Enamelling Hot Glass Sheets Using Liquid Metal Alkoxide Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enamelling processes for glass sheets face limitations such as the need for immediate tempering, unsatisfactory aesthetic changes upon tempering, and poor mechanical resistance, especially when using electrostatic deposition methods, which are complex and environmentally hazardous.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the application of a liquid composition containing a hydrolysate of metal alkoxide, a solvent with a boiling point of at least 180°C, and glass frit onto a hot glass sheet, allowing for a strong, aesthetically consistent enamel coating that is temperable and easy to implement on-line, without electrostatic deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If electrostatic deposition is used to apply enamel/glass frit on hot glass, then the enamel coating can be applied, but the coating can be rubbed off easily and the process is complex with safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrostatic deposition process with a simple spray application method. Instead of using complex electrostatic fields and charged particles, the enamel composition is applied as a liquid or paste that is sprayed onto the hot glass surface, eliminating the need for high-voltage equipment and complex control systems while achieving sufficient coating adhesion through thermal bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the enamel from dry powdered particles (electrostatic process) to a liquid or paste formulation. This parameter change allows the enamel to be applied in a more controllable manner and achieves better adhesion through the liquid medium that can penetrate and bond with the glass surface during the tempering process.
2Strength
If tempering is conducted immediately after production for Colorbel product, then the enamel has sufficient mechanical resistance, but the process is severely limited and requires same production line
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the enamel composition to the glass surface while the glass is still hot from the float bath, during the tempering process itself. This preliminary application ensures that the enamel is deposited on the glass before it cools, allowing the subsequent tempering cycle to simultaneously bond the enamel to the glass and provide the necessary mechanical strength, eliminating the need for separate immediate tempering operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If glass sheet is tempered before painting, then the glass has final dimensions, but it is not possible to cut a tempered glass sheet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the enamel application during the tempering process itself, before the glass sheet is cooled to its final dimensions. This allows any necessary cutting or shaping operations to be performed on the glass while it is still in a more workable state, and the enamel coating is subsequently bonded during the tempering cycle, ensuring both dimensional stability and manufacturing flexibility.
4Strength
If off-line process with increased organic content is used, then the glass sheet has better mechanical resistance to handling, but the aesthetic appearance changes upon tempering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a controlled organic content level in the enamel composition formulation, neither too high nor too low. This parameter optimization ensures that the organic binders provide sufficient mechanical strength for handling during application, but do not interfere with the aesthetic appearance after the tempering and sintering process. The composition is designed to burn off cleanly during tempering, leaving a stable and attractive finish.
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 process achieves a mechanically resistant, aesthetically consistent enamel coating with good adhesion, enabling the glass sheets to be used as tempered or non-tempered products, while being simpler, quicker, and more economical than existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a solvent which has a boiling point of at least 180°C
Implementation Method 2
a hydrolysate of at least one metal alkoxide
Implementation Method 3
allowing for a strong, aesthetically consistent enamel coating that is temperable
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for producing a glass sheet provided with an enamel-based coating, comprising the step of applying to a glass sheet a liquid composition containing (i) a hydrolysate of at least one metal alkoxide, (ii) a solvent which has a boiling point of at least 180°C, and (iii) a glass frit; the temperature of the glass sheet when the liquid composition is applied being of at least 300°C. The process of the invention allows on-line enamelling of a glass sheet, getting a good adhesion of the enamel on the glass sheet. Moreover, the obtained enamelled glass sheet is temperable.