Transparent ceramic with complex geometry
A ceramic product includes a transparent ceramic panel having a non-planar geometry including a bend having a slippage plane, an increased haze, a non-uniform thickness, or a combination thereof. A method includes providing a transparent ceramic panel, heating the panel, bending the panel to conform to a non-planar geometry.
1. A ceramic product comprising:
a transparent ceramic panel, wherein the transparent ceramic panel comprises:
a top surface;
a bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface have a non-planar geometry; and
a bend having a dislocation density variation localized at the apex of the bend,
wherein the transparent ceramic panel comprises a sapphire, an AlON, or a spinel, and wherein the transparent ceramic panel has a length greater than a width.
2. The ceramic product of claim 1 , wherein the non-planar geometry includes at least two bends.
3. The ceramic product of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic product is polished.
4. The ceramic product of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic product includes a transparent ceramic material comprising a sapphire.
5. The ceramic product of claim 4 , wherein the sapphire comprises a major surface that lies along an a-plane or a c-plane.
6. The ceramic product of claim 1 , wherein the non-planar geometry has a radius of curvature of no greater than 120 cm.
7. The ceramic product of claim 1 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel, prior to bending, has a length of at least 30 cm.
8. The ceramic product of claim 1 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel, prior to bending, has a width of at least 10 cm.
9. The ceramic product of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic product includes a region of low dislocation density and a region of high dislocation density, wherein the region of high dislocation density has a dislocation density of at least 10 8 dislocation lines per cm 2 .
10. The ceramic product of claim 9 , wherein the region of low dislocation density has a dislocation density of at most 500 dislocation lines per cm 2 .
11. The ceramic product of claim 6 , wherein the radius of curvature extends greater than 70% of a length of the ceramic product.
12. The ceramic product of claim 1 , wherein the non-planar geometry has a radius of curvature of no greater than 100 cm.
13. The ceramic product of claim 1 , wherein the non-planar geometry has a radius of curvature of no greater than 30 cm.
14. The ceramic product of claim 1 having a thickness variation localized at the apex of the bend.
15. The ceramic product of claim 14 , wherein the thickness variation includes a thickness that decreases approaching an apex of the bend.
16. The ceramic product of claim 14 , wherein the ceramic product includes a transparent ceramic material comprising a sapphire.
17. The ceramic product of claim 1 , wherein the bend exhibits a slippage plane.