Metal Blank Marking With Heat-Resistant Pigments for Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for marking metallic components during hot forming fail to provide a durable, machine-readable identification that remains intact and readable after deformation and temperature treatment, leading to issues with traceability and authenticity verification in metal processing.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of machine-readable identifications using temperature-resistant ceramic or phosphor pigments to metal blanks, which are then deformed through rolling and optionally treated with temperature processes, ensuring the markings remain legible and intact, with a difference in reflection or remission of at least 15 percentage points in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional marking methods are used on metallic components during hot forming, then the marking process can be completed, but the identification is destroyed or becomes unreadable after deformation and temperature treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies temperature-resistant ceramic or phosphor pigments that maintain their optical properties at high temperatures and under deformation conditions. The pigments are selected to have a difference in reflection or remission of at least 15 percentage points in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral regions, ensuring machine-readable identification remains intact after hot forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The identification marking uses composite pigment materials combining ceramic or phosphor particles with temperature-resistant binders. This composite structure allows the marking to withstand the thermal and mechanical stresses of hot forming while maintaining optical contrast for machine reading.
2Measurement precision
If the identification uses pigments that provide high contrast, then machine reading is improved, but the pigments may melt or degrade during temperature treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies pigments with particular optical parameters (difference in reflection or remission of at least 15 percentage points) while simultaneously requiring temperature resistance. Ceramic and phosphor pigments are selected because they maintain both high optical contrast and compositional stability at hot forming temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using expensive, complex temperature-resistant marking systems, the patent employs relatively simple ceramic or phosphor pigments that provide sufficient durability and readability without requiring sophisticated materials or multi-step application processes.
3Loss of substance
If the identification is applied only in places rather than over the whole area, then material usage is reduced, but coverage and visibility may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies identification markings only in specific locations on the metal blank rather than covering the entire surface. This selective application reduces pigment consumption while the high optical contrast of the ceramic or phosphor pigments ensures the markings remain clearly visible and machine-readable.
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 method ensures that the identification remains readable and intact throughout the deformation and temperature treatment processes, providing a durable and reliable means for unique component identification and authenticity verification, meeting ISO standards for directly marked components.
Implementation Method 1
the identification, both to the blank as well as to the metal body, has a difference in reflection and/or a difference in remission and/or an albedo difference of at least 15 percentage points in at least part of the near ultraviolet, visible and/or near-infrared spectral region
Implementation Method 2
the identification, both to the blank as well as to the metal body, has a difference in reflection and/or a difference in remission and/or an albedo difference of at least 15 percentage points
Implementation Method 3
the term pigment is used as the generic term for color pigments without phosphor properties, that is, without the ability to convert wavelengths
Data Source
AI summary
A method for marking a wordpieces and workpiece are disclosed. In an embodiment the method includes applying an identification to a blank in places and after applying the identification to the blank, deforming the blank to form a metal body, wherein deforming the blank comprises rolling so that a thickness of the blank changes more strongly than a width of the blank when the metal body is formed, wherein the identification remains on the metal body at least until after deforming the blank and is not destroyed by deforming the blank, and wherein the identification, both to the blank and to the metal body, has at least one of a difference in reflection or a difference in remission and an albedo difference of at least 15 percentage points in at least part of at least one of a near ultraviolet spectral region, a visible spectral region or a near-infrared spectral region.