U.S. patent application number 13/587901 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-07 for method of forming skid-proof leather-texture surface on metallic substrate.
This patent application is currently assigned to CATCHER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SHAO-KANG HU, FENG-JU LAI. Invention is credited to SHAO-KANG HU, FENG-JU LAI.
Application Number | 20130292256 13/587901 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49511712 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130292256 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HU; SHAO-KANG ; et
al. |
November 7, 2013 |
METHOD OF FORMING SKID-PROOF LEATHER-TEXTURE SURFACE ON METALLIC
SUBSTRATE
Abstract
A method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate, including the following steps of: providing a
metallic substrate; performing a first pretreatment to clean the
surface of the metallic substrate; etching the surface of the
metallic substrate through an etchant while using a etch-moderating
agent to moderate the condition of etching. performing a second
pretreatment, such as pickling or chemical polishing, on the
surface of the metallic substrate; performing an anodic treatment
on the surface of the metallic substrate to form an oxidized film
having micro-porous structure thereon; activating the surface of
the metallic substrate after the anodic treatment; dyeing the
surface of the metallic substrate; sealing the micro-porous
structure formed on the surface of the metallic substrate; and
ash-removing to clean the metallic substrate.
Inventors: |
HU; SHAO-KANG; (TAINAN CITY,
TW) ; LAI; FENG-JU; (TAIPEI CITY, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HU; SHAO-KANG
LAI; FENG-JU |
TAINAN CITY
TAIPEI CITY |
|
TW
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
CATCHER TECHNOLOGY CO.,
LTD.
TAINAN CITY
TW
|
Family ID: |
49511712 |
Appl. No.: |
13/587901 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
205/211 ;
205/210 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C25D 11/243 20130101;
C25D 11/246 20130101; C25D 11/16 20130101; C25D 11/24 20130101;
H05K 5/0243 20130101; C25D 11/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
205/211 ;
205/210 |
International
Class: |
C25D 11/16 20060101
C25D011/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 7, 2012 |
TW |
101116233 |
Claims
1. A method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate, comprising the following steps of: providing a
metallic substrate, performing a first pretreatment to clean the
surface of the metallic substrate; etching the surface of the
metallic substrate through an etchant while using an
etch-moderating agent to moderate the condition of etching;
performing a second pretreatment on the surface of the metallic
substrate; performing an anodic treatment on the surface of the
metallic substrate to form an oxidized film having micro-porous
structure thereon; activating the surface of the metallic substrate
after the anodic treatment; dyeing the surface of the metallic
substrate; sealing the micro-porous structure formed on the surface
of the metallic substrate; and ash-removing to clean the metallic
substrate.
2. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 1, wherein the step of
performing the first pretreatment on the metallic substrate
includes a sub-procedure of degreasing and water rinsing on the
surface of the metallic substrate.
3. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 1, wherein the etchant
consist of at least one solution containing transitional metal
salt, and wherein the etch-moderating agent is a long-chain
surface-active agent.
4. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 3, wherein the etchant
contains at least one metallic salt solution selected from the
group consisting of metal, copper and nickel salt; and wherein the
etch-moderating agent contains at least one long-chain
surface-active agent selected from the group consisting of anion,
cation, and non-ionic long-chain surface-active agents.
5. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 3, wherein the metallic
substrate is an aluminum alloy substrate, and wherein the etchant
consists of 3.2 g/L of ferric chloride and 0.6 g/L of copper
sulphate under a temperature of 40.+-.5 degrees, wherein the
etch-moderating agent includes sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate of 50
PPM.
6. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 1, wherein the process of
performing the second pretreatment on the surface of the metallic
substrate includes a pickling and a chemical polishing process to
produce a foggy surface on the metallic substrate.
7. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 6, wherein the pickling
process uses a nitric acid solution of 5 ml/L under a temperature
of 25 degrees.
8. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 6, wherein the chemical
polishing process uses a phosphoric acid of 85% at a temperature
which ranges from 90 to 93 degrees for 1 to 10 seconds.
9. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 8, wherein the gloss of the
chemical polishing process is smaller than 6.
10. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 1, wherein the anodic
treatment includes dipping the substrate into a sulfuric acid
having a concentration that ranges from 20 wt % to 25 wt %, where
the temperature ranges from 15 to 25 degrees, the current density
is 1.4 A/m.sup.2, and the processing time last for at least 30
minutes.
11. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 1, wherein the activation of
the metallic substrate includes dipping the substrate into a nitric
acid of 20 ml/L at a temperature of 25.+-.5 degrees.
12. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 1, wherein the dyeing step
utilizes a aluminum alloy dye to dye the metallic substrate under a
temperature that ranges from 5 to 50 degrees for 0.1 to 10
minutes.
13. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 1, wherein the sealing step
includes dipping the aluminum alloy substrate into a nickel acetate
sealing agent having a concentration of 7 g/L under a temperature
that ranges from 90.+-.5 degrees for 30 minutes.
14. The method of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a
metallic substrate according to claim 1, wherein the ash-removing
step includes the utilizing a nitric acid of 20 ml/L under a
temperature that ranges from 20.+-.5 degrees.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INSTANT DISCLOSURE
[0001] 1. Field of the Instant Disclosure
[0002] The instant disclosure relates to a method of forming a
skid-proof leather-texture surface on a metallic substrate; in
particular, to a metal surface treatment technology to form a
skid-proof leather-texture surface on a metallic substrate
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Generally, the metal surface treatment on a metallic surface
refers to the furnishing of a metallic surface after an initial
fabrication process to change the surface feature of the surface
through chemical or mechanical means. Where such method is also
known as the process of metal surface furnishing
[0005] Nowadays, more and more electronic products have their
metallic housings or components furnished to be more aesthetically
appealing while increasing their values. These processes include
plating, anodizing, coating and etc.,
[0006] For those electronic products having a shorter life cycle,
the influence of the appearance of such products is yet more
important. These electronic products have to be apparently
attractive enough in order to stimulate the consumer's impulse to
purchase them within the shortest time. However, the metallic
housings of such products are often processed to be shiny and
smooth and this may seem slippery for the consumers in some
aspect.
[0007] To address the above issues, the inventors strive via
industrial experience and academic research to present the instant
disclosure, which can effectively improve the limitations described
above.
SUMMARY OF THE INSTANT DISCLOSURE
[0008] The object of the instant disclosure is to provide a method
of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a metallic
surface. A delicate particle structure is formed on the surface of
the metallic substrate to overcome the problem of the surface being
too slippery. Furthermore, such structure can also provide the
users with a skid-proof leather-texture sensation.
[0009] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to
an embodiment of the instant disclosure, a method of forming a
skid-proof leather-texture surface on a metallic substrate,
comprising the following steps of:
[0010] providing a metallic substrate;
[0011] performing a first pretreatment to clean the surface of the
metallic substrate;
[0012] etching the surface of the metallic substrate through an
etchant while using an etch-moderating solution to moderate the
condition of etching;
[0013] performing a second pretreatment on the surface of the
metallic substrate;
[0014] performing an anodic treatment on the surface of the
metallic substrate to form an oxidized film having micro-porous
structure thereon;
[0015] activating the surface of the metallic substrate after the
anodic treatment;
[0016] dyeing the surface of the metallic substrate;
[0017] sealing the micro-porous structure formed on the surface of
the metallic substrate with a sealing agent; and
[0018] cleaning the surface of the metallic substrate with a
deducting agent.
[0019] According to an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the
step of performing the first pretreatment on the metallic substrate
includes a sub-procedure of degreasing and water rinsing on the
surface of the metallic substrate.
[0020] Based on the above, the instant disclosure has the following
advantages: the texture of the surface formed through the etching
process of the instant disclosure is similar to a leather-texture
surface having an irregular, uneven structure.
[0021] According to an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the
process of performing the second pretreatment on the surface of the
metallic substrate includes a pickling and a chemical polishing
process to produce a foggy surface on the metallic substrate.
Furthermore, an anodic treatment is implemented on the uneven
structure to form a more delicate particle structure.
