Faucet fitting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11795671-B2
Application number	US-202117212660-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2021
Priority date	Sep 27, 2018
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

Provided is a faucet fixture to which antifouling functionality is imparted without causing localized corrosion. The present invention is a faucet fixture comprising a metal base material and a plating layer partially formed on the surface of the metal base material. The metal base material contains at least one metal element species selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, and tin. The plating layer contains at least one metal element species selected from the group consisting of chromium and nickel. An organic layer is further provided on the plating layer, with a passive layer present on the surface of the plating layer being interposed therebetween. The organic layer is bonded to the passive layer via the bonding of a metal element (M), which constitutes the passive layer, and a phosphorus atom (P) in at least one type of group (X) selected from the group consisting of phosphonate groups, phosphate groups, and phosphinate groups, with an oxygen atom (O) interposed therebetween (M-O—P bond). Group X is bonded to a group R (wherein R is a hydrocarbon group, or a group comprising an atom other than carbon at one or two locations within a hydrocarbon group). The phosphorus atom concentration in the portion of the surface of the metal base material on which the plating layer is not formed is lower than the phosphorus atom concentration in the organic layer provided on the plating layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A faucet fitting comprising:
a metal base material; and
a plating layer partially formed on a surface of the metal base material, wherein
the metal base material contains at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, and tin,
the plating layer contains at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of chromium and nickel,
a layer of organic compound is further provided on the plating layer via a passivation layer existing on the surface of the plating layer,
the layer of organic compound binds to the passivation layer by binding the metal element (M) constituting the passivation layer via an oxygen atom (O) to a phosphorus atom (P) of at least one group (X) selected from a phosphonic acid group, a phosphoric acid group, and a phosphinic acid group (M-O—P bond), and the group X is bonded to a group R, where R is a hydrocarbon group or a group having an atom other than carbon at one or two positions in the hydrocarbon group, and
a phosphorus atom concentration on a surface of a portion where the plating layer is not formed on the metal base material is lower than a phosphorus atom concentration on a surface of the layer of organic compound provided on the plating layer.

2. The faucet fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the phosphorus atom concentration on the surface of the portion where the plating layer is not formed on the metal base material, which is calculated from a peak area of a P2p spectrum measured according to condition 1 by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), is less than a lower limit of detection,
(Condition 1)
X-ray condition: monochromatic AlKα ray (output 25 W)
Photoelectron take-off angle: 45°
Analysis area: 100 μmφ
Scanning range: 15.5 to 1100 eV.

3. The faucet fitting according to claim 2 , wherein the portion where the plating layer is not formed is a water passage or a threaded portion.

4. The faucet fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the portion where the plating layer is not formed is a water passage or a threaded portion.

5. The faucet fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the metal base material is made up of an alloy.

6. The faucet fitting according to claim 1 , wherein in the layer of organic compound, one end of R, which is an end that is not a bonding end with X, is made up of C and H.

7. The faucet fitting according to claim 1 , wherein in the layer of organic compound, X is made up of phosphonic acid.

8. The faucet fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the layer of organic compound is free of a fluorine atom.

9. The faucet fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the layer of organic compound is a self-assembled monolayer.

10. The faucet fitting according to claim 1 , wherein a phosphorus atom concentration on a surface of a portion where the layer of organic compound is provided on the plating layer, which is calculated from the peak area of the P2p spectrum measured according to condition 1 by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), is more than 1.0 at % and 10 at % or less,
(Condition 1)
X-ray condition: monochromatic AlKα ray (output 25 W)
Photoelectron take-off angle: 45°
Analysis area: 100 μmφ
Scanning range: 15.5 to 1100 eV.

11. The faucet fitting according to claim 10 , wherein a carbon atom concentration on the surface of the portion where the layer of organic compound is provided on the plating layer, which is calculated from a peak area of a C1s spectrum measured according to condition 1 by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), is 35 at % or more,
(Condition 1)
X-ray condition: monochromatic AlKα ray (output 25 W)
Photoelectron take-off angle: 45°
Analysis area: 100 μmφ
Scanning range: 15.5 to 1100 eV.

12. The faucet fitting according to claim 10 , wherein an oxygen atom/metal atom concentration ratio (O/M ratio) on the surface of the portion where the layer of organic compound is provided on the plating layer, which is calculated from peak areas of an O1s spectrum and a metal spectrum measured according to condition 1 by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), is 1.4 or more,
(Condition 1)
X-ray condition: monochromatic AlKα ray (output 25 W)
Photoelectron take-off angle: 45°
Analysis area: 100 μmφ
Scanning range: 15.5 to 1100 eV.

13. The faucet fitting according to claim 1 , wherein a carbon atom concentration on the surface of the portion where the layer of organic compound is provided on the plating layer, which is calculated from a peak area of a C1s spectrum measured according to condition 1 by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), is 35 at % or more,
(Condition 1)
X-ray condition: monochromatic AlKα ray (output 25 W)
Photoelectron take-off angle: 45°
Analysis area: 100 μmφ
Scanning range: 15.5 to 1100 eV.

14. The faucet fitting according to claim 1 , wherein an oxygen atom/metal atom concentration ratio (O/M ratio) on the surface of the portion where the layer of organic compound is provided on the plating layer, which is calculated from peak areas of an O1s spectrum and a metal spectrum measured according to condition 1 by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), is 1.4 or more,
(Condition 1)
X-ray condition: monochromatic AlKα ray (output 25 W)
Photoelectron take-off angle: 45°
Analysis area: 100 μmφ
Scanning range: 15.5 to 1100 eV.

Assignees

• Toto Ltd

Inventors

• Ukigai Saori
• Hijikata Ryojiro
• Koga Ryo

Classifications

• E03C1/10 Primary

  Devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes, e.g. means for aerating self-closing flushing valves (vacuum-breakers in general F16K, F16L) · CPC title

• E03C1/0404

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title

• C23C22/03

  containing phosphorus compounds · CPC title

• C23C28/30 Primary

  Coatings combining at least one metallic layer and at least one inorganic non-metallic layer · CPC title

• C23C28/00

  Coating for obtaining at least two superposed coatings either by methods not provided for in a single one of groups C23C2/00 - C23C26/00 or by combinations of methods provided for in subclasses C23C and C25C or C25D · CPC title