Method for treating a surface and device implemented

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for treating a surface of an object which comprises the steps consisting of bringing the surface to be treated in contact with a diffusion intermediate and then maintaining said surface to be treated in contact with said diffusion intermediate without any movement relatively to each other, said diffusion intermediate being impregnated with a corrosive solution prior to contacting or during said contacting. The present invention also relates to a device implemented during such a method.

Claims

1. A method for treating a surface of an object, said method consisting of: contacting the surface to be treated with a diffusion intermediate, said diffusion intermediate being impregnated with a corrosive solution prior to contacting or during said contacting, wherein said diffusion intermediate is a porous solid support that is chemically inert towards said corrosive solution; and maintaining said surface to be treated in contact with said diffusion intermediate without any movement relative to each other, wherein said treatment method removes or chemically erodes a layer of material from the surface of the object put into contact with the corrosive solution.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said surface is a surface in a metal, a noble metal, an oxidized metal, a transition metal or a metal alloy.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said surface is a surface in silicon (Si), in silicon carbide (SiC), in gallium arsenide (AsGa), in gallium (Ga), in indium phosphide (InP), in mixtures thereof or alloys thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said surface is a surface in silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2), in aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), in magnesium oxide (MgO), in glass, in silica glass, in ceramic, in diamond, in mixtures thereof or in alloys thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said corrosive solution is an acid corrosive solution selected from among hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO.sub.3), hydrofluoric acid (HF), sulfuric acid (H.sub.2SO.sub.4), phosphoric acid (H.sub.3PO.sub.4), ammonium fluoride (NH.sub.4F), ammonium difluoride (NH.sub.4HF.sub.2), an aqueous HCl solution, an aqueous HNO.sub.3 solution, an aqueous HF solution, an aqueous H.sub.2SO.sub.4 solution, an aqueous H.sub.3PO.sub.4 solution, an aqueous NH.sub.4F solution, an aqueous NH.sub.4HF.sub.2 solution and mixtures thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said corrosive solution is an alkaline corrosive solution selected from an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH), an aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2), an aqueous solution of cesium hydroxide (CsOH), an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide (LiOH), a solution of sodium hydride (NaH) in molten NaOH and mixtures thereof.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said diffusion intermediate is a porous solid support in a material selected from the group consisting of paper comprising cellulose; cotton paper; agarose; gelatin; cellulose; methylcellulose; carboxymethylcellulose; nitrocellulose; cellulose acetate ester; an alginate; a polyolefin; an ion exchange porous membrane; a sephadex resin packaged as a membrane; or a membrane of a perfluorinated polymer; a membrane in an organic polymer; a felt fabric; a glass fiber fabric; a nylon fabric; a polyacrylamide gel; a sepharose gel; and mixtures thereof.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said diffusion intermediate is impregnated with said corrosive solution prior to contacting the surface to be treated with said diffusion intermediate.

9. A method for treating a surface of an object, comprising: bringing the surface of the object to be treated in contact with a diffusion intermediate; impregnating, during said contacting, the diffusion intermediate with a corrosive solution, wherein said diffusion intermediate is a porous solid support that is chemically inert toward said corrosive solution; and maintaining said surface of the object to be treated in contact with said diffusion intermediate without any movement relative to each other, wherein said treatment method removes or chemically erodes a layer of material from the surface of the object put into contact with the corrosive solution.

10. A device comprising: (i) a fixed base on which is deposited a diffusion intermediate; and (ii) an element comprising a movable portion on which is attached an object to be treated and capable of bringing the surface of said object to be treated into contact with said diffusion intermediate, said device not comprising any element capable of displacing said surface put into contact with said diffusion intermediate relative to said diffusion intermediate, wherein said diffusion intermediate is impregnated by a corrosive solution which dissolves a layer at the surface of the object to be treated, and wherein said diffusion intermediate is a porous solid support that is chemically inert towards the corrosive solution.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said device further comprises an applicator capable of impregnating the diffusion intermediate with a corrosive solution.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein treating the surface of the object removes or chemically erodes a layer of material with a substantially constant thickness at the surface of the object.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The single FIGURE is a schematization as seen from the side of a device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

(2) In each example, the device, the principle of which is described in the single FIGURE, is used.

Example 1

(3) An optical silica part of 400 cm400 cm1 cm is put into contact with a mixture of nitric acid (80%) and of hydrofluoric acid (20%) via a fabric.

Example 2

(4) A metal plate of 400 cm400 cm1 cm is put into contact with concentrated hydrochloric acid, via a fabric.

Example 3: Preparation of an Acid Corrosive Treatment Solution

(5) In order to prepare the latter, in a vial, 80 ml of hydrofluoric acid concentrated to 40% (ProlaboAnalaR NORMAPUR; reference 20307.290) and 20 ml of 65% concentrated nitric acid (ProlaboAnalaR NORMAPUR; reference 20429.291) are mixed. This mixture is stirred manually for 15 s.

Example 4: Preparation of a Basic Corrosive Treatment Solution

(6) In order to prepare the latter, in a vial, 20 g of soda (reference EMSURE ISO, tablets for analyses) and 30 ml of water of quality 3 according to the NF EN 3696 standard (resistivity 18.2 M.Math.cm at 25 C.) are mixed. This mixture is stirred manually for a few minutes until complete dissolution of the tablets. Because of the exothermy of this dissolution, the return to room temperature of the thereby obtained solution should be awaited.

