Glass ceramic and metal substrates with a self-cleaning surface, method for the production and use thereof

• US 6,872,441 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ferro GmbH (Ferro Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ferro GmbH (Ferro Corporation)
• Inventors: Ludwig, Stephan, Korbelarz, Dagmar, Poth, Lutz, Fritsche, Klaus-Dieter, Baumann, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKWELL, GWENDOLYN
• Application Number:
  US10/239,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20030152780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 428/141, 428/142, 428/143, 428/156, 428/325, 428/447, 428/428, 428/432, 428/433, 428/469, 428/472
• US Class Current: 428/142
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/06 by giving articles subject to fouling a special shape or arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/065 the surface having a microscopic surface pattern to achieve the same effect as a lotus flower
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/009 Mixtures of organic and inorganic materials, e.g. ormosils and ormocers
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/42 at least one coating of an organic material and at least one non-metal coating
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/452 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/465 having a specific shape
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/475 Inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/77 Coatings having a rough surface
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/54 Pigments; Dyes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 33/00 Clay-wares monolithic refractories or refractory mortars C04B35/66; porous products C04B38/00
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/009 characterised by the material treated
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/4511 using temporarily supports, e.g. decalcomania transfers or mould surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/4539 as a emulsion, dispersion or suspension
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/4933 containing halogens, i.e. organohalogen silanes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/5022 with vitreous materials composition of vitreous glazes and enamels C03C; ceramic pigments C09C1/0009
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/5024 Silicates C04B41/5022 takes precedence; silico-fluorides C04B41/5018
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/52 Multiple coating or impregnating multiple coating or impregnating with the same composition or with compositions only differing in the concentration of the constituents, is classified as single coating or impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/522 Multiple coatings, for one of the coatings of which at least one alternative is described
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/89 for obtaining at least two superposed coatings having different compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 24/08 by application of heat or pressure and heat C23C24/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 24/10 : with intermediate formation of a liquid phase in the layer
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 30/00 : Coating with metallic material characterised only by the composition of the metallic material, i.e. not characterised by the coating process C23C26/00, C23C28/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 : Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24364 : with transparent or protective coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 : including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31612 : As silicone, silane or siloxane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31663 : As siloxane, silicone or silane

Abstract

The invention relates to glass, ceramic and metal substrates with at least one self-cleaning surface, comprising a layer with a micro-rough surface structure which is arranged on the substrate and made at least partly hydrophobic. The layer contains a glass flux and structure-forming particles with a mean particle diameter within the 0.1 to 50 μm range; the glass flux and structure-forming particles are present in a volume ratio within the 0.1 to 5 range, and the micro-rough surface structure has a ratio of mean profile height to mean distance between adjacent profile tips within the 0.3 to 10 range.

To produce the subject of the invention the substrate is coated with a composition containing a glass flux and structure-forming particles, and the layer is burnt in and made hydrophobic.

Claims

1. A glass, ceramic or metal substrate with at least one self-cleaning surface comprising a layer with a micro-rough surface structure which is arranged on the substrate and made at least partly hydrophobic, characterised in that the layer contains a glass flux and structure-forming particles with a mean particle diameter within the 0.1 to 50 μ

m range, the glass flux and structure-forming particles are present in a volume ratio within the 0.1 to 5 range, and the micro-rough surface structure has a ratio of mean profile height to mean distance between adjacent profile tips within the 0.3 to 10 range.

2. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of glass, porcelain, vitrified clay, stoneware, clinker and brick substrates.

3. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 1, wherein the volume ratio of glass flux to structure-forming particles is within the range of from 0.2 to 2.

4. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 1, wherein the micro-rough surface structure has an aspect ratio within the range of from 1 to 5.

5. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 1, wherein the structure-forming particles have a mean diameter within the range of from 0.5 to 15 μ

m.

6. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 1, wherein the structure-forming particles are idiomorphic.

7. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 1, wherein the layer which makes the surface hydrophobic is based on a fluoroalkyl alkoxysilane or a fluoroalkyl alkoxysiloxane.

8. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 1 for use in a construction and/or decorative application, self-cleaning elements in the building industry, or plant construction.

9. A glass, ceramic or metal substrate with at least one self-cleaning surface comprising a layer with a micro-rough surface structure which is arranged on the substrate and made at least partly hydrophobic, wherein the layer contains a glass flux and structure-forming particles having a bimodal size distribution, wherein a first portion of structure-forming particles has a mean diameter from 0.2 to 3 μ

m and a second portion of structure-forming particles has a mean diameter from 3 to 15 μ

m, the glass flux and structure-forming particles are present in a volume ratio within the 0.1 to 5 range, and the micro-rough surface structure has a ratio of mean profile height to mean distance between adjacent profile tips within the 0.3 to 10 range.

10. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 9, wherein the second portion of structure forming particles has a mean diameter of 5 to 10 μ

m.

11. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 9, wherein the glass flux and structure-forming particles are present in a volume ratio within the 0.2 to 2 range, and the micro-rough surface structure has a ratio of mean profile height to mean distance between adjacent profile tips within the 0.3 to 10 range.

12. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 9, wherein the micro-rough surface structure has a ratio of mean profile height to mean distance between adjacent profile tips within the 1 to 5 range.

13. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 9, wherein the layer is made partly hydrophobic by application of a substance selected from the group consisting of fluoroalkyl alkoxysilane, fluoroalkyl alkoxysiloxane, and partly fluorinated vinyl polymer.

14. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 9, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of glass, porcelain, vitrified clay, stoneware, clinker and brick substrates.

15. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 9, wherein the volume ratio of glass flux to structure-forming particles is within the range of from 0.3 to 1.

16. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 9, wherein the micro-rough surface structure has an aspect ratio within the range of from 1 to 2.

17. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 15, wherein the structure-forming particles have a mean diameter within the range of from 1 to 2 μ

m.

18. A substrate with a self-cleaning surface according to claim 9, wherein the structure-forming particles are idiomorphic.

19. A glass, ceramic or metal substrate with at least one self-cleaning surface comprising a layer with a micro-rough surface structure which is arranged on the substrate and made at least partly hydrophobic, wherein the layer contains a glass flux and structure-forming particles having a bimodal size distribution, wherein a first portion of structure-forming particles have a mean diameter from 0.2 to 3 μ

m and a second portion of structure-forming particles have a mean diameter from 5 to 10 μ

m, the glass flux and structure-forming particles are present in a volume ratio within the 0.2 to 2 range, and the micro-rough surface structure has a ratio of mean profile height to mean distance between adjacent profile tips within the 0.3 to 10 range.

20. The substrate of claim 19, wherein the structure forming particles are selected from the group consisting of SiO₂, TiO₂, ZrO₂, SnO₂, Al₂O₃, zirconium silicates, and zeolites.