DE102015100095A1 - Component with sol-gel layer and method for producing the component - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a component (1) on mobile controls for motor vehicles comprising at least one non-ceramic base body (2), characterized in that the component comprises a sol-gel layer (4) which is applied to the base body (2).

Description

The invention relates to a component on mobile control elements, in particular remote controls for motor vehicles with a sol-gel layer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing the component with the sol-gel layer.

The use of ceramic materials in remote controls for motor vehicles is often not possible because of the high technical requirements on the part of the OEM, for example with regard to mechanical loads in case tests. Although the very hard, but also very brittle material has a good resistance to abrasion, but it can quickly yield and break under stress on impact.

An alternative to producing as close as possible to real ceramic optics on such components would be the combination with a suitable coating to an overall product with similar properties, the subjectively detectable optical and haptic features, such as weight, thermal conductivity, gloss and color, are transmitted from real ceramic. Coatings and combinations of materials that meet the mechanical and chemical requirements of the component and the surface, such as Although sputtering, sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) fulfill these requirements as far as possible and produce optically good quality optics, they are still relatively expensive and limited in their color selection to a limited color spectrum.

A corresponding imitation of colored and light, especially white, ceramic is not possible with the previously used coatings for remote key parts. Multi-colored and marbled-seeming surfaces, such as "stone look", are also not possible with the previously used coatings for remote control key parts.

Ceramic materials do not have sufficient resistance to mechanical stress, such as toughness or ductility, to meet automotive-compliant mobile control requirements. In addition, ceramic materials and the associated manufacturing processes are complex and expensive.

In which, for example, a metallic base body is coated by means of PVD, the sensorially detectable material properties of dark or black ceramic can be mimicked to the greatest extent possible, with good and chemical surface resistance at the same time. A coating in a colored, especially bright, or white color spectrum is not possible with this method.

A suitable method, which also preserves the mechanical and chemical properties and at the same time enables colors and whiteness and which mimics the sensory material properties of a ceramic is not known.

Other materials and coating methods that are able to imitate at least approximately ceramic parts or surfaces, in particular in white and colored, have little or no resistance to mechanical and chemical stress or resistance to common aggressive media (fuels, cleaning agents, Creams and body fluids).

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a component with which the disadvantages of the prior art are overcome. Furthermore, a reduction of material and production costs to take place at the same time high color selection of the ceramic optics.

• – die auf dem Grundkörper aufgebracht ist oder
• – die auf einer Zwischenschicht aufgebracht ist, wobei die Zwischenschicht zwischen der Sol-Gel-Schicht und dem Grundkörper angeordnet ist.

To achieve this object, the invention in conjunction with the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the component comprises a sol-gel layer,

• - Which is applied to the body or
• - Which is applied to an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer between the sol-gel layer and the base body is arranged.

The particular advantage of the invention is to provide a component in which a ceramic optic (= appearance) is produced with a simultaneous high color selection, and in which an improvement of the mechanical and chemical component properties is established.

The mobile control elements are preferably remote controls, in particular remote control keys. Preferably, the components key housing, push buttons, buttons or other components of the mobile controls.

Preferably, the non-ceramic base body (= substrate) made of metal or plastic. Preferably, the sol-gel layer is applied to the base body. Here are the factors of the sensory detectable material appearance of ceramics, such as weight, thermal conductivity, gloss and color, be wholly or at least partially imitable.

In this case, a transfer of the optics of ceramic materials, in particular of real ceramics, on non-ceramic materials, preferably in bright and colorful colors, especially in "white", to imitate light or white ceramics, take place.

Preferably, a coating based on a sol-gel coating process is carried out with a simultaneous mechanical and chemical resistance.

Preferably, a sol-gel layer refers to all inorganic or hybrid polymeric film systems prepared via a sol-gel process.

A sol-gel coating creates an easy-to-clean surface due to its nano-structure.

According to a development of the invention, a cover layer is arranged on the sol-gel layer.

Preferably, the cover layer serves as a surface layer which closes the component towards the top.

According to a development of the invention, the intermediate layer and / or the cover layer are formed as functional layers.

Preferably, the functional layers have additional properties, e.g. a corrosion protection.

According to a development of the invention, the intermediate layer and / or the cover layer can be applied by means of an electroplating technique.

Preferably, the metal applied in electroplating is made of copper, nickel and chromium. This list is not exhaustive. Preferably, the copper layer serves to provide an electrically conductive ductile layer. The galvanic coating of the copper by means of nickel is primarily a diffusion barrier, which avoids corrosion of the underlying copper layer and the carrier material. The final coating of the nickel layer by means of chromium leads to a very hard and wear-resistant surface.

According to a development of the invention, the intermediate layer and / or the cover layer are formed as a sol-gel layer.

In this way, the component has a plurality of gel sol layers arranged one above the other, which additionally improves a ceramic appearance of the component.

The sol-gel layer is preferably colored according to a defined color system and / or has black, white or gray components.

According to a development of the invention, the sol-gel layer has a defined degree of gloss.

Preferably, a sol-gel layer is dyed freely definable. The gel sol layer preferably has a defined, freely selectable degree of gloss from matt to high gloss.

