Localized surface glazing of ceramic articles

Abstract

A surface of a ceramic article, such as a glazed surface on a whiteware article, is treated with radiant energy such as infrared light from a laser to provide a localized remelting of the material at the surface in a fusing step. After the fusing step, the surface is treated with further radiant energy, desirably over a larger surface encompassing the fused zone and also desirably at a lower power density so as to limit the rate of cooling of the fusion zone and the immediately surrounding regions, thereby preventing thermal stress cracking. The fusion zone and surrounding regions desirably are preheated by additional radiant energy immediately prior to the fusing step so as to further limit thermal stresses during the fusing step. The process can be employed, among many other uses, for repair of glaze defects and for decoration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.