Enamel composition, preparation method of enamel composition, and cooking appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cooking appliances require enamels with improved heat resistance, chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, and contamination resistance to facilitate easy cleaning, especially in high-temperature and alkaline environments, which existing enamels struggle to provide effectively.

Innovation Solution

A glass enamel composition comprising P2O5, TiO2, and group I-based oxides, which forms a hydrophilic and durable functional layer that can be easily cleaned with water-soaking, eliminating the need for additional buffer layers and reducing energy consumption, while maintaining high thermal properties and opacity for a white color.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional enamel compositions are used, then heat resistance and chemical resistance are maintained, but cleanability is poor and requires high-temperature pyrolysis or strong alkaline detergents

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecleanabilityVSAvoidheat resistance and chemical resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the enamel by incorporating specific ratios of P2O5 (20-40 wt%), TiO2 (10-30 wt%), and group I-based oxides (15-35 wt%), which changes the surface properties to be hydrophilic while maintaining thermal and chemical stability through proper compositional balance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite enamel material combining multiple components (P2O5, TiO2, group I-based oxides, SiO2, Al2O3) that work synergistically to provide both hydrophilic cleanability and high-temperature resistance, with each component contributing specific properties to the overall composite structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Shape

If multiple types of frit are mixed to achieve white color, then color quality is improved, but manufacturing complexity and process time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewhite color qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functional requirements (white color, hydrophilicity, heat resistance) into a single integrated frit composition rather than mixing multiple separate frits, eliminating the need for complex mixing processes while achieving all desired properties in one material layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single frit composition serves multiple functions simultaneously: providing white color through TiO2, hydrophilic properties through P2O5 and group I-based oxides, and heat resistance through the overall glass matrix composition, replacing what would traditionally require multiple specialized frits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If buffer layer is added between enamel and metal substrate, then adhesion is improved, but production process complexity and coating thickness increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadhesionVSAvoidcoating structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the intermediate buffer layer from the coating structure by designing an enamel composition that can directly adhere to the metal substrate through its own chemical composition, eliminating unnecessary structural complexity while maintaining adhesion through optimized chemical bonding properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Object-generated harmful factors

If high-temperature pyrolysis or strong alkaline detergents are used for cleaning, then contamination removal is effective, but energy consumption and chemical usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination removal effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the hydrophilic property (which attracts water) into a beneficial cleaning mechanism where water can easily wet and remove contaminants from the surface, transforming what is typically considered a disadvantage of hydrophilic surfaces into an advantage for self-cleaning applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 enamel composition enhances cleanability, durability, and energy efficiency, allowing for effective removal of contaminants like oil and sugars with reduced energy and time, while maintaining heat resistance and chemical durability, thus improving the overall cleaning process and production efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a glass enamel composition comprising P2O5, TiO2, and group I-based oxides, which forms a hydrophilic and durable functional layer that can be easily cleaned with water-soaking

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophilicity: Hydrophile

Data Source

PatentEP3357877B1Enamel composition, preparation method of enamel composition, and cooking appliance
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3357877B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3357877B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP3357877B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention provides an enamel composition comprising frit including P2O5, TiO2 and group I-based oxide, wherein P2O5 is contained in an amount of 20 wt% to 30 wt% based on the total weight of the frit, wherein TiO2 is contained in an amount of 10 wt% to 20 wt% based on the total weight of the frit, wherein the group I-based oxide is contained in an amount of 15 wt% to 30 wt% based on the total weight of the frit.