[0022] In order to further appreciate the characteristics and
technical contents of the instant disclosure, references are
hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings
in connection with the instant disclosure. However, the appended
drawings are merely shown for exemplary purposes, rather than being
used to restrict the scope of the instant disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a method of forming a skid-proof
leather-texture surface on a metallic substrate in accordance to
the instant disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the metallic substrate in
accordance to the instant disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 2A shows a partially enlarged view of the portion A in
FIG. 2;
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the surface of the
metallic substrate after the etching step of the forming method in
the instant disclosure; and
[0027] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged perspective view of the surface of
the metallic substrate formed from the method in the instant
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Please refer to FIG. 1 which shows a flowchart of a method
of forming a skid-proof leather-texture surface on a metallic
substrate in accordance to the instant disclosure. First of all,
for the method of forming the skid-proof leather-texture surface
disclosed in the instant disclosure, a metallic substrate is
provided. Furthermore, the instant embodiment takes the metallic
housings of electronic devices for example, and in order to be in
accordance to the latter procedures, an aluminum alloy substrate is
adopted. Preferably, the instant embodiment utilizes the aluminum
alloys of the 5000 and 6000 series coded in the Aluminum
Association, where the aluminum in the 5000 series are alloyed with
magnesium, and the aluminum in the 6000 series are alloyed with
magnesium and silicon.
[0029] The physical structure of the metallic substrate can be
designed according to practical needs through mechanical
processing. However, a sandblasting process (abrasive blasting
process) can also be performed on the metallic substrate prior to
other processes in some cases. Since such processes are easily
known to any ordinary person skilled in the related fields, no
further illustrations will be provided herein. In the following
descriptions, the processing steps upon the metallic surface, the
implementable parameters and the preferred parameters will be
provided herein.
[0030] Generally, there will be stains or oil remained on the
aluminum alloy substrate after the mechanical process. Therefore,
the surface of the aluminum alloy substrate can be cleaned first
before beginning the latter procedures. For the instant embodiment,
with reference to FIG. 1, the degreasing process P1 is implemented
to remove the oil or stains adhere to the substrate surface. This
process can also be seemed as the first pretreatment.
[0031] For the parameters of the degreasing process, a degreasing
agent having a concentration of 1 to 50% can be utilized under a
temperature that ranges from 10 to 90 degree Celsius, where the
concentration of the degreasing agent can also be adjusted
according to practical needs. Since the instant embodiment utilizes
the metallic housings of electronic devices for example, a
preferred parameter for the degreasing process utilizes a
degreasing agent having a concentration that ranges from 3 to 5%
under a temperature which is approximately 50 degree Celsius (note
that all temperatures mentioned hereinafter refer to degree
Celsius).
[0032] At least one time of water rinsing is required after the
degreasing process to remove the remaining degreasing agent, where
the number of times of water rinsing can range from 1 to 5 times,
and the temperature can range from 5 to 95 degrees. Preferably, the
water rinsing process is implemented twice where the temperature is
25 degrees. In the latter procedures, regarding the water rinsing
processes required to remove the chemical substances remained from
the prior procedure, the parameters of the water rinsing process is
described in the above and shall not provide any further
illustrations.
[0033] Followed by the etching process S2 which etches the surface
of the metallic substrate by using a chemical solution.
Specifically speaking, the etchant is utilized to etch the surface
of the metallic substrate and the etch-moderating agent (also known
as the etch-control agent) is utilized to moderate the etching
condition. For the instant disclosure, the metallic substrate is
etched, particularly accompanied by the etch-moderating agent,
before the anodic treatment is implemented to form a
leather-texture, uneven structure on the surface of the metallic
substrate, shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional
perspective view of a metallic substrate 100, including a base
layer 101 and a surface layer 102. FIG. 2A shows a partially
enlarged view of the portion A in FIG. 2, where FIG. 2A is also a
comparative figure with respect to FIG. 3, for FIG. 2A shows the
surface of the metallic substrate without the moderation of the
etch-moderating agent. FIG. 3 shows an uneven structure 104 formed
on the surface layer 103 after etching through the companion of the
etch-moderating agent. It is worth noting that these figures only
reveal perspective views of the instant disclosure, where the
surface of the metallic substrate will have substantially arched,
irregular, uneven structure formed thereon to have special textures
after the etching process.
