U.S. patent application number 14/085807 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-20 for device housing and method for making the device housing.
This patent application is currently assigned to FIH (Hong Kong) Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is FIH (Hong Kong) Limited, SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to DA-HUA CAO, XU LIU.
Application Number | 20140079883 14/085807 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48280908 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140079883 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CAO; DA-HUA ; et
al. |
March 20, 2014 |
DEVICE HOUSING AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE DEVICE HOUSING
Abstract
A method for making a device housing includes the steps of:
providing a substrate; forming a base paint layer on the substrate
by spraying; sensitizing a surface of the base paint layer;
activating the surface of the base paint layer; providing a first
water solution and a second water solution, the first water
solution containing silver nitrate and ammonia water, the second
water solution containing potassium sodium tartrate and sodium
hydroxide; forming a silver layer on the sensitized and activated
surface of the base paint layer by simultaneously spraying the
first water solution and the second water solution on the
sensitized and activated surface of the base paint layer; and
forming a protective layer on the silver layer.
Inventors: |
CAO; DA-HUA; (Shenzhen,
CN) ; LIU; XU; (Shenzhen, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD. |
Kowloon
Shenzhen |
|
HK
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
Kowloon
HK
SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Shenzhen
CN
|
Family ID: |
48280908 |
Appl. No.: |
14/085807 |
Filed: |
November 21, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13593621 |
Aug 24, 2012 |
8617682 |
|
|
14085807 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
427/337 ;
427/331 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05D 7/56 20130101; Y10T
428/13 20150115; Y10T 428/1393 20150115; H04M 1/0283 20130101; C23C
28/30 20130101; Y10T 428/1352 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
427/337 ;
427/331 |
International
Class: |
B05D 7/00 20060101
B05D007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2011 |
CN |
201110359319.X |
Claims
1. A method for making a device housing, comprising: providing a
substrate; forming a base paint layer on the substrate by spraying;
sensitizing a surface of the base paint layer; activating the
surface of the base paint layer; providing a first water solution
and a second water solution, the first water solution containing
silver nitrate and ammonia water, the second water solution
containing potassium sodium tartrate and sodium hydroxide; forming
a silver layer on the sensitized and activated surface of the base
paint layer by simultaneously spraying the first water solution and
the second water solution on the sensitized and activated surface
of the base paint layer; forming a protective layer on the silver
layer.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the silver nitrate has
a concentration of about 20 g/L to about 40 g/L, the ammonia water
has a concentration of about 30 g/L to about 50 g/L, the potassium
sodium tartrate has a concentration of about 80 g/L to about 100
g/L, and the sodium hydroxide has a concentration of about 10 g/L
to about 20 g/L.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second
water solutions have a temperature of about 90.degree. C. to about
110.degree. C., and have a spraying pressure of about 1000 Pa to
about 1500 Pa.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein sensitizing the
surface of the base paint layer is carried out by spraying
sensitizing water solution to the base paint layer, the sensitizing
water solution contains hydrochloric acid having a concentration of
about 250 g/L to about 400 g/L, tin dichloride having a
concentration of about 50 g/L to about 100 g/L, and potassium
sodium tartrate having a concentration of about 80 g/L to about 160
g/L.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein activating the surface
of the base paint layer is carried out by dipping the base paint
layer in an activating water solution for about 5 seconds to about
20 seconds, the activating water solution contains hydrochloric
acid having a concentration of about 20 g/L to about 50 g/L, and
palladium chloride having a concentration of about 0.1 g/L to about
0.5 g/L.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base paint layer
comprises acrylic acid epoxy resin.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective layer
is a paint layer comprising transparent or translucent resin formed
by spraying.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is made
of metal or non-metal.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the metal is aluminum,
aluminum alloy, magnesium, or magnesium alloy, the non-metal is
plastic.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser.
No. 13/593,621, filed Aug. 24, 2012, the contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference. The patent application Ser. No.
13/593,621 in turn claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119
from Chinese Patent Application 201110359319.X, filed on Nov. 14,
2011.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to device housing and a
method for making the device housing.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Housings of electronic devices, such as mobile phones, are
commonly decorated with decorative layers formed by surface
treatments. The surface treatments may be anodizing,
electrophoresis, and painting. However, the decorative layers
formed by the mentioned surface treatments are not always
aesthetically pleasing.
[0006] Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0007] Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with
reference to the following FIGURE. The components in the FIGURE are
not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed
upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure.
