Methods to texture opaque, colored and translucent materials

Abstract

Methods of modifying glass-ceramic articles and glass-ceramic articles formed therefrom. The methods include providing a glass-ceramic article having a non-damaged surface, applying a chemical etching solution to the non-damaged surface, and removing the chemical etching solution. The chemical etching solution modifies the non-damaged surface so that from about 0.01 μm to about 2 μm of a depth of the glass-ceramic article is removed. The chemical etching solution modifies the non-damage surface of the glass-ceramic article to form a roughened surface having a reduced gloss value and a target roughness value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A glass-ceramic article produced by modifying a non-damaged surface of a glass-ceramic article, the method comprising:
 a) applying a chemical etching solution to a non-damaged surface of a glass-ceramic article having an initial gloss value, wherein the etching solution is applied for an etching time of about 5 s to less than 15 min to form a roughened surface, remove from about 0.01 μm to about 20 μm of depth of the glass-ceramic article and reduce the initial gloss value to a reduced gloss value from about 10% to 70% at 60°, wherein the chemical etching solution is formed by mixing hydrofluoric acid and an inorganic fluoride salt, the concentration of hydrofluoric acid is from 1% to 6% by weight of the etching solution and the inorganic fluoride salt is 5% to 30% by weight of the etching solution; and   b) removing the chemical etching solution from the roughened surface;   
       wherein a gloss value of the modified glass-ceramic article is reduced from the initial gloss value by about 10% to about 30%. 
     
     
         2 . The glass-ceramic article of  claim 1 , wherein the glass-ceramic article is opaque, colored, or translucent. 
     
     
         3 . A glass-ceramic article produced by modifying a non-damaged surface of a glass-ceramic article, the method comprising:
 a) applying a chemical etching solution to a non-damaged surface of a glass-ceramic article having an initial gloss value, wherein the etching solution is applied for an etching time of about 5 s to less than 15 min to form a roughened surface having a target roughness value of from about 150 RMS (nm) to about 800 RMS (nm), remove from about 0.01 μm to about 20 μm of depth of the glass-ceramic article and reduce the initial gloss value to a reduced gloss value from about 10% to 30% at 60°, wherein the chemical etching solution is formed by mixing hydrofluoric acid and an ammonium fluoride salt, the concentration of hydrofluoric acid is from 1% to 6% by weight of the etching solution and the ammonium fluoride salt is 5% to 30% b weight of the etching solution; and   b) removing the chemical etching solution from the roughened surface;   
       wherein a gloss value of the modified glass-ceramic article is reduced from the initial gloss value by about 10% to about 30%. 
     
     
         4 . The glass-ceramic article of  claim 3 , wherein the glass-ceramic article is opaque, colored, or translucent. 
     
     
         5 . A glass-ceramic article produced by modifying a non-damaged surface of a glass-ceramic article, the method comprising:
 a) applying a chemical etching solution to a non-damaged surface of a glass-ceramic article having an initial gloss value, wherein the etching solution is applied for an etching time of about 5 s to less than 15 min to form a roughened surface having a target roughness value, remove from about 0.01 μm to about 20 μm of depth of the glass-ceramic article and reduce the initial gloss value to a reduced gloss value, wherein the chemical etching solution comprises hydrofluoric acid and an inorganic fluoride salt, the concentration of hydrofluoric acid is from 1% to 6% by weight of the etching solution and the inorganic fluoride salt is 5% to 30% b weight of the etching solution; and   b) removing the chemical etching solution from the roughened surface;   
       wherein a gloss value of the modified glass-ceramic article is reduced from the initial gloss value by about 1% to about 30%. 
     
     
         6 . The glass-ceramic article of  claim 5 , wherein the glass-ceramic article is opaque, colored, or translucent.