The degree of gloss is preferably defined by the components of the sol-gel layer used. Particular preference is given to setting a high gloss (> 70 GU, measuring angle 20 °), a medium gloss (10-70 GU, measuring angle 60 °) or a low gloss (<10 GU, measuring angle 85 °).

The gloss and color values of the sol-gel coating may be color matched according to the exemplary ceramic materials or other specifications, e.g. Customer specification, to be referenced.

According to a development of the invention, the sol-gel layer is colored according to a defined color system and / or black, white or gray parts.

By color, a monochromatic or a multicolor color system is preferably to be understood.

• – Aufbringen einer Sol-Gel-Schicht auf den Grundkörper oder
• – Aufbringen der Sol-Gel-Schicht auf eine Zwischenschicht, wobei die Zwischenschicht zuvor auf dem Grundkörper aufgebracht worden ist,

um eine keramische Optik zu erzeugen.The above object is further achieved with the features of claim 8, namely with a method for coating components with a non-ceramic body on mobile controls for motor vehicles, having one of the following steps:

• - Applying a sol-gel layer on the body or
• Applying the sol-gel layer to an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer having been previously applied to the base body,

to create a ceramic look.

In this way, a method is provided in which a ceramic optic is produced with a simultaneously high color selection of the component, and in which an adjustment of the mechanical properties of the component also takes place.

• – Aufbringen einer Deckschicht auf die Sol-Gel-Schicht.

According to a development of the invention, the method has the following step:

• - Applying a cover layer on the sol-gel layer.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the further subclaims.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings.

It shows:

1 a schematic cross section through an inventive component.

In 1 is shown a schematic cross section through the component according to the invention.

The component 1 is, for example, intended as a housing, push buttons or keys of a vehicle key. The component 1 has a non-ceramic body 2 on. The non-ceramic basic body 2 is made of metal or plastic. A sol-gel layer 4 is by means of a sol-gel coating process on the body 2 applied.

The sol-gel layer 4 has a corresponding degree of gloss. The sol-gel layer 4 is colored according to a defined color system and preferably has a high "white" content to image a ceramic optic.

An intermediate layer 3 is between the non-ceramic body 2 and the sol-gel layer 4 intended. Further, a cover layer 5 on the sol-gel layer 4 applied. The cover layer 5 closes the component 1 upwards or outwards.

Preferably, the intermediate layer 3 and the topcoat 5 designed as functional layers. In this way, an additional corrosion protection can be achieved. Preference is given to the intermediate layer 3 and the topcoat 5 can be applied by means of an electroplating technique. Particular preference is given to using the metals copper, nickel or chromium, which serve in particular for the corrosion protection of the support material and the curing of these layers.

By providing the sol-gel layer, a ceramic optic is produced with a simultaneously high color selection, in which an improvement of the mechanical and chemical component properties can also be set.

• – Aufbringen der Zwischenschicht 3 auf den Grundkörper 2,
• – Aufbringen der Sol-Gel-Schicht 4 auf die Zwischenschicht 3 und
• – Aufbringen der Deckschicht 5 auf die Sol-Gel-Schicht 4.

For the production of the component 1 the following steps are planned:

• - Applying the intermediate layer 3 on the main body 2 .
• - Applying the sol-gel layer 4 on the intermediate layer 3 and
• - Applying the topcoat 5 on the sol-gel layer 4 ,

In this way, a method is provided in which a component with a ceramic optics can be produced in a simple manner.

The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention solely by way of example. Of course, individual features of the embodiments, if technically feasible, can be combined freely with one another, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 component

2

 body

3

 interlayer

4

 Sol-gel layer

5

 topcoat

Claims (9)

Component ( 1 ) on mobile controls for motor vehicles comprising at least one non-ceramic base body ( 2 ), characterized in that the component is a sol-gel layer ( 4 ), - on the base body ( 2 ) is applied or - on an intermediate layer ( 3 ), wherein the intermediate layer ( 3 ) between the sol-gel layer ( 4 ) and the basic body ( 2 ) is arranged. Component ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that a cover layer ( 5 ) on the sol-gel layer ( 4 ) is arranged. Component ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate layer ( 3 ) and / or the cover layer ( 5 ) are formed as functional layers. Component ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate layer ( 3 ) and / or the cover layer ( 5 ) can be applied by means of an electroplating technique. Component ( 1 ) one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate layer ( 3 ) and / or the cover layer ( 5 ) are formed as a sol-gel layer. Component ( 1 ) one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sol-gel layer ( 4 ) has a defined degree of gloss. Component ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sol-gel layer ( 4 ) is colored according to a defined color system, and / or has black, white or gray portions. Method for producing components ( 1 ) with a non-ceramic base body ( 2 ) on mobile controls for motor vehicles comprising one of the following steps: - applying a sol-gel layer ( 4 ) on the basic body ( 2 ) or Application of the sol-gel layer ( 4 ) to an intermediate layer ( 3 ), the intermediate layer ( 3 ) previously on the base body ( 2 ) has been applied to produce a ceramic optic. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of: - applying a cover layer ( 5 ) on the sol-gel layer ( 4 ).

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