Method for manufacturing a glass-ceramic article
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass-ceramic surfaces face issues with scratches, greasy marks, and dirt adhesion, and textured coatings deteriorate under thermal and mechanical stress, affecting esthetic rendering and cleaning ease.
Innovation Solution
A chemical surface treatment is applied to glass-ceramic articles to achieve a roughness of 2-7 μm, intrinsic to the surface, enhancing scratch resistance, dirt resistance, and light scattering without using coatings, allowing easy cleaning and precise decorative deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a textured coating is applied to the glass-ceramic surface, then scratch resistance and dirt resistance are improved, but the coating deteriorates under thermal and mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful element (textured coating) from the system and replaces it with an intrinsic surface roughness created directly on the glass-ceramic substrate through controlled crystallization. This eliminates the coating layer that deteriorates under thermal and mechanical stress while maintaining the desired surface properties for scratch and dirt resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the glass-ceramic surface by controlling the crystallization process to create specific roughness values (Ra between 0.05-2.0 μm). This parameter change transforms the smooth surface into a textured surface with inherent scratch and dirt resistance without requiring an external coating layer.
2Ease of operation
If the surface roughness is increased to resist scratches and dirt, then cleaning ease is improved, but light scattering increases affecting esthetic rendering
Solution Approach 1:
The invention precisely controls the surface roughness parameters (Ra between 0.05-2.0 μm) to achieve an optimal balance. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient roughness for scratch and dirt resistance while maintaining light scattering at acceptable levels for esthetic rendering, particularly for dark work surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different surface roughness characteristics to different functional areas of the glass-ceramic article. The work surface maintains optimal roughness for scratch and dirt resistance, while other areas can have different finishes to preserve esthetic qualities and light transmission properties.
3Shape
If a textured surface is created to reduce fingerprint visibility, then esthetic quality is improved, but manufacturing precision becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a self-organizing crystallization process where the glass-ceramic material automatically forms a uniform textured surface through controlled thermal treatment. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex external texturing equipment and achieves consistent surface uniformity across large areas without requiring high manufacturing precision for pattern formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition from amorphous glass to crystalline glass-ceramic structure during controlled heat treatment. This phase transition naturally creates a uniform textured surface with consistent roughness properties, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the precision requirements compared to mechanical or chemical texturing methods.
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 maintains esthetic quality, facilitates easy cleaning, and enables precise decorative application while maintaining sharp light patterns, addressing the limitations of textured coatings.
Implementation Method 1
The process maintains esthetic quality, facilitates easy cleaning, and enables precise decorative application while maintaining sharp light patterns
Data Source
AI summary
A process for the manufacture of a glass-ceramic article exhibiting properties of resistance to scratches, greasy marks, adhesion of dirt and light scattering. The glass-ceramic article includes a surface, the surface arithmetic roughness of which is between 2 μm and 7 μm and the roughness being obtained using a chemical surface treatment. The glass-ceramic article is particularly suitable for use as a cooking surface and/or as surface for the preparation of foodstuffs.