Patterned Stainless Steel Sheet for Low Reflectance and Sparkle
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing stainless steel sheets with improved visual characteristics, such as low reflectance and low glare, often require separate washing, polishing, or plating processes, which increase complexity and costs, while maintaining the inherent sparkle of stainless steel remains a challenge.
Innovation Solution
A method involving cold deformation of stainless steel sheets to a desired thickness, followed by heat treatment, skin-pass rolling, and patterning using a pattern roll, with additional heat treatment and mechanical blasting to achieve low reflectance and glare while preserving sparkle, allowing for continuous processing and reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate washing, polishing, or plating processes are used to improve visual characteristics, then surface quality is improved, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple surface treatment functions (washing, polishing, plating) into a single integrated rolling process where the patterned roll simultaneously performs mechanical blasting, patterning, and surface finishing in one pass, eliminating the need for separate process steps and reducing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patterned roll serves multiple functions: it acts as a mechanical blasting medium to create low reflectance, imprints decorative patterns on the surface, and provides skin-pass rolling to ensure surface homogeneity, thereby replacing multiple specialized equipment with a single multi-functional component
2Manufacturing precision
If separate washing, polishing, or plating processes are used to improve visual characteristics, then surface quality is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple surface treatment functions (washing, polishing, plating) into a single integrated rolling process where the patterned roll simultaneously performs mechanical blasting, patterning, and surface finishing in one pass, eliminating the need for separate process steps and reducing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patterned roll is designed to self-generate the desired surface characteristics through its own geometry and material properties, eliminating the need for additional chemicals, coatings, or energy-intensive processes that would increase manufacturing costs
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the surface is made smooth and even to reduce glare, then reflectance is reduced, but the inherent sparkle of stainless steel is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patterned roll creates localized surface variations with different roughness levels and pattern densities in different regions, allowing certain areas to scatter light for glare reduction while other areas maintain smoother characteristics to preserve the sparkling appearance of stainless steel
Solution Approach 2:
The surface structure combines two distinct characteristics: a base layer with controlled roughness for glare reduction and superimposed decorative patterns for aesthetic appeal, creating a composite surface that simultaneously achieves low reflectance and retained sparkle
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 results in a surface with superior homogeneity, low specular reflectance, and a sparkling appearance, achieving reflectance of less than 25% and maintaining the liveliness of stainless steel, with reduced manufacturing costs and improved surface quality.
Implementation Method 1
The cold deformed stainless steel sheet is pretreated by at least one heat treatment step
Implementation Method 2
patterning using a pattern roll
Implementation Method 3
patterning using a pattern roll
Implementation Method 4
mechanical blasting to achieve low reflectance and glare
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing a patterned stainless steel sheet with modified visual characteristics in the wavelength area of visible light. In the method the deformed stainless steel having a thickness of 0,3 - 3,5 mm is heat treated before and after the patterning process in order to have a surface with the specular reflectance of less than 10 %.