Transparent ceramic with complex geometry

Abstract

A ceramic product includes a transparent ceramic panel having a non-planar geometry including a bend having a slippage plane, an increased haze, a non-uniform thickness, or a combination thereof. A method includes providing a transparent ceramic panel, heating the panel, bending the panel to conform to a non-planar geometry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a ceramic product comprising:
 heating a transparent ceramic panel; and   bending the panel to conform to a non-planar geometry.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-planar geometry includes a bend, having at the bend a thickness variation, a dislocation density variation, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel has a planar geometry prior to bending. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising polishing the transparent ceramic panel prior to bending. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel retains at least a portion of the polish after bending. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel comprises a sapphire, an AlON, or a spinel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel comprises a sapphire. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sapphire comprises a major surface that lies along an a-plane or a c-plane. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-planar geometry has a radius of curvature of no greater than 120 cm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel, prior to bending, has a length of at least 35 cm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel, prior to bending, has a width of at least 10 cm. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a ceramic product comprising:
 heating a transparent ceramic panel; and   bending the panel to conform to a non-planar geometry, wherein the transparent ceramic panel, prior to bending, has a length of at least 30 cm.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the non-planar geometry has a radius of curvature of no greater than 100 cm. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel, prior to bending, has a width of at least 15 cm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the non-planar geometry includes a bend, having at the bend a haze variation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the non-planar geometry includes a bend, having at apex of the bend a dislocation density variation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel has a length greater than a width. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a ceramic product comprising:
 heating a transparent ceramic panel; and   bending the panel to conform to a non-planar geometry, wherein the non-planar geometry includes a bend, having at the bend a thickness variation, a dislocation density variation, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transparent ceramic panel has a planar geometry prior to bending. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising polishing the transparent ceramic panel prior to bending.