[0008] The FIGURE is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary
embodiment of a device housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Referring to the FIGURE, a device housing 100 according to
an exemplary embodiment is shown. The device housing 100 includes a
substrate 10, a base paint layer 20 directly formed on the
substrate 10. A sensitization layer 21 directly formed on the base
pain layer 20, an activation layer 23 directly formed on the
sensitization layer 21, a silver layer 30 directly formed on the
activation layer 23, and a protective layer 40 directly formed on
the silver layer 30.
[0010] The substrate 10 may be made of metal or non-metal. The
metal may be aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, or magnesium
alloy, for example. The non-metal may be plastic, for example.
[0011] The base paint layer 20 contains mainly acrylic acid epoxy
resin.
[0012] The sensitization layer 21 is a thin gel layer containing
hydroxide di-tin chloride (Sn.sub.2(OH).sub.3Cl). The
Sn.sub.2(OH).sub.3Cl has reducibility.
[0013] The activation layer 23 contains palladium (Pd) ions. The
activation layer 23 is evenly dispersed on the sensitization layer
21.
[0014] The protective layer 40 is a transparent or translucent
resin layer and is for protecting the silver layer 30 from being
scratched.
[0015] A method for making the device housing 100 may include the
following steps.
[0016] The substrate 10 is provided and surface treated. The
surface treatments for the substrate 10 may be degreasing first and
then polishing.
[0017] The base paint layer 20 is sprayed on the substrate 10. The
paint or coating used for forming the base paint layer 20 may
contain mainly acrylic acid epoxy resin. The spraying pressure of
the paint or coating for the base paint layer 20 is about 1200 Pa.
The spraying of the base paint layer 20 lasts for about 2.4
seconds. During the spraying, the distance between the substrate 10
and the spray gun (not shown) for spraying the base paint layer 20
is about 20 mm. The base paint layer 20 smoothens the substrate
10.
[0018] The substrate 10 having the base paint layer 20 is baked in
an oven (not shown) having an internal temperature of about
88.degree. C. for about 30 minutes.
[0019] The base paint layer 20 is sensitizing treated to form the
sensitization layer 21. The sensitizing treatment is carried out by
spraying sensitizing water solution to the base paint layer 20. The
sensitizing water solution contains hydrochloric acid having a
concentration of about 250 g/L to about 400 g/L, tin dichloride
having a concentration of about 50 g/L to about 100 g/L, and
potassium sodium tartrate having a concentration of about 80 g/L to
about 160 g/L. The components contained in the sensitizing water
solution react to generate the Sn.sub.2(OH).sub.3Cl gel. In the
sensitizing water solution, the potassium sodium tartrate acts as a
complexant to prevent the bivalent tin of the tin dichloride from
oxidizing to tetravalent tin.
[0020] The base paint layer 20 is activating treated to form the
activation layer 23. The activating treatment is carried out by
dipping the base paint layer 20 having the sensitization layer 21
in an activating water solution for about 5 seconds to about 20
seconds. The activating water solution contains hydrochloric acid
having a concentration of about 20 g/L to about 50 g/L, and
palladium chloride having a concentration of about 0.1 g/L to about
0.5 g/L. The Pd ions contained in the activation layer 23 act as a
catalyst which accelerate the subsequent silver mirror
reaction.
[0021] The substrate 10 having the activation layer 23 is washed
and then baked in the oven (not shown) having an internal
temperature of about 88.degree. C. for about 30 minutes.
[0022] The silver layer 30 is formed on the activation layer 23. A
first water solution and a second water solution are provided. The
first water solution contains silver nitrate having a concentration
of about 20 g/L to about 40 g/L, and ammonia water having a
concentration of about 30 g/L to about 50 g/L. The second water
solution contains potassium sodium tartrate having a concentration
of about 80 g/L to about 100 g/L, and sodium hydroxide having a
concentration of about 10 g/L to about 20 g/L. The first water
solution and the second water solution are heated from about
90.degree. C. to about 110.degree. C. and then simultaneously
sprayed to the activation layer 23. Then a silver mirror reaction
is generated between the components of the first and second water
solutions, thereby forming the silver layer 30 on the activation
layer 23. The spraying process may last for about 10 seconds to
about 20 seconds. The spraying pressure of the first and second
water solution is about 1000 Pa to about 1500 Pa. The potassium
sodium tartrate of the second water solution acts as a reductant
during the silver mirror reaction.
[0023] The substrate 10 having the silver layer 30 is washed and
then baked in an oven (not shown) having an internal temperature of
about 60.degree. C. for about 30 minutes.
