Ultrasonic Spraying of Glass Substrate
In the field of modern material processing, glass substrates, as a key basic material, are widely used in many high-tech industries such as display and optics. The emergence of ultrasonic spraying technology has brought revolutionary changes to the processing and modification of glass substrates, and opened a new chapter in the application of glass substrates.
1. The magical principle of ultrasonic spraying technology
Ultrasonic spraying is based on the unique physical effect of ultrasound. When ultrasound propagates in a liquid medium, periodic pressure changes will occur, triggering tiny cavitation phenomena inside the liquid. At the moment of cavitation bubble collapse, huge energy will be released to break the liquid into extremely tiny and uniform droplets. The particle size of these droplets can be precisely controlled at the micron level, and they have highly consistent size and uniform distribution. This atomization method is essentially different from traditional pressure spraying, air spraying and other methods, and provides unprecedented advantages for the spraying treatment of glass substrates.
2. Characteristics and application requirements of glass substrates
Glass substrates have excellent characteristics such as high transparency, high hardness and good chemical stability. In the display industry, such as liquid crystal displays (LCD) and organic light-emitting diode displays (OLED), glass substrates are the key support for carrying display materials; in the optical field, they are used to manufacture lenses, optical windows, etc., and have strict requirements on optical performance and surface quality. However, with the continuous development of technology, the functional requirements for glass substrates are becoming increasingly diverse. For example, it is necessary to apply an anti-reflective coating on the glass substrate to improve the clarity of the display, apply a conductive coating for touch function, or apply a special protective coating to enhance its corrosion resistance and wear resistance. These coatings must not only have excellent performance, but also have extremely high requirements for thickness uniformity and adhesion to the glass substrate.
3. Significant advantages of ultrasonic spraying in glass substrate processing
- Excellent coating uniformity
The tiny droplets produced by ultrasonic spraying can form a highly uniform coating on the surface of the glass substrate. Whether it is a large-area flat glass substrate or a curved glass substrate with a certain curvature, uniform coverage can be achieved. This uniformity avoids the problems of uneven coating thickness, local accumulation or missing coating common in traditional spraying methods, ensuring that the glass substrate can present consistent optical, electrical or other functional properties over the entire surface. For example, in the application of anti-reflective coating, uniform coating can achieve stable and efficient light reflection suppression effect on the entire glass substrate surface, significantly improving the visual effect of display devices. - Gentle treatment of glass substrates
Compared with some traditional spraying methods, the ultrasonic spraying process has minimal impact on the glass substrate. Since the droplets are formed by gentle ultrasonic atomization, they will not cause mechanical damage, such as scratches or microcracks, when deposited on the surface of the glass substrate. This is crucial to maintaining the high transparency and mechanical integrity of the glass substrate. In particular, for some optical glass substrates with extremely high surface quality requirements, this gentle treatment method can protect their original performance to the greatest extent while ensuring the quality of the coating. - Accurate coating thickness control
By adjusting the parameters of ultrasonic spraying, such as ultrasonic frequency, spray time, distance between the nozzle and the glass substrate, etc., the thickness of the coating can be precisely controlled. This is of great significance for meeting the requirements of the glass substrate for coating functions in different application scenarios. For example, in the preparation of conductive coatings, precise thickness control can achieve stable and predictable conductive properties, meeting the strict requirements of electronic devices such as touch screens for the conductive function of glass substrates.
4. Key points of ultrasonic spraying of glass substrates
- Coating selection and pretreatment
It is crucial to select the appropriate coating according to the application purpose of the glass substrate. The physical and chemical properties of the coating, such as viscosity, surface tension, solid content, etc., need to match the ultrasonic spraying process. Before use, the coating may need to be pre-treated by filtering, stirring, etc. to remove impurities and ensure its uniformity. For some special coatings, it may also be necessary to add an appropriate amount of additives to adjust its performance to meet the requirements of ultrasonic atomization and good adhesion on the glass substrate. - Spraying parameter optimization
The ultrasonic frequency is a key factor affecting the atomization effect and droplet particle size. The appropriate frequency range needs to be selected according to the properties of the coating and the desired coating quality. The distance between the nozzle and the glass substrate should be kept appropriate. Too close may cause the droplets to form uneven accumulation on the substrate, and too far may cause the droplets to be over-dispersed or volatilized during flight, affecting the formation of the coating. In addition, the scanning speed and pattern of the spray also need to be carefully designed to ensure that the entire glass substrate surface can be fully and evenly sprayed. - Post-processing process
After spraying, post-processing may be required depending on the type of coating and application requirements. For example, for some coatings that require high-temperature curing, the curing temperature, time and environmental conditions must be controlled to ensure that the coating is fully cured and achieves optimal performance. In some cases, the coating may also need to be surface treated, such as grinding and polishing, to further improve its flatness and optical performance.
5. Broad application prospects of ultrasonic spraying glass substrates
Against the background of continuous innovation in display technology, ultrasonic spraying glass substrate technology has broad application prospects. For glass substrates for high-resolution and high-refresh rate displays, the display effect and touch performance can be improved by precisely spraying high-quality coatings. In the field of optical instruments, such as glass substrates used in telescopes and microscopes, ultrasonic spraying can achieve precise preparation of special optical coatings and improve the performance of optical systems. In addition, with the rise of emerging glass substrate applications such as smart glass and photovoltaic glass, ultrasonic spraying technology can give these new glass substrates more functional characteristics, meet diverse market needs, and promote related industries to develop in the direction of higher performance and more refinement.
In short, the application of ultrasonic spraying technology in glass substrate processing is a perfect combination of material science and processing technology. It has injected new impetus into the development of glass substrates in high-tech industries, expanded the functions and application scope of glass substrates, and has immeasurable value.
About Cheersonic
Cheersonic is the leading developer and manufacturer of ultrasonic coating systems for applying precise, thin film coatings to protect, strengthen or smooth surfaces on parts and components for the microelectronics/electronics, alternative energy, medical and industrial markets, including specialized glass applications in construction and automotive.
Our coating solutions are environmentally-friendly, efficient and highly reliable, and enable dramatic reductions in overspray, savings in raw material, water and energy usage and provide improved process repeatability, transfer efficiency, high uniformity and reduced emissions.
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