Example 5: Demonstrating the Diffusion of an Acid Treatment Solution Through an Intermediate in Polypropylene

(7) In a retention system, three drops of about 0.05 cm.sup.3 of acid solution, prepared according to example 3, are deposited according to the shape of a triangle and by spacing them apart from each other by about 3 cm. A polypropylene fabric sample (Pig Mat Haz Mat, Rip and Fit) is placed above these drops. A transparent silica part (diameter: 100 mm, density: 2.2) is then laid over this fabric.

(8) After one hour of contact, the silica part is removed. And then the treated face is rinsed for 30 s by means of a squeeze bottle of water of quality 3 according to the NF EN 3696 standard (resistivity 18.2 M.Math.cm at 25 C.). Next, rinsing is performed by means of an absolute ethanol wash bottle for 30 s.

(9) Subsequently to these operations, a misty zone appears above each drop on the silica part. The diffusion of an acid treatment solution through an intermediate of the polypropylene fabric type is thus demonstrated.

Example 6: Demonstrating the Diffusion of a Basic Treatment Solution Through a Polypropylene Intermediate

(10) In a retention system, two drops of about 0.05 cm.sup.3 of basic solution, prepared according to example 4, are deposited by spacing them apart by about 2 cm. A polypropylene fabric sample (Pig Mat Haz Mat, Rip and Fit) is placed above these drops. And then an aluminum part (length: 30 mm, width 15 mm) is laid over this fabric.

(11) After one hour of contact, the aluminum part is removed. And the treated face is then rinsed for 30 s by means of a wash bottle of water of quality 3 according to the NF EN 3696 standard (resistivity 18.2 M.Math.cm at 25 C.). Next, rinsing is performed by means of an absolute ethanol wash bottle for 30 s.

(12) Subsequently to these operations, a misty zone appears above each drop on the aluminum part. The diffusion of a basic treatment solution through an intermediate of the polypropylene fabric type is thus demonstrated.

Example 7: Treatment of a Silica Surface on a Diffusion Intermediate Impregnated with an Acid Corrosive Treatment Solution

(13) The silica sample to be treated (diameter: 100 mm, density: 2.2) is weighed. And then a polypropylene fabric intermediate (Pig Mat Haz Mat, Rip and Fit) is cut out to the shape of the silica sample. This intermediate is impregnated with the acid corrosive solution prepared according to example 3. Next, the silica part is laid over the intermediate.

(14) After one hour of contact, the silica part is removed. The treated face is then rinsed for 30 s by means of a wash bottle of water of quality 3 according to the NF EN 3696 standard (resistivity 18.2 M.Math.cm at 25 C.). Next, rinsing on this same face is performed by means of an absolute ethanol wash bottle for 30 s.

(15) Weighing is then carried out. By comparing the latter to the initial weighing, an erosion of a thickness estimated to be 31 m is obtained.

Example 8: Treatment of an Aluminum Surface on a Diffusion Intermediate Impregnated with an Acid Corrosive Treatment Solution

(16) First a roughness measurement is conducted on the sample in aluminum to be treated (length: 30 mm, width 15 mm). The piece of equipment used is a hand-held roughness tester TR200 from TIME Group Inc. The total height of the profile (R.sub.t) of the relevant sample is of about 11 m.

(17) An intermediate in polypropylene fabric (Pig Mat Haz Mat, Rip and Fit) is cut out to the shape of the aluminum sample. Next, this intermediate is impregnated with the acid corrosive solution prepared according to example 3. Next, the aluminum part is laid over the intermediate.

(18) At the end of the four hours of treatment, the aluminum part is removed. And the treated face is then rinsed for 30 s by means of a wash bottle of water of quality 3 according to the NF EN 3696 standard (resistivity 18.2 M.Math.cm at 25 C.). Next, rinsing is performed on this same face by means of an absolute ethanol wash bottle for 30 s.

(19) The visual aspect of the sample is strongly modified and the latter is rougher to the touch. A roughness measurement is then conducted. It shows an elevation of the total height of the profile (R.sub.t) between the aluminum surface before and after treatment, the latter attains a value of about 19 m.

Example 9: Treatment of an Aluminum Surface on a Diffusion Intermediate Impregnated with a Basic Corrosive Treatment Solution

(20) First, a roughness measurement is conducted on the sample in aluminum to be treated (length: 30 mm, width 15 mm). The piece of equipment used is a hand-held roughness tester TR200 model from TIME Group Inc. The total height of the profile (R.sub.t) of the relevant sample is of about 8 m.

(21) A polypropylene fabric intermediate (Pig Mat Haz Mat, Rip and Fit) is cut out to the shape of the aluminum sample. Next, this intermediate is impregnated with the basic corrosive solution prepared according to example 4. Next, the aluminum part is laid over the intermediate.

(22) At the end of four hours of treatment, the aluminum part is removed. And the treated face is then rinsed for 30 s by means of a wash bottle of water of quality 3 according to the NF EN 3696 standard (resistivity 18.2 M.Math.cm at 25 C.). Next, rinsing is performed on this same face by means of an absolute ethanol wash bottle for 30 s.

(23) The visual aspect of the sample is strongly modified and the latter is rougher to the touch. A roughness measurement is then conducted. It shows an elevation of the total height of the profile (R.sub.t) between the aluminum surface before and after treatment, the latter attains a value of about 33 m.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

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