# US 8,465,805 B2 · Glass veneer on ceramics > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,805 B2 - Document ID: US8465805B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/739,219 - Filed: 2008-10-24 - Published: 2010-12-02 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-25 - Applicants: Walter Henry Huber - Inventors: Walter Henry Huber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465805B2 ## CPC - C04B 41/4922: {applied to the substrate as monomers, i.e. as organosilanes RnSiX4-n, e.g. alkyltrialkoxysilane, dialkyldialkoxysilane} - C04B 41/009: {characterised by the material treated} - C04B 41/5089: {Silica sols, alkyl, ammonium or alkali metal silicate cements} - C04B 41/84: Compounds having one or more carbon-to-metal of carbon-to-silicon linkages - C04B 41/85: with inorganic materials - C04B 2111/80: Optical properties, e.g. transparency or reflexibility - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE ## Abstract A method of polishing a fired ceramic article such as brick, tile etc article comprising applying to a surface of fired ceramic article a hardening/densifying compound comprising a member selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, silicates, siliconates, fluorosilicates, siloxanes, silazanes, silanes, silicon esters, and combinations thereof and allowing the hardening/densifying compound to contact with the surface for a period of time sufficient to allow the compound to harden surface, which can then be ground, polished etc to a high gloss. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of polishing a surface of a fired ceramic article, comprising the steps of: a) applying to a surface of a fired ceramic article a hardening/densifying compound comprising at least one hydroxide and at least one silicate, or at least one hydroxide and silica; b) allowing the hardening/densifying compound to contact the surface for a period of time sufficient to allow the hardening/densifying compound to harden the surface; and c) polishing the surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of polishing the surface further comprises applying to the ceramic surface a polishing compound. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the period of time is sufficient to allow the hardening/densifying compound to penetrate and harden the surface, and further comprising the steps of: d) neutralizing the surface; e) optionally sintering the surface; and f) steam cleaning the surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the fired ceramic article is a brick, tile, panel or three-dimensional solid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the hardening/densifying compound is applied in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, alcohol and organic solvents. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the hardening/densifying compound is applied at a rate sufficient to penetrate the surface from 0.01 mm to 10 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the hardening/densifying compound in contact with the ceramic surface is allowed to dry and/or cure before polishing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the hardening/densifying compound is applied in water, and wherein the ratio of water to the at least one hydroxide and at least one silicate, or the ratio of water to the at least one hydroxide and silica is from about 8:1 to 1:1 by volume. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, caesium hydroxide, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, wherein the silica is fumed silica. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one silicate is a mixture of silicates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one silicate is sodium silicate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one silicate is a fluorosilicate or mixture of fluorosilicates. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein the fluorosilicate is selected from the group consisting of zinc fluorosilicate, magnesium fluoro silicate and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one silicate is a siliconate or mixture of siliconates. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, wherein the siliconate is sodium methyl siliconate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) A method according to claim 2, wherein the polishing compound comprises one or more of hydroxides, silicates, siliconates, fluorosilicates, siloxanes, silazanes, silanes, silicon esters, and combinations thereof, in a solvent comprising water or alcohol. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein the polishing compound comprises water and a compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, silicates, siliconates, fluorosilicates, siloxanes, silazanes, silanes, silicon esters, and combinations thereof at a ratio from about 30:1 to 1:1 by volume. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, wherein the ratio is about 10:1 by volume. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the surface is polished mechanically by a polishing disc, drum or pad having a grit coarseness range from about 20 to 10,000. ### Claim 21 A method of polishing a kiln-fired ceramic surface, comprising the steps of: (a) applying to the ceramic surface a diluted polishing compound, at a rate sufficient to adequately penetrate the surface, wherein the diluted polishing compound comprises at least one hydroxide and at least one silicate, or at least one hydroxide and silica, in water or alcohol; and (b) polishing the ceramic surface to which the diluted polishing compound has been applied. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A method according to claim 21, wherein the diluted polishing compound is in water. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of: (c) cleaning the ceramic surface; (d) applying to the ceramic surface additional diluted polishing compound; and (e) polishing the ceramic surface with a polishing pad, disc, or drum having a finer grit than was used in previous polishing step. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A method according to claim 23, wherein steps (c) through (e) are repeated until the surface has a desired level of shine. ### Claim 25 A method of honing and polishing a rough, irregular, ceramic surface, comprising the steps of: (a) honing the ceramic surface with a rough grit honing pad, disc or drum with or without a lubricant to produce a substantially smooth, even surface; (b) applying to the ceramic surface a hardening/densifying compound comprising at least one hydroxide and at least one silicate, or at least one hydroxide and silica, in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water and alcohol; and (c) allowing the hardening/densifying compound to remain in contact with the ceramic surface for a period of time sufficient to harden the surface of the ceramic; (d) polishing the ceramic surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A method according to claim 25, wherein the lubricant, when present, is water. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) A method according to claim 25, further comprising the steps of: (e) cleaning the ceramic surface; (f) applying to the ceramic surface a diluted polishing compound; (g) polishing the ceramic surface with a polishing pad, disc or drum having a finer grit than was used in previous polishing step; and repeating steps (e) through (g) until, upon cleaning, the surface has a desired level of shine. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, further comprising a preliminary step of cleaning the ceramic surface and allowing the ceramic surface to dry prior to the step of applying the hardening/densifying compound to the ceramic surface. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, further comprising removing an existing coating before honing and polishing the ceramic surface, the method comprising the preliminary steps of: (i) abrading the ceramic surface with a coarse rotating grinder disc; (ii) applying a chemical stripper to remove any remaining part of the coating; and (iii) cleaning the ceramic surface. ### Claim 30 A method of removing and leveling soft, porous, ceramic from a cured ceramic surface and polishing the surface, the method comprising the steps of: (a) abrading and removing a soft ceramic surface with a coarse rotating grinder; (b) cleaning the ceramic surface and allowing it to dry; (c) applying to the ceramic surface a hardening/densifying compound comprising at least one hydroxide and at least one silicate, or at least one hydroxide and silica in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water and alcohol; (d) allowing the hardening/densifying compound to remain in contact with the ceramic surface for a period of time sufficient to harden/densify the surface; (e) polishing the ceramic surface with a polishing pad, disc or drum having a grit coarseness from about 20 to 10,000; (f) cleaning the ceramic surface; (g) applying to the ceramic surface a diluted polishing compound comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, silicates, siliconates, fluorosilicates, siloxanes, silazanes, silanes, silicon esters, and any combinations thereof in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water and alcohol; (h) polishing the ceramic surface with a polishing pad, disc or drum having a less rough grit than was used in previous polishing step; and (i) repeating steps (f) through (h) until, upon cleaning, the surface has a desired level of shine. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising treating the ceramic surface after polishing with a diluted acidic solution and then rinsing the surface with water or a steam cleaner. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the hardening/densifying compound is applied to the ceramic surface to form an alumino silicate, calcium silicate or multi-component silicate glass. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the hardening/densifying compound reacts with the ceramic to form an alumino silicate, calcium silicate or a multi-component glass. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the surface is an in situ wall. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) A ceramic prepared by the method of claim 1. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A ceramic according to claim 35, comprising a non-stick surface. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) A ceramic according to claim 35, comprising a surface resistant to mineral leaching. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) A ceramic according to claim 35, comprising a surface resistant to penetration of oil, paint, solvents, and other chemicals. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) A ceramic according to claim 35, comprising a surface resistant to abrasion and weathering. ### Claim 40 (depends on 35) A ceramic according to claim 35, in the form of a brick, tile or any three-dimensional shape. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) A ceramic according to claim 35, wherein application of a hardening/densifying compound creates a surface of high lustre creating a reflective surface. ### Claim 42 (depends on 35) A ceramic according to claim 35, wherein application of a hardening/densifying compound which comprises a hydroxide forms a surface resistant to mildew and microbiotic growth. ### Claim 43 (depends on 1, 21, 25, 30) A method according to any one of claim 1, 21, 25 or 30, wherein the hardening/densifying compound comprises at least one hydroxide and silica. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) A method according to claim 43, wherein the silica is fumed silica. ### Claim 45 (depends on 1, 21, 25, 30) A method according to any one of claim 1, 21, 25 or 30, wherein the hardening/densifying compound comprises at least one hydroxide and at least one silicate. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) A method according to claim 45, wherein the silicate is sodium silicate. ### Claim 47 (depends on 43) A method according to claim 43, wherein the at least one hydroxide is sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, caesium hydroxide or any combination thereof. ### Claim 48 (depends on 45) A method according to claim 45, wherein the at least one hydroxide is sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, caesium hydroxide or any combination thereof.