Laser Marking via Low-E Coating Nano-Particle Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for marking object surfaces, particularly glass, often result in mechanical damage or require specific materials with embedded ions, limiting their applicability and durability.
Innovation Solution
A process using a carrier element with a metal coating embedded in other layers, where a focused laser beam induces the formation of metallic nano-particles within a matrix, allowing for durable color marking on various surfaces without mechanical damage or material requirements, utilizing Low-E coating systems for thermal insulation and reflection properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If micro-fissures are created inside glass using laser beams, then marking visibility is improved, but mechanical stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical marking methods (creating micro-fissures) with a chemical/physical process involving ion exchange and laser-induced reduction. Instead of mechanically fracturing the glass to create visible marks, the process uses ionic color lettering where metal ions are reduced to metallic nanoparticles within the glass matrix, achieving visible marking without mechanical damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the glass by introducing metal ions (silver, copper, or gold) during the melting process or through ion exchange. This allows the glass to undergo laser-induced reduction to form metallic nanoparticles, fundamentally changing how the marking is achieved from mechanical fracture to controlled chemical reduction.
2Reliability
If ionic color lettering is used with metal ions embedded in glass, then marking durability is improved, but material requirements and process complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding metal ions in the glass during the melting process or performing ion exchange before laser treatment. This preparatory step ensures the glass contains the necessary metal ions distributed throughout its structure, so that subsequent laser exposure can uniformly reduce them to metallic nanoparticles, simplifying the overall process while ensuring durable marking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves universality by demonstrating that the same laser-induced reduction process can be applied to glass containing different metal ions (silver, copper, gold), producing different colors (yellow, red, purple). This single method handles multiple marking requirements without needing different processes for each color or material type.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ion exchange with molten salt bath is performed, then color marking capability is improved, but process time and material loss worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for preliminary ion exchange by incorporating metal ions directly into the glass during the melting process. This preliminary incorporation of ions removes the time-consuming ion exchange step with molten salt baths while ensuring uniform distribution of ions throughout the glass structure for effective laser-induced marking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary ion exchange step from the process sequence. By directly incorporating metal ions during glass melting, the method removes the intermediate step of ion exchange with molten salt baths, reducing process time and eliminating material loss associated with that step.
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 enables stable, durable color markings on diverse surfaces, including non-transparent ones, with adjustable colors and resistance to environmental factors, and allows for transfer of markings without material loss or alteration in sharpness, suitable for glass, ceramics, and aluminum.
Implementation Method 1
a focused laser beam, in particular, is directed onto the system of coatings and that thanks to the radiation of the laser beam, material is deposited from the system of coatings onto the object surface to be marked
Implementation Method 2
material is deposited from the system of coatings onto the object surface to be marked
Implementation Method 3
Such micro-fissures scatter and absorb light from the visible spectral range and are therefore visible to man
Implementation Method 4
nano-particles of gold, silver or copper are produced within the glass, lending the glass a red color (from gold and copper) or a yellow color in the case of silver
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for the marking of an object surface, wherein there is arranged in contact with, or a distance away from the object surface a carrier element, featuring on its side facing the object surface at least one metal coating embedded in other layers, whereby the layers in particular form a Low-E coating system and whereby a laser beam is directed onto the coating system and by reason of the laser irradiation material is transferred from the coating system onto the object surface to be marked, adhering thereto as a matrix with metallic nano-particles, whereby the matrix is formed of the substances originally present in the layers of the coating system. The invention furthermore relates to an object with an object surface marked according to this process.