Articles comprising crystalline materials and method of making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018327300-A1
Application number	US-201815976392-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 10, 2018
Priority date	May 12, 2017
Publication date	Nov 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods for making articles comprising crystalline material. Exemplary articles made by a method described herein include electronics enclosure (e.g., a watch case, cellular phone case, or a tablet case).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for making an article comprising crystalline material, the method comprising:
heating nanocrystalline glass-ceramic particulate at sufficient temperature and under sufficient pressure such that the nanocrystalline glass-ceramic particulate consolidates to form a shape having at least 90 percent of theoretical density; and cooling the consolidated shape to provide the article.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least 90 percent by weight of the nanocrystalline glass-ceramic particulate, based on the total weight of the nanocrystalline glass-ceramic particulate, does not have a T g .

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanocrystalline glass-ceramic particulate collectively contains less than 40 percent by weight collectively SiO 2 , B 2 O 3 , and P 2 O 5 , based on the total weight of the nanocrystalline glass-ceramic particulate.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating is conducted in a range from 1000° C. to 1300° C. and wherein the heating is conducted for a time of at least 30 seconds.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the crystalline material has an average crystallite size of at least 20 nanometers.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanocrystalline glass-ceramic particulate collectively comprises, on a theoretical oxides basis, at least 70 percent by weight of the Al 2 O 3 , REO, and at least one of ZrO 2 or HfO 2 , based on the total weight of the nanocrystalline glass-ceramic particulate.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanocrystalline glass-ceramic particulate collectively comprises, on a theoretical oxides basis, at least 70 percent by weight of the Al 2 O 3 , Y 2 O 3 , and at least one of ZrO 2 or HfO 2 , based on the total weight of the nanocrystalline glass-ceramic particulate.

8 . A method for making an article comprising crystalline material, the method comprising:
heating glass-ceramic particulate having a microhardness of at least 9 GPa at sufficient temperature and under sufficient pressure such that glass-ceramic particulate consolidates forming a shape having at least 90 percent of theoretical density; and cooling the consolidated shape to provide the article.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the glass-ceramic particulate collectively contains less than 40 percent by weight collectively SiO 2 , B 2 O 3 , and P 2 O 5 , based on the total weight of the glass-ceramic particulate.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the heating is conducted in a range from 1000° C. to 1300° C. and wherein the heating is conducted for a time of at least 30 seconds.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the crystalline material has an average crystallite size of at least 20 nanometers.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the glass-ceramic particulate collectively comprises, on a theoretical oxides basis, at least 70 percent by weight of the Al 2 O 3 , REO, and at least one of ZrO 2 or HfO 2 , based on the total weight of the glass-ceramic particulate.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the glass-ceramic particulate collectively comprises, on a theoretical oxides basis, at least 70 percent by weight of the Al 2 O 3 , Y 2 O 3 , and at least one of ZrO 2 or HfO 2 , based on the total weight of the glass-ceramic particulate.

14 . A method of forming an article comprising:
providing a preform having a volume and a first shape, the preform comprising nanocrystalline glass-ceramic; providing a mold comprising a cavity having a void volume in the range of 70 to 130 percent of the volume of the preform; placing at least a portion of the preform within the void volume of the mold; and heating the preform at sufficient temperature and under sufficient pressure to form an article comprising crystalline material and having a second, different shape.

15 . A method of forming an article comprising:
providing a preform having a volume and a first shape, the preform comprising nanocrystalline glass-ceramic; providing a major surface; placing at least a portion of the preform in contact with the major surface; and heating the preform at sufficient temperature and sufficient pressure to form an article comprising crystalline material and having a second, different shape.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Rosenflanz Anatoly Z
• Anderson Jason D
• Shanti Noah O
• Stolzenburg Fabian
• Tangeman Jean A

Classifications

• C03C10/00

  Devitrified glass ceramics, i.e. glass ceramics having a crystalline phase dispersed in a glassy phase and constituting at least 50% by weight of the total composition · CPC title

• C03C2204/00

  Glasses, glazes or enamels with special properties · CPC title

• C03B19/063 Primary

  by hot-pressing powders · CPC title

• C03C10/0054

  containing PbO, SnO2, B2O3 · CPC title

• C03B23/0013

  by pressing (C03B21/04, C03B23/02, C03B23/04, C03B23/18, C03B23/26 take precedence) · CPC title