Glass-Ceramic Surface Gloss Control via Chemical Etching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for modifying glass-ceramic surfaces to reduce gloss and improve tactile feel require physical damage, which compromises material strength and lacks precise control over surface properties, and chemical etching is primarily used for polishing rather than gloss manipulation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of a chemical etching solution formed by mixing hydrofluoric acid and an inorganic fluoride salt to non-damaged glass-ceramic surfaces for a controlled etching time, allowing for the modification of surface roughness and gloss without physical damage, using etching solutions like those with hydrofluoric acid and ammonium fluoride to achieve specific roughness and gloss values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If physical damage treatment (sand blasting) is applied to reduce gloss, then surface roughness is improved, but material strength is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sand blasting process with a chemical etching process using HF-based solutions. Instead of physically damaging the surface with abrasive particles, the chemical solution selectively dissolves glass phases to create the desired roughness profile, thereby achieving gloss reduction without compromising the underlying structural integrity of the glass-ceramic material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes controlled chemical etching parameters (etching time, solution concentration, temperature) to precisely regulate surface roughness development. By adjusting these parameters, the process achieves the desired gloss reduction while limiting material removal to minimal depths, thus preserving strength while obtaining the target surface properties.
2Strength
If chemical etching is used for polishing and strengthening, then surface strength is improved, but gloss manipulation capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the chemical etching process into a multi-functional treatment that simultaneously achieves both surface strengthening and precise gloss manipulation. The same HF-based chemical solution, when applied with controlled parameters, can produce a range of surface finishes from highly glossy to matte, while also reinforcing the surface through chemical strengthening mechanisms, eliminating the need for separate polishing and gloss-control operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves precise gloss control by systematically varying etching parameters including solution concentration (e.g., 1-10% HF), etching time (seconds to minutes), and temperature. These parameter adjustments allow independent control of surface roughness and gloss without compromising strength, enabling precise manufacturing of specific aesthetic and functional requirements.
3Shape
If two-step process (physical damage followed by chemical etching) is used, then surface roughness is achieved, but process complexity increases and strength is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate physical damage and chemical etching steps into a single chemical etching process. The HF-based chemical solution directly creates the desired surface roughness without requiring prior mechanical pre-treatment, thereby simplifying the process flow, reducing equipment requirements, eliminating intermediate handling steps, and most importantly, preserving material strength by avoiding cumulative damage from multiple processes.
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 precise control over surface roughness and gloss reduction on glass-ceramic surfaces, preserving material strength and allowing for targeted surface modifications, such as achieving reduced gloss values and specific roughness values without compromising the glass-ceramic's integrity.
Implementation Method 1
chemically etching the surface of the glass ceramic... chemically etching is employed to polish and strengthen the rough and/or damaged glass ceramic surface
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods of modifying glass-ceramic articles and glass-ceramic articles formed therefrom. The methods include providing a glass-ceramic article having a non-damaged surface, applying a chemical etching solution to the non-damaged surface, and removing the chemical etching solution. The chemical etching solution modifies the non-damaged surface so that from about 0.01 µm to about 2 µm of a depth of the glass-ceramic article is removed. The chemical etching solution modifies the non-damage surface of the glass-ceramic article to form a roughened surface having a reduced gloss value and a target roughness value.