 ratio, which modifies the surface properties to achieve sufficient reactivity without requiring aggressive pre-treatment processes that cause environmental pollution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for harmful pre-treatment processes (sand blasting, pickling, nickel plating, plasma etching) by designing a ceramic glaze composition that can directly bond to the steel substrate through controlled oxidation-reduction reactions during firing, thereby removing the source of environmental pollution while maintaining surface reactivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If the enamel layer thickness is increased to 150 μm or more to ensure firm adhesion and good surface quality, then adhesion strength is improved, but ceramic glaze material consumption and product weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion strengthVSAvoidceramic glaze material consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the ceramic glaze layer by incorporating specific metal oxides (Fe2O3: 0.1-5.0 wt%, MnO2: 0.1-5.0 wt%, CoO: 0.1-5.0 wt%, NiO: 0.1-5.0 wt%) and controlling the SiO2/B2O3 ratio, which enhances the bonding capability per unit thickness, allowing thin layers (5-50 μm) to achieve adhesion strength comparable to or exceeding traditional thick layers through optimized chemical reactivity and interface bond formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure at the interface between the steel substrate and ceramic glaze layer through controlled redox reactions during firing, forming a metallurgical bond with intermediate phases that significantly enhance adhesion strength per unit thickness, thereby reducing the required overall enamel layer thickness while maintaining firm adhesion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If anti-rust oil and lubricating oil are applied during production to prevent rustiness and reduce friction, then protection and formability are improved, but the manufacturing process complexity and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ceramic glaze layer is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides corrosion protection by forming a dense, chemically resistant vitreous barrier, reduces friction during forming operations through its smooth fired surface, and eliminates the need for separate anti-rust oil and lubricating oil applications, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining protection and formability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 surface treatment agent improves the adhesion between the enamel layer and steel substrate, reduces surface defects, and provides excellent alkali-washing and solvent resistance, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing ceramic glaze material consumption while maintaining high performance parameters.

Implementation Method 1

a surface treatment agent for enamel steel or part, consisting of an aqueous solution, comprising the following solid components in parts by mass: 15 to 55 parts of an aqueous polymer resin A; 32 to 58 parts of an organosilane coupling agent B having at least one epoxy functional group

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

the surface treatment agent improves the adhesion between the enamel layer and steel substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

32 to 58 parts of an organosilane coupling agent B having at least one epoxy functional group; 0.2 to 3 parts of a polyol C containing at least three hydroxyl groups

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 4

0.5 to 8 parts of a metal salt or an organometallic compound G having a function of promoting adhesion, wherein the metal salt or organometallic compound G is a metal salt or an organometallic compound which promotes the adhesion between the enamel layer and the steel substrate for enameling in the sintering process of the ceramic glaze layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 5

this process forms a strong bond in the interface between the enamel layer and the steel substrate for enameling by redox process between the steel substrate for enameling and the ceramic glaze layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRedox reactions: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 6

the coated enamel steel or part has better performance parameters and good resistance to various chemical media, such as alkali-washing resistance or solvent resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBarrier protection: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3470549B1Surface treatment agent, enamel steel and part coated with same
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 BAOSHAN IRON & STEEL CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed in the present invention is a surface treatment agent for use on enamel steel or a part, an aqueous solution thereof comprising the following solid components in parts by mass: 15 to 55 parts of an aqueous polymer resin A; 32 to 58 parts of an organosilane coupling agent B having at least one epoxy functional group, wherein the ratio of parts by mass of the organosilane coupling agent B to the aqueous polymer resin A is 0.6 to 2.2; 0.2 to 3 parts of a polyol C containing at least three hydroxyl groups; 0.05 to 2 parts by mass of a molybdenum compound D, in terms of elemental molybdenum; 0.1 to 1 parts by mass of a phosphorus compound E, in terms of elemental phosphorus; 0.1 to 1 parts by mass of a zirconium compound F, in terms of elemental zirconium; and 0.5 to 8 parts of a metal salt or an organometallic compound G which promotes adhesion. The enamel steel coated with the surface treatment agent has excellent processability, and good resistance to various chemical media. The present invention effectively improves the surface adhesion between a ceramic glaze layer and a steel substrate, as well as the surface quality of a final enamel product.