Structurally-colored articles with tapered layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coloration methods using dyes and pigments are environmentally unfriendly and require multiple processes and materials to achieve desired colors, lacking efficiency and sustainability.
Innovation Solution
The use of an optical element with layered structures that produce structural colors through scattering, refraction, reflection, and interference, allowing for single-hued or multi-hued colors with iridescence effects on surfaces without the need for pigments or dyes, achieved by varying the thickness and material composition of layers across different regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If dyes and pigments are used for coloration, then color can be achieved, but environmental harm increases and process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical coloration methods (dyes and pigments) with a physical/optical method using structural color. The optical element uses layered structures with specific thicknesses to produce color through interference and scattering of light, eliminating the need for harmful chemical substances while simplifying the overall coloration process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves different colors by changing the physical parameter of layer thickness in the optical element. By varying the thickness of the first and second layers, different wavelengths of light are reflected or scattered, producing different colors without requiring different chemical materials.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dyes and pigments are used to achieve desired colors, then color variety is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element serves multiple functions: it produces different colors, creates patterns, and achieves design effects all through a single component. The layered structure can be configured to produce various color combinations and patterns without requiring separate dyeing or printing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves color variety by changing the thickness parameters of the layers in the optical element. Different thickness combinations produce different colors, allowing for versatile color options while maintaining a uniform manufacturing process for the optical element itself.
3Productivity
If conventional coloration methods are used, then color can be applied, but the number of processes and materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the coloration function and pattern creation function into a single optical element. The layered structure simultaneously provides color through interference effects and pattern through spatial variation in layer thickness, eliminating the need for separate coloration and patterning processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the color-generation function from the chemical domain (dyes and pigments) and places it in the physical/optical domain (structural color through light interference). This extraction eliminates the need for multiple chemical materials and processes while maintaining the desired coloration effect.
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
This approach provides an aesthetically pleasing, sustainable method to create patterned or random designs on articles by producing distinct structural colors across different regions using a single process and set of materials, reducing environmental impact and simplifying the coloration process.
Implementation Method 1
produce structural colors through scattering, refraction, reflection, and interference
Implementation Method 2
produce structural colors through scattering, refraction, reflection, and interference
Implementation Method 3
produce structural colors through scattering, refraction, reflection, and interference
Implementation Method 4
produce structural colors through scattering, refraction, reflection, and interference
Data Source
AI summary
As described above, one or more aspects of the present disclosure provide articles having structural color, and methods of making articles having structural color. The article includes the optical element (e.g., a single layer reflector, a single layer filter, a multilayer reflector or a multilayer filter) including one or more layers (e.g., a reflective layer(s), a constituent layer(s), and the like). The surface of the article can include the optical element with regions that impart different structural colors. The different structural colors imparted are due at least in part to the different structure (e.g., cross-sectional structure) of the optical element in certain regions.