High Hardness Optical Layer with Distinctive Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-layer interference stacks are susceptible to wear and scratch damage, compromising optical performance, and lack durability and optical distinctiveness for applications requiring abrasion resistance and scratch resistance while maintaining transmittance.
Innovation Solution
The development of high hardness articles with optically distinctive portions, featuring a multi-layer interference stack design that includes a transparent layer with an optical layer having contiguous portions with different refractive indices and thicknesses, providing enhanced scratch and abrasion resistance while maintaining optical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multi-layer interference stacks are used to achieve optical performance, then optical properties are improved, but wear and abrasion resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is divided into multiple functional layers including a base coat layer and multiple interference layers with different functions. The base coat layer provides hardness and abrasion resistance, while the interference layers provide optical performance. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in one function, resolving the contradiction between optical performance and wear resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite coating structures combining different materials with complementary properties. The base coat layer uses hard materials like silicon oxynitride or aluminum oxynitride for abrasion resistance, while interference layers use materials optimized for optical interference. This composite approach enables simultaneous achievement of optical performance and durability.
2Strength
If hard coating materials like nitrides are used to improve hardness, then hardness is improved, but transmittance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coating structure separates the hardness function (base coat layer) from the optical transmission function (interference layers). The base coat layer uses hard nitride or oxynitride materials, while the interference layers use materials with better transmittance properties. This functional segmentation resolves the contradiction between hardness and transmittance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the coating have different material compositions optimized for their specific functions. The base coat layer has high hardness materials, while the interference layers have materials optimized for light transmission and optical interference. This local optimization allows each region to excel at its intended function without compromising the other.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multi-layer interference stacks are used to achieve consistent color and reflectance properties, then optical uniformity is improved, but scratch resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is segmented into a protective base coat layer and optical interference layers. The base coat layer provides scratch and abrasion resistance, while the interference layers provide consistent color and reflectance properties. This segmentation allows the optical layers to be optimized for uniformity without compromising durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines a hard protective base coat with multiple interference layers. The base coat uses materials like silicon oxynitride for scratch resistance, while the interference layers use materials optimized for optical consistency. This composite approach enables simultaneous achievement of scratch resistance and optical uniformity.
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 achieves high hardness, scratch resistance, and abrasion resistance, preventing degradation of optical characteristics, allowing the articles to convey information and maintain transmittance, suitable for various applications where surface damage is a concern.
Implementation Method 1
multi-layer interference stack design that includes a transparent layer with an optical layer having contiguous portions with different refractive indices and thicknesses
Data Source
AI summary
An article, comprising an optical layer disposed on a transparent layer, can have a maximum hardness of about 10 GigaPascals (GPa) to about 50 GPa. The optical layer can comprise a first portion and a second portion that are contiguous with one another at one major surface the optical layer. The portions may exhibit specific differences in average reflectance value, observed color, and/or angular color shift relative to each other. In some embodiments, a photopic average reflectance of the first portion may differ from an average reflectance of the second portion by about 5% or more. In other embodiments, a color of the first portion can have a color difference from a color of the second portion of about 4 or more in CIE color coordinate space.