# US 12,760,425 B2 · Glass enameling of aluminum metal matrix composites > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,425 B2 - Document ID: US12760425B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/478,578 - Filed: 2023-09-29 - Published: 2025-10-30 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-29 - Assignees: II-Vi Delaware, Inc. - Applicants: II-VI Delaware, Inc. - Inventors: Sean McAnany; Samuel Salamone; Michael Aghajanian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760425B2 ## CPC - C23D 5/02: by wet methods - C23D: ENAMELLING OF, OR APPLYING A VITREOUS LAYER TO, METALS ## Abstract A method of forming an enameled coating on a structure made of a metal matrix composite (MMC) material is provided. In some examples, the method includes providing a structure formed of the MMC material, the MMC material having a given coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). An enamel mixture is formed to include a glass material and a pigment material, the material selected to yield a mixture with a substantially similar CTE. A surface of the MMC structure is coated with the enamel mixture, the structure then heated in order to melt the enamel mixture. Following the heat treatment, the heated, coated MMC structure is cooled, thereby achieving a glass enameled coating with a color corresponding to the selected pigment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: providing a structure formed of a metal matrix composite (MMC) material comprising a metal and a ceramic or organic material; coating an enamel mixture on a surface of the structure; heating the coated structure to melt the enamel mixture; and cooling the heated, coated structure to achieve an enameled coating on the surface of the structure, the enameled coating comprising a clear or translucent coating material and a pigment material that imparts the enameled coating with a color of the pigment material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising selecting the MMC material of the structure with a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as defined in claim 2, further comprising selecting a first glass material of the enamel mixture with a second CTE. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method as defined in claim 3, further comprising selecting a second glass material of the enamel mixture with a third CTE. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method as defined in claim 2, further comprising selecting a ratio of glass material and the pigment material of the enamel mixture to result in the enameled coating having the first CTE. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising selecting the MMC material from Al/SiC or Al/Al2O3. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, comprising mixing glass frits and pigment frits with a liquid media to form the enamel mixture. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: providing a structure formed of a metal matrix composite (MMC) material comprising a metal and a ceramic or organic compound, wherein the MMC material has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE); forming an enamel mixture with a second CTE substantially similar to the first CTE; coating the enamel mixture on a surface of the structure; heating the coated structure to melt the enamel mixture; and cooling the heated, coated structure to achieve an enameled coating on the surface of the MMC material, the enameled coating comprising a clear or translucent coating material and a pigment material that imparts the enameled coating with a color of the pigment material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as defined in claim 8, wherein a value of the second CTE is within 10% of a value of the first CTE. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method as defined in claim 8, wherein: the clear or translucent coating material has a third CTE; the pigment material has a fourth CTE; and the second CTE is different from the third and fourth CTE. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the enamel mixture comprises approximately two thirds of one glass frit material and one third of another glass frit material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the heating is performed at a temperature of greater than 500 degrees C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method as defined in claim 8, further comprising selecting the MMC material from Al/SiC or Al/Al2O3. ### Claim 14 A structure, comprising: a structural frame formed of a metal matrix composite (MMC) material comprising a metal and a ceramic or organic compound; and an enameled coating on a surface of the MMC material, the enameled coating comprising a clear or translucent coating material and a pigment material that imparts the enameled coating with a color of the pigment material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The structure as defined in claim 14, wherein the structure is a housing for an electronic consumer device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The structure as defined in claim 15, wherein; the clear or translucent coating material is a glass or ceramic material; and the pigment material is selected from a variety of different colored pigment materials, each of which is capable of imparting the enameled coating with its respective color. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The structure as defined in claim 15, wherein the MMC material has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the enameled coating having a CTE substantially similar to the first CTE. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The structure as defined in claim 15, wherein the MMC material comprises one or more of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The structure as defined in claim 18, wherein the MMC material comprises Al/SiC or Al/Al2O3. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The structure as defined in claim 15, wherein the Young's modulus value of the MMC material is greater than 125 GPa.