[0034] For the instant embodiment, the etchant is a solution
containing at least one type of transitional metal salt. To provide
further explanations, the etchant can be a solution containing at
least one type of transitional metal salt selected from the group
consisting of iron, copper, nickel metal salt and a mixture
thereof, such as the iron chloride, copper sulfate, nickel sulfate,
where the concentration thereof can range from 0.1 to 10 g/L. The
etch-moderating agent can be a long-chain surface-active agent,
where the etch-moderating agent can be a solution selected from the
group consisting of cations, anions, non-ion long-chain
surface-active agents and a mixture thereof, where the
concentration of the etch-moderating agent can range from 1 to 500
PPM (part per million).
[0035] For the etching process of the instant embodiment, a
preferred parameter includes an etchant having 3.2 g/L of iron
chloride (FeCl.sub.3) and 0.6 g/L of copper sulfate (CuSO.sub.4).
Furthermore, the etch-moderating agent includes sodium
dodecylbenzenesulfonate of 50 PPM, where the temperature is 40.+-.5
degrees. Furthermore, the time spent for the etching process lasts
for 1-15 minutes and can be adjusted to practical needs. For the
etching process of the aluminum alloy substrate using the copper
sulfate solution, the chemical expression is stated as followed:
3Cu.sup.+2+2Al.fwdarw.3Cu+2Al.sup.+3.
[0036] After the etching process, the second pretreatment P2 using
the chemical polishing process is performed on the metallic
substrate. In other words, a foggy surface is produced on the
metallic substrate through the chemical polishing process. To
provide further illustrations, the pretreatment P2 includes a step
P21 of first pickling on the metallic substrate, a step P22 of
chemical polishing on the metallic substrate, and a step P23 of
second pickling on the metallic substrate. After each of the
aforementioned steps, the metallic substrate is rinsed with water
for at least once, where the water rinsing step may range from one
to five times. Preferably, two times of water rinsing is
implemented.
[0037] The pickling process utilizes an acidic solution having a
concentration which ranges from 1 to 50 ml/L to perform under a
temperature that ranges from 10 to 90 degrees. A preferred
parameter for the pickling process of the instant disclosure
utilizes a nitric acid solution having a concentration of 20 ml/L
under a temperature approximately 25 degrees.
[0038] The chemical polishing utilizes one or many acidic solutions
having a concentration that ranges from 1 to 85 degrees, such as
the phosphoric acid or the sulfuric acid and etc., under a
temperature that ranges from 10 to 90 degrees. A preferred
parameter for the chemical polishing process of the instant
disclosure utilizes a phosphoric acid solution having a
concentration of 85% under a temperature that ranges from 90 to 93
degrees for 1 to 10 seconds. It is worth noting that the gloss for
the chemical polishing process is suggested to keep less than 6 in
order to form the skid-proof leather-texture surface disclosed in
the instant disclosure.
[0039] Next, the anodic treatment step S3 forms an oxidized film
having micro-porous structure on the surface of the metallic
substrate. A preferred parameter for the anodic treatment of the
instant disclosure is provided in the following table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 parameters regarding the anodic treatment
(step S3) of the instant disclosure. Sub- Parameter procedures
Parameter 1 Parameter 2 Anodic Sulfuric acid and/or oxalic
Temperature: 5-50.degree. C. treatment acid or phosphoric acid
Current density: 0.2-3.0 A/dm.sup.2 and/or boric acid and/or Time
spent: 10-60 min tartaric acid 1-95% Water Temperature:
5-95.degree. C. 1-5 times rinsing
[0040] Through experimental results, a preferred parameter for the
anodic treatment includes dipping the substrate into a sulfuric
acid solution having a concentration that ranges from 20 wt % to 25
wt % under a temperature that ranges from 15 to 25 degrees.
Furthermore, the current density is 1.4 A/dm.sup.2 and the time
spent last for at least 30 minutes. To provide further
explanations, the water rinsing process is implemented twice under
a temperature of approximately 25 degrees.
[0041] A step S4 to activate and increase the dyeing effect of the
surface of the metallic substrate is performed after the anodic
treatment. Specifically speaking, an activating agent is utilized
to enhance the activity of the substrate surface for the latter
processes. A parameter for the activating process utilizes an
acidic solution having a concentration of 1 to 50 ml/L for 0.1 to 5
minutes under a temperature that ranges from 5 to 95 degrees. Next,
1 to 5 times of water rinsing is implemented. For a preferred
parameter of the instant disclosure, a nitric acid solution having
a concentration of 20 ml/L is utilized under a temperature
approximately 25 degrees before performing two times of water
rinsing under the same temperature 25 degrees. The activating
process provides the effect of removing the silicone impurities
produced by the anodic oxidation to increase the dyeing effect of
the metallic substrate.
