White Glass Composition for Scratch-Resistant Housings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional materials used for electronic device housings, such as plastics and resins, are prone to scratches, and tiles used in tunnels suffer from reduced cleaning and reflection capabilities due to surface scratches during handling, necessitating a material that is scratch-resistant, washable, and maintains reflection properties.

Innovation Solution

A white glass composition comprising specific mole percentages of SiO2, B2O3, Al2O3, MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO, ZrO2, Na2O, and P2O5, with a compressive stress layer and phase-separated structure, providing enhanced mechanical strength, scratch resistance, and light-shielding properties without the need for additional coatings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If plastics or resins are used for electronic device housings, then cost and processability are improved, but scratch resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprocessabilityVSAvoidscratch resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs glass as a composite material that combines the advantages of both plastics and resins. The glass material provides high scratch resistance while maintaining ease of manufacturing through established glass forming processes. The specific compositional ranges of oxides create a glass structure that achieves both mechanical durability and manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by precisely controlling the compositional ratios of various oxides in the glass. By adjusting the content ranges of SiO2, B2O3, Al2O3, and other components, the glass achieves optimal balance between scratch resistance and processability. The compositional parameters are specifically tuned to enable both desired mechanical properties and manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If glaze is applied to tile surfaces to enhance cleaning ability and reflectance, then washability and reflection capability are improved, but surface strength deteriorates due to scratches during handling

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovewashabilityVSAvoidsurface strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the glaze coating layer from the tile structure and replaces it with a glaze-free glass material. This eliminates the vulnerable coating that prone to scratching during handling while maintaining the desired washability and reflectance properties inherent to the glass surface itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite glass material that integrates the functions previously separated into substrate and coating layers. The glass composition itself provides the washable, reflective surface without requiring a separate glaze coating, thereby eliminating the strength weakness associated with coated surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional glass compositions are used, then material availability is improved, but scratch resistance and mechanical strength deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial availabilityVSAvoidscratch resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the compositional parameters of conventional glass. Specific oxide content ranges are established to achieve enhanced scratch resistance and mechanical strength while maintaining compatibility with conventional glass manufacturing processes and material availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by creating specific compositional zones within the glass structure. The controlled distribution and concentration of oxide components create localized structural characteristics that enhance scratch resistance in critical surface regions while maintaining overall material availability and manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 white glass offers a cost-effective, scratch-resistant, and washable solution for electronic device housings and tunnel tiles, ensuring high reflectance and designability while preventing light leakage and maintaining aesthetic appeal.

Implementation Method 1

a white glass which comprises, in terms of mole percentage on the basis of oxides, from 50% to 74% of SiO2, from 0 to 8% of B2O3, from 1% to 8% of Al2O3, from 0 to 18% of MgO, from 0 to 7% of CaO, from 0 to 10% of SrO, from 0 to 12% of BaO, from 0 to 5% of ZrO2, from 5% to 15% of Na2O and from 2% to 10% of P2O5

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase separation:

Implementation Method 2

The white glass offers a cost-effective, scratch-resistant, and washable solution for electronic device housings and tunnel tiles, ensuring high reflectance and designability while preventing light leakage and maintaining aesthetic appeal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressive stress:

Data Source

PatentUS9938181B2White glass
Publication Date: 2018.04.10 AGC INC

AI summary

A white glass includes, in terms of mole percentage on the basis of oxides, from 50% to 74% of SiO2, from 0 to 8% of B2O3, from 1% to 8% of Al2O3, from 0 to 18% of MgO, from 0 to 7% of CaO, from 0 to 10% of SrO, from 0 to 12% of BaO, from 0 to 5% of ZrO2, from 5% to 15% of Na2O and from 2% to 10% of P2O5. In the white glass, a total content of CaO, SrO and BaO is from 1% to 22%, a total content RO of MgO, CaO, SrO and BaO is from 5% to 25% and a ratio CaO/RO of a content of CaO to the RO is 0.7 or less.