Plasma Jet Marking Device for Permanent Substrate Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for marking substrates are not permanent and can degrade under environmental conditions, including temperature stress, making them unreliable for secure and long-lasting identification.
Innovation Solution
A device using a plasma generator to direct a plasma jet and a powder jet onto a substrate, embedding a powdered marker substance within a melted powder matrix, ensuring the structural integrity and adhesion of the marker substance during a thermal spraying process, which forms a stable and permanent layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If marker substances are applied to substrate surfaces using conventional methods, then marking can be achieved, but the marking is not permanent and degrades under environmental conditions such as temperature stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the powder material during thermal spraying. The powder is heated to melting point and then rapidly cooled upon impact with the substrate, forming a stable, adherent layer that permanently embeds the marker substance. This phase transition process ensures the marking is durable and resistant to environmental degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where the marker substance is embedded within a matrix material formed from the sprayed powder. This composite approach combines the marker substance with a binding matrix that protects it from degradation while maintaining its structural integrity and identification properties under various environmental conditions.
2Reliability
If thermal spraying process is used to apply marker substance, then permanent marking is achieved, but the marker substance may change its structure (lattice structure) during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the thermal parameters of the spraying process, including temperature, exposure time, and cooling rate. By optimizing these parameters, the process achieves sufficient heating to melt the powder matrix while limiting the duration and intensity of thermal exposure to prevent unwanted phase transformations or structural changes in the marker substance.
Solution Approach 2:
The marker substance is pre-selected and pre-characterized to have thermal stability properties suitable for the spraying process. The material composition and crystal structure are chosen beforehand to resist degradation at the processing temperatures, ensuring structural information is retained after marking.
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 provides a permanent, reliable, and stable marking that retains the structural properties of the marker substance, ensuring long-lasting and temperature-resistant identification, suitable for secure coding and authentication.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma generator (5) which directs a plasma jet (11) onto the substrate (14)
Implementation Method 2
The plasma jet and a powder jet (12) from a powder injector (4) are superimposed, so that a layer (15) is formed on the surface of the substrate (14)
Implementation Method 3
The layer (15) consists of the powder (20) from the first container (2) and the marker substance in powder form (30), which is taken, for example, from at least the second container (3)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A device and a method for marking a substrate (14) with a plasma generator (5) are disclosed. A plasma jet (11) is directed at the substrate (14) and is superimposed with a powder jet (12). In a powder metering and dispersing unit (7), a powder (20) and a powdered marker substance (30) are mixed. The marking forms an adhesive layer (15) in which a powdered marker substance (30) is homogeneously distributed and permanently embedded.