WO2014065650A1

WO2014065650A1 - A method for adding photoluminescent pigment on glass

Info

Publication number: WO2014065650A1
Application number: PCT/MY2013/000063
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yeoh FEI YEE; Lee TING; Othman RADZALI
Original assignee: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Current assignee: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Priority date: 2012-10-24
Filing date: 2013-03-28
Publication date: 2014-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-24

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for adding photoluminescent pigment to glass structure to provide glow-in-the-dark effects on the glass. The present invention comprising: providing raw materials for forming glass (100); undertaking process of forming first layer of glass (103); characterized in that applying a layering technique to add photoluminescent pigment on the first layer of glass (200).

Description

Title of Invention: A METHOD FOR ADDING PHOTOLUMINESCENT PIGMENT ON GLASS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a method for adding photoluminescent on a

transparent glass which as a result producing a glow-in-the dark glass.

Background Art

[2] Adding photoluminescent pigment during the processing of common glass, could result in photoluminescent property of the glass, which made them into a value added product. Such glass products can glow in the dark after absorbing visible lights. To add the photoluminescent effect on the glass, the photoluminescent pigment is added to the glass using mixing technique, like WO2009043502, which relates to a glass arrangement, comprising a photoluminescent phosphor, and at least one first glass element (10) and at least one secondglass element (20), wherein the first glass element (10) has at least one surface (14) having reflecting and/or light-scattering properties for light incident upon the surface, and is at least partially transparent for light having a wavelength < 800 nm. Generally, the mixing technique requires high temperature in the process, which has drawbacks to the end product of photoluminescent glass (PL-G).

[3] Some of PL-G pigments in sample were decomposed by this technique using a direct mixing of PL pigments by hot molten glass due to high temperature. Some of PL pigments turned into brown and white powders which still stick on the glass surface. This glass sample could still glow in dark but the brightness seemed to be weaker. Some of PL pigments could not exhibit photoluminescent effect in dark environment totally. Since it is mixing technique, the entire surface of the PL pigments was left unprotected and exposed to the attack of the molten glass. Therefore, the PL pigments were easily destroyed and burnt. Therefore, there is a need to come up with another pigmentation technique which overcomes such drawbacks.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

Summary of The Invention

[4] According to an aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a method for adding photoluminescent pigment on a glass comprising: providing raw materials for forming glass (100); undertaking process of forming first layer of glass (103); characterized in that applying a layering technique to add photoluminescent pigment on the first layer of glass (200). The layering technique further comprising: pouring the hot molten first layer of glass on metal mould (201); cooling the first layer of glass in furnace until it turns hard and transparent (203); spreading pre-calculated amount of photoluminescent pigment on top of the first layer of glass according to the surface area of mould (205); providing hot molten second layer of glass (207); pouring the hot molten second layer of glass on top of the first layer of glass and the photolu- minescent pigment to become glass sample (209); and placing the glass sample into the furnace for slow cooling to prevent the glass sample from crack (211).

[5] The above provision is advantageous as the PL pigments are protected from direct heating of hot molten glass. Thus, the percentage of PL pigments burnt is reduced except the top surface layer of pigments exposed to the hot molten glass. The inner and middle layers of PL pigments were protected from decomposition at high temperature. Brief Description of Drawings

[6] Figure 1 illustrates the flowchart of the layering technique of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment

[7] Generally, the present relates to a method for adding photoluminescent (PL) pigment on a glass comprising: providing raw materials for forming glass (100); undertaking process of forming first layer of glass (103); characterized in that applying a layering technique to add photoluminescent pigment on the first layer of glass (200). The layering technique further comprising: pouring the hot molten first layer of glass on metal mould (201); cooling the first layer of glass in furnace until it turns hard and transparent (203); spreading pre-calculated amount of photoluminescent pigment on top of the first layer of glass according to the surface area of mould (205); providing hot molten second layer of glass (207); pouring the hot molten second layer of glass on top of the first layer of glass and the photoluminescent pigment to become glass sample (209); and placing the glass sample into the furnace for slow cooling to prevent the glass sample from crack (211).

[8] Figure 1 illustrates PL glass making by layering technique. The first layer of glass iss poured on metal mould (201) and let it cooled in furnace until turned into hard and transparent (203). Then, the PL pigment with pre-calculated amount is spread on top of the first layer of glass according the surface area of mould (205). After five minutes, the second hot molten glass (207) is poured on top of the first layer glass and PL pigment (209). It means that the PL pigments are spread in the middle of two layers of rice husk glass resulting a sandwich like structure. Then, the sample together with the hot steel mould is placed back into the furnace for slow cooling to prevent the glass sample from crack due to thermal shock (211).

[9] With layering technique, only the top surface layer of pigments are exposed to the hot molten glass while the rest of other PL pigments are prevented/avoided from direct contact with the hot molten glasses and the density of decomposed PL pigments is reduced.

[10] The present invention is applicable to all types of glass; from silica to rice husk ash glass. Therefore the present invention provides alternatives in adding the PL pigment on the glass with minimal defects. Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiment, it is to be understood that the embodiment is merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiment that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A method for adding photoluminescent pigment on a glass comprising: providing raw materials for forming glass (100);

undertaking process of forming first layer of glass (103);

characterized in that;

applying a layering technique to add photoluminescent pigment on the first layer of glass (200).

A method for adding photoluminescent pigment on a glass as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the layering technique further comprising:

pouring the hot molten first layer of glass on metal mould (201);

cooling the first layer of glass in furnace until it turns hard and transparent (203);

spreading pre-calculated amount of photoluminescent pigment on top of the first layer of glass according to the surface area of mould (205); providing hot molten second layer of glass (207);

pouring the hot molten second layer of glass on top of the first layer of glass and the photoluminescent pigment to become glass sample (209); and

placing the glass sample into the furnace for slow cooling to prevent the glass sample from crack (211).

A method for adding photoluminescent pigment on a glass as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the interval time between the step of spreading pre- calculated amount of photoluminescent pigment on top of the first layer of glass according to the surface area of mould (205) and the step of pouring the hot molten second layer of glass on top of the first layer of glass and the photoluminescent pigment to become glass sample (209) is five minutes.

A silica glass with photoluminescent effects prepared by the method of Claim 1.

A rice husk ash glass with photoluminescent effects prepared by the method of Claim 1.