Glass Composition Gradient for Reduced Electrostatic Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glass elements used in electronic and implantable applications often suffer from excessive electrostatic charging due to their high electrical resistance, leading to malfunctions, adhesion issues, and attraction of particles, which can cause damage and interfere with processing and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A glass composition with a concentration profile of alkali metals and alkali metal oxides that increases from the surface to the interior, with a maximum concentration within 60 nanometres, reducing electrostatic chargeability and improving surface conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If glass elements are produced by hot shaping processes, then manufacturing efficiency and productivity are improved, but electrostatic chargeability increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform concentration profile of alkali metals and alkali metal oxides within the glass element. The concentration is highest at the surface and decreases toward the interior, with the maximum concentration occurring within 60 nanometers of the surface. This localized concentration gradient allows the surface region to have different electrostatic properties than the bulk material, thereby reducing excessive electrostatic chargeability while maintaining manufacturing efficiency from hot shaping processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the glass by controlling the concentration distribution of alkali metals and alkali metal oxides. Specifically, it establishes that the maximum concentration of these components occurs within 60 nanometers of the surface, which fundamentally alters the electrostatic properties of the glass element without changing the manufacturing process itself.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the concentration of alkali metals and alkali metal oxides increases from the surface to the interior, then electrostatic chargeability is reduced, but surface conductivity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of alkali metals and alkali metal oxides by establishing that the maximum concentration occurs within 60 nanometers of the surface. This specific parameter range allows the surface region to maintain adequate conductivity while the overall concentration gradient reduces excessive electrostatic chargeability. The patent specifies that this concentration profile achieves reduced electrostatic charging without compromising the functional requirements of the glass element.
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 optimized electrostatic chargeability reduces particle attraction and malfunctions, enhancing processing yield and the reliability of glass elements in electronic and implantable applications.
Implementation Method 1
the concentration of at least one alkali metal and/or the alkali metal oxide increases from the surface in the direction of the interior of the element composed of glass, in such a way that the maximum concentration of this alkali metal and/or this alkali metal oxide in the element composed of glass occurs at a distance of not more than 60 nanometres, measured perpendicularly to the surface
Data Source
AI summary
An element composed of glass displaying reduced electrostatic charging is provided. The element is suitable as a housing component for electronic elements, an element implantable in the human or animal body including glass tubes for reed switches or transponders and/or implants. The glass includes at least one alkali metal and/or an alkali metal oxide and has a surface. The concentration of at least one alkali metal and/or the alkali metal oxide increases from the surface in a direction of an interior of the element in such a way that a maximum concentration of the alkali metal and/or the alkali metal oxide occurs at a distance of not more than 60 nanometres, measured perpendicularly from the surface.