The surface texture treatment of anti-slip tableware

The surface texture treatment of anti-slip tableware

The core design objective of anti-slip tableware is to enhance grip stability through surface texture optimization and reduce the risk of slipping caused by sweaty hands, oil stains or smooth tableware materials. The following is an analysis from four aspects: texture design principles, types, application scenarios, and optimization directions:

First, the principle of anti-slip texture design

Frictional force enhancement mechanism

Mechanical locking effect: By enhancing the mechanical interlocking of the contact surface through concave and convex textures, for instance, the wavy texture of a silicone placemat can be embedded in the skin texture of fingers, increasing the coefficient of friction (the coefficient of friction of a common smooth surface is approximately 0.3, while that of an anti-slip texture can be raised to 0.8-1.2).

Pressure distribution optimization: The raised texture can disperse the holding pressure and prevent sliding caused by excessive local pressure. For example, the finger-shaped convex point design can increase the contact area of fingers by 30% and reduce the pressure per unit area.

Fluid Dynamics Application

Hydrophobic/oleophobic texture: By means of micro-nano structures (such as the bionic texture of lotus leaves), liquid residue is reduced and the slippery feeling is lowered. For instance, the hydrophobic texture engraved by laser can make the contact