Pigment Layer for High-Contrast Glass Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for labeling substrates, particularly glass, face challenges in achieving quick, precise, and secure labeling that is resistant to forgery, damage, and environmental influences, while maintaining high contrast and resolution.
Innovation Solution
A pigment layer based on a polymer matrix containing a titanium donor and carbon donor, which reacts with high-energy radiation to form titanium carbide, providing a high-contrast, durable marking without the need for glass frit or materials that melt under energy exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional sandblasting technology is used to mark glass surfaces, then labeling can be achieved, but the marking has low contrast and requires mechanical removal of glass material which reduces mechanical stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pigment layer as an intermediary substance between the laser and the glass substrate. This pigment layer absorbs laser energy and converts it to heat, which then marks the glass without requiring mechanical removal of glass material. The pigment layer acts as a mediator that enables high-contrast marking while preserving the mechanical integrity of the glass.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sandblasting process with a thermal process using laser irradiation on a pigment layer. Instead of mechanically removing glass material through sandblasting, the system uses laser-induced heating of the pigment layer to create a permanent mark on the glass, thereby substituting mechanical action with thermal energy conversion.
2Reliability
If laser material evaporation (LTF process or PLD) is used, then a chemical-physical bond is created on the substrate, but the process complexity increases and requires vaporized material deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the pigment layer from the final marking process. Instead of using complex laser transfer film systems with carrier layers and adhesive layers that require vaporization and deposition, the invention uses a simple pigment layer that is directly applied to the substrate and activated by laser irradiation, removing unnecessary components and simplifying the overall process.
3Ease of manufacture
If direct printing or painting is used for labeling, then material application is simple, but the label can be easily washed or scratched off reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the pigment layer material under laser irradiation. The laser energy causes the pigment layer to undergo thermal decomposition and chemically bond with the glass substrate, transforming from a simple applied coating to a permanently bonded marking. This phase transition ensures the marking cannot be easily removed while maintaining simple application procedures.
4Productivity
If high laser power is used for burning in markings, then high spatial resolution and quick labeling are achieved, but decomposition products may have corrosive effects and mechanical stability may be influenced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the laser irradiation parameters including power, pulse duration, and scanning speed to optimize the marking process. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves high labeling speed and spatial resolution while maintaining the glass substrate's mechanical stability and minimizing the formation of corrosive decomposition products through controlled thermal processing.
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 solution enables permanent, high-contrast, and high-resolution markings on glass substrates with excellent temperature resistance and mechanical stability, resistant to environmental factors and forgery, using a process that does not damage the substrate.
Implementation Method 1
the polymer matrix reacts with pulverization when irradiated with high-energy radiation. During pulverization, free carbon is formed and the titanium compound is broken down
Implementation Method 2
As a marking, a new titanium compound, in particular titanium carbide, is deposited on the substrate to be marked
Data Source
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AI summary
Pigment layer, particularly for the permanent marking of glass (1), based on a polymer matrix (3) which reacts predominantly with pulverization to a high-energy beam (2), particularly laser irradiation, containing at least one titanium donor (31) and a carbon donor (32) which provides free carbon upon energy irradiation. A reaction takes place between the titanium donor and the carbon donor upon energy irradiation. Titanium carbide (34) is deposited on the surface of the glass.