Cooking device presenting a cooking surface including a non-oxide or at least partially non-oxide ceramic non-stick coating, and culinary article or electric household cooking appliance including such a cooking device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for creating non-oxide or partially non-oxide ceramic coatings for cooking surfaces, such as those using sol-gel routes, are costly due to the need for vacuum deposition techniques like magnetron cathode sputtering, which are expensive and have high manufacturing constraints.
Innovation Solution
A preceramic polymer route is used to create a non-oxide or partially non-oxide ceramic coating, where a preceramic polymer is applied and heat-treated to form a continuous thin film on a cooking surface, offering a cost-effective alternative with improved properties like non-stick behavior, durability, and ease of cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vacuum deposition techniques like magnetron cathode sputtering are used to create non-oxide ceramic coatings, then the coating achieves desired non-stick and durability properties, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the coating by using preceramic polymers containing non-oxide elements (B, N, C) in addition to silicon and oxygen. This compositional change enables the formation of non-oxide ceramic phases (silicon boride, silicon nitride, silicon carbide) that provide the required durability and non-stick properties through a different chemical pathway than traditional oxide coatings
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the vacuum deposition mechanical system with a solution-based coating process. Instead of using complex vacuum equipment for physical vapor deposition, the patent applies preceramic polymer solutions or suspensions directly to the substrate, followed by drying and heat treatment. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive vacuum deposition equipment while achieving comparable coating performance
2Ease of operation
If vacuum deposition techniques are used to create non-oxide ceramic coatings, then the coating achieves excellent non-stick behavior and ease of cleaning, but the manufacturing complexity and constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex vacuum deposition equipment with simple solution application methods. The preceramic polymer solutions can be applied using conventional techniques such as dipping, spraying, or brushing, eliminating the need for vacuum chambers and complex deposition equipment while achieving the same functional results
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses preceramic polymers as intermediary substances that bridge the gap between simple solution application and complex ceramic coating formation. These polymers serve as precursors that decompose and reorganize during heat treatment to form the final non-oxide ceramic coating with desired properties, simplifying the overall manufacturing process
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional sol-gel routes with oxide ceramics are used, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but non-oxide ceramics cannot be produced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the compositional parameters of sol-gel precursors by incorporating non-oxide elements (boron, nitrogen, carbon) into the preceramic polymer structure. This compositional modification allows the simplified sol-gel process to produce non-oxide ceramic phases while maintaining the process simplicity and avoiding the need for complex vacuum deposition techniques
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 preceramic polymer route results in high-purity, homogeneously distributed ceramic coatings with enhanced non-stick, scratch resistance, and ease of cleaning, while reducing manufacturing costs and cycle times compared to traditional PVD methods.
Implementation Method 1
a heat treatment step to ceramize the preceramic polymer and thus form a thin film of non-oxide polymer-derived ceramic
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a cooking device, in particular a kitchen item or an electrical cooking appliance, said cooking device comprising an inner and/or upper face that can receive food and an outer and/or lower face that is coated with a non-stick coating forming a cooking surface. The non-stick coating comprises at least one continuous thin film of non-oxide or at least partially non-oxide polymer-derived ceramic, said thin film forming the cooking surface. A method for producing such a cooking device is also provided.