Methods of making a glass article with a structured surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020002224-A1
Application number	US-201816486562-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 15, 2018
Priority date	Feb 16, 2017
Publication date	Jan 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of making a glass article, for example a glass light guide plate comprising at least one structured surface including a plurality of channels and peaks. The glass article may be suitable for enabling one dimensional dimming when used in a backlight unit for use as an illuminator for liquid crystal display devices.

First claim

1 . A method of making a glass article, comprising
depositing an etch mask on a first major surface of a glass sheet, the etch mask forming a plurality of parallel rows on the first major surface; exposing the glass sheet to an etchant, thereby removing glass from the first major surface of the glass sheet between the plurality of parallel rows, the removing glass forming a plurality of channels in the first major surface of the glass sheet; and removing the etch mask, the resultant glass article comprising a glass sheet with a plurality of channels formed in the first major surface, at least one channel of the plurality of channels comprising a depth H in a range from about 5 μm to about 300 μm, a width S defined at H/2, and wherein a ratio S/H is in a range from about 1 to about 15.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising depositing an adhesion layer on the first major surface prior to depositing the etch mask.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the adhesion layer comprises a silane layer or a siloxane layer.

4 - 6 . (canceled)

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the etch mask is applied by a screen printing process.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the screen printing process comprises a cured emulsion pattern on a surface of a woven screen, and a string angle of the woven screen relative to the cured emulsion pattern is in a range from about 20° to about 45°.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the woven screen comprises stainless steel wires.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the etchant comprises HF.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the etchant further comprises HNO 3 , H 2 SO 4 or HCL.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the etchant comprises an aqueous solution of 10% by volume HF, and H 2 SO 4 in an amount from about 10% to about 30% by volume.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the etchant comprises H 2 SO 4 in an amount from about 10% to about 20% by volume.

14 . (canceled)

15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the exposing comprises placing the glass sheet into a bath of the etchant.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the exposing comprises agitating the etchant during the exposing.

17 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising controlling undercutting of the glass sheet beneath the etch mask by controlling adhesion of the etch mask to the glass sheet.

18 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio M/H of the maximum undercutting M to the channel depth H is controlled within a range from about 1.2 to about 1.8.

19 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein an RMS roughness of a sidewall of the at least one channel is equal to or less than about 5 μm when measured by white light interferometry.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the RMS roughness is equal to or less than about 1 μm.

21 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the glass article is a light guide plate.

22 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum thickness T of the glass sheet is in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 2.1 mm.

23 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein T is in a range from about 0.6 mm to about 2.1 mm.

24 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the etch mask comprises a thermoplastic material.

25 - 31 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Carleton Tracie Lynne
• Dabich Ii Leonard Charles
• Deneka David Alan
• Kanungo Mandakini
• Li Shenping
• Mi Xiang-Dong
• Quesada Mark Alejandro
• Senaratne Wageesha
• Speeckaert John Charles
• Stempin Jr Louis Joseph
• Walczak Wanda Janina
• Woldegiworgis Haregewine Tadesse

Classifications

• C03C23/0075

  Cleaning of glass (specially adapted to plate glass B08B11/00) · CPC title

• C03C15/02 Primary

  for making a smooth surface · CPC title

• C03C17/3405

  with at least two coatings of organic materials (C03C17/36, C03C17/42 take precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/0065

  Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects · CPC title

• G02B6/0078

  Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays · CPC title