[0024] The protective layer 40 is sprayed on the silver layer 30
using transparent or translucent coating, such as acrylic acid
epoxy resin coating. The spraying pressure of the coating for the
protective layer 40 is about 1200 Pa. The spraying of the
protective layer 40 lasts for about 2.4 seconds. During the
spraying, the distance between the substrate 10 and the spray gun
(not shown) for spraying the protective layer 40 is about 20 mm.
The substrate 10 having the protective layer 40 is then baked in
the oven (not shown) having an internal temperature of about
88.degree. C. for about 30 minutes to finish the device housing
100.
[0025] Specific examples of making the device housing 100 are
described below. The forming and baking of the base paint layer 20
and the protective layer 40 in these specific examples may be
substantially the same as described above so it is not described
here again The specific examples mainly emphasize the specific
concentrations of the water solutions and different process
parameters for the sensitizing treatment, the activating treatment,
and the spraying of the silver layer 30.
EXAMPLE 1
[0026] The substrate 10 was made of magnesium alloy.
[0027] Sensitizing treatment: the hydrochloric acid of the
sensitizing water solution had a concentration of 250 g/L, tin
dichloride had a concentration of 55 g/L, and potassium sodium
tartrate had a concentration of 80 g/L.
[0028] Activating treatment: in the activating water solution, the
palladium chloride had a concentration of 0.15 g/L, and the
hydrochloric acid had a concentration of 20 g/L; the dipping
process lasted for 5 seconds.
[0029] Spraying the silver layer 30: in the first water solution,
the silver nitrate had a concentration of 25 g/L, and the ammonia
water had a concentration of 35 g/L; in the second water solution,
the potassium sodium tartrate had a concentration of 85 g/L, and
the sodium hydroxide had a concentration of 12 g/L; the first and
the second water solution was heated to 100.degree. C.; the
spraying pressure of the first and the second water solution was
1100 Pa; the spraying process lasted for 15 seconds; the silver
layer 30 was baked at an internal oven temperature of about
60.degree. C. for about 30 minutes.
EXAMPLE 2
[0030] The substrate 10 was made of aluminum alloy.
[0031] Sensitizing treatment: the hydrochloric acid of the
sensitizing water solution had a concentration of 300 g/L, tin
dichloride had a concentration of 80 g/L, and potassium sodium
tartrate had a concentration of 120 g/L.
[0032] Activating treatment: in the activated water solution, the
palladium chloride had a concentration of 0.30 g/L, and the
hydrochloric acid had a concentration of 35 g/L; the dipping
process lasted for 8 seconds.
[0033] Spraying the silver layer 30: in the first water solution,
the silver nitrate had a concentration of 30 g/L, and the ammonia
water had a concentration of 40 g/L; in the second water solution,
the potassium sodium tartrate had a concentration of 95 g/L, and
the sodium hydroxide had a concentration of 10 g/L; the first and
the second water solution was heated to 95.degree. C.; the spraying
pressure of the first and the second water solution was 1200 Pa;
the spraying process lasted for 10 seconds; the silver layer 30 was
baked at an internal oven temperature of about 60.degree. C. for
about 30 minutes.
EXAMPLE 3
[0034] The substrate 10 was made of plastic.
[0035] Sensitizing treatment: the hydrochloric acid of the
sensitizing water solution had a concentration of 400 g/L, tin
dichloride had a concentration of 100 g/L, and potassium sodium
tartrate had a concentration of 160 g/L.
[0036] Activating treatment: in the activated water solution, the
palladium chloride had a concentration of 0.40 g/L, and the
hydrochloric acid had a concentration of 50 g/L; the dipping
process lasted for 10 seconds.
[0037] Spraying the silver layer 30: in the first water solution,
the silver nitrate had a concentration of 35 g/L, and the ammonia
water had a concentration of 45 g/L; in the second water solution,
the potassium sodium tartrate had a concentration of 90 g/L, and
the sodium hydroxide had a concentration of 15 g/L; the first and
the second water solution was heated to 105.degree. C.; the
spraying pressure of the first and the second water solution was
1400 Pa; the spraying process lasted for 20 seconds; the silver
layer 30 was baked at an internal oven temperature of about
60.degree. C. for about 30 minutes.
[0038] The device housing 100 of the exemplary embodiments define a
silver layer 30 to provide the device housing 100 a silvery white
and metallic appearance. Furthermore, the silver layer 30 can
highly reflect light, which renders the device housing 100 high
gloss.
[0039] It is believed that the exemplary embodiment and its
advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and
it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or
sacrificing all of its advantages, the examples hereinbefore
described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiment of the
disclosure.
* * * * *