[0042] A step S5 of dyeing the surface of the metallic substrate is
performed after the activating process. This dyeing step utilizes a
commercial-grade aluminum alloy dye to dye under a temperature that
ranges from 5 to 50 degrees for 0.1 to 10 minutes. A preferred
parameter suggests a temperature of 40 degrees and a time spent
that ranges from 1 to 6 minutes. To provide further explanations,
the water rinsing process is implemented also twice under a
temperature of approximately 25 degrees.
[0043] In order to improve the dirt-proof effect of the oxidized
film, a step S6 of sealing is performed to seal the micro-porous
structure on the substrate surface by using a sealing agent.
Generally, a commercial-grade nickel acetate sealing agent is
utilized for sealing after the anodic treatment. The instant
disclosure utilizes a commercial-grade nickel acetate sealing agent
having a concentration of 1 to 15 g/L under a temperature that
ranges from 5 to 95 degrees for 5 to 90 minutes. It is worth noting
that the aforementioned commercial-grade nickel acetate sealing
agent refers to current sealing agents which consist mainly of
nickel acetate salts.
[0044] A preferred parameter for the sealing process dips the
aluminum alloy substrate in a commercial-grade nickel acetate
sealing agent having a concentration of 7 g/L under a temperature
of 90.+-.5 degrees for 30 minutes.
[0045] Finally, a step S7 of ash-removing to clean the surface of
the aluminum alloy substrate is implemented to remove the ash-like
substances adhered on the substrate. Generally, the ash-removing
process utilizes a dedusting agent which consist mainly of acidic
solutions to clean the substrate before water rinsing the
substrate. A parameter for the ash-removing process utilizes an
acidic solution having a concentration of 1 to 50 ml/L under a
temperature that ranges from 5 to 95 degrees. Next, the water
rinsing process is implemented 1 to 5 times under a temperature
that ranges from 5 to 95 degrees.
[0046] In order for the instant disclosure to be adaptable to
housings of electronic devices, preferably, the ash-removing
process utilizes a nitric acid having a concentration of 20 ml/L
under a temperature approximately 25 degrees. Next, the water
rinsing process is performed twice under a temperature
approximately 25 degrees.
[0047] With reference to FIG. 4, after the method of forming a
skid-proof leather-texture surface on the metallic substrate, a
skid-proof leather-texture surface is formed on the aluminum alloy
substrate. After performing the etching process on the metallic
substrate surface, an uneven structure 104 is formed thereon. Next,
after the processes of chemical polishing, pickling, the anodic
treatment and latter processes etc., the uneven structure 104 shown
in FIG. 3 is formed into a more delicate particle structure 105.
The particle structure 105, after undergoing the etching process
and the anodic treatment, will have a leather-texture surface
formed thereon. Hence, providing the users with a skid-proof
leather-texture sensation when touched.
[0048] The texture of the surface, after the etching process of the
instant disclosure, will be much similar to a leather-texture
surface which is uneven and irregular. Next, the uneven structure
will be formed into a more delicate particle structure after the
anodic treatment. It is worth noting that such surface is very much
different from the surface formed through simply sand-blasting as
the surface formed through sand-blasting is rough and ragged with
irregular-shaped holes thereon. However, the surface formed through
the etching process and the anodic treatment of the instant
disclosure is very delicate.
[0049] Generally, the electronic devices after having the metallic
housing surfaces thereof being processed, the surfaces may be too
smooth or even slippery for the users upon holding. Thus, through
the method provided in the instant disclosure, a delicate particle
structure can be formed on the metallic surface. Accompanied with
the etching process of the instant disclosure, a skid-proof
leather-texture surface can be formed on the substrate. Therefore,
the surface of the metallic substrate of the instant disclosure can
provide the users with a leather-texture sensation when touched,
meanwhile having a skid-proof effect.
[0050] The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the
preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the
characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means
restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, or modifications
conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to
be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure
delineated by the following claims
* * * * *