Method for the surface treatment of a jewel, in particular for the watchmaking industry
A method for treating a jewel of the monocrystalline or polycrystalline type ( 20 ), in particular for the watchmaking industry, the jewel ( 20 ) including a body ( 23 ) defining the shape thereof. The method includes a step of ion implantation on the surface ( 24 ) of at least a part of the body ( 23 ) to modify the roughness of the surface ( 24 ).
1 . A method for the surface treatment of a jewel of ceramic, for the watchmaking industry, the jewel comprising a body defining the shape thereof, the method comprising implanting ion directly on the surface of at least a part of said body to modify the roughness of said surface, and to increase the contact angle of a drop of liquid, wherein the implanted ions are nitrogen.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of depositing an epilame layer on the surface of the jewel.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the epilame layer comprises chromium nitride, and is optionally made entirely thereof.
4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of depositing the epilame layer is carried out by physical vapor deposition (PVD) or plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD).
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the contact angle is greater than 50°, or greater than 70°, for a drop of water.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ion implantation step is carried out by electron cyclotron resonance (ECR)-type magnetic electron cyclotron resonance.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ion implantation step is carried out using plasma.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the body of the jewel is previously formed in a first step by a Verneuil-type method for a monocrystalline jewel or by a sintering method for a polycrystalline jewel.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the jewel further comprises Al 2 O 3 or ZrO 2 .