Gold-Colored Titanium Nitride Ceramic Ornamental Component

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gold-colored ornamental components made of titanium nitride ceramics face issues with workability due to the ductility of metals like nickel, niobium, and chromium, causing grindstone clogging and prolonged shaping times.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a compound of nickel, niobium, and titanium in the titanium nitride sintered body, along with chromium and carbon, to reduce adhesion to grindstones and enhance workability, while maintaining a gold color and high hardness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metals such as nickel, niobium, and chromium are contained in titanium nitride ceramics to achieve gold color and high hardness, then the ornamental component exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and aesthetic appearance, but the metals adhere easily to grindstone during shaping working operation, causing clogging and prolonged working time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidshaping working time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the metallic components by controlling their particle size (0.1-10 μm) and concentration (specific mass percentages of Ni: 3-15%, Nb: 1-10%, Cr: 1-10%). This parameter optimization reduces adhesion to grindstone while maintaining the gold color and corrosion resistance properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system where titanium nitride ceramics are combined with specific amounts of metallic particles (Ni, Nb, Cr) and carbon particles. This composite structure achieves both the aesthetic gold appearance and improved workability by reducing grindstone clogging, while maintaining corrosion resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If carbon is increased to improve workability and reduce grindstone adhesion, then shaping working time is reduced, but the mechanical strength and hardness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaping working timeVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the carbon content parameter within a specific range (0.5-2.0 mass%) to balance workability improvement against mechanical strength maintenance. This controlled parameter change allows reduced grindstone adhesion while preserving sufficient hardness and strength for ornamental applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses carbon particles (0.1-10 μm) as a composite component alongside metallic particles in the titanium nitride matrix. The carbon serves as a lubricant to reduce grindstone adhesion during shaping, while the overall composite structure maintains mechanical integrity through the titanium nitride base material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution allows for the production of gold-colored ornamental components with excellent workability, achieving a glossy, high-quality appearance and aesthetically pleasing image, while being resistant to deformation and having improved mechanical characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

a titanium nitride sintered body containing nickel and niobium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Data Source

PatentEP3040433B1Ornamental component and watch using same, portable terminal and personal ornament
Publication Date: 2018.05.23 KYOCERA CORP
  • EP3040433B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP3040433B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

There are provided an ornamental component which is made of gold-colored ceramics and can shorten the shaping working time, and a watch, a portable terminal and a personal ornament using the ornamental component. An ornamental component of the invention has an ornamental face, and includes a titanium nitride sintered body containing nickel and niobium, and the titanium nitride sintered body contains a compound including nickel, niobium and titanium. The presence of the compound including nickel, niobium and titanium in the titanium nitride sintered body reduces adhesion to a grindstone during the shaping operation for obtain an ornamental component having a predetermined shape, and thereby render a grindstone resistant to clogging, which can shorten the shaping working time. An ornamental component having a glossy, high-quality ornamental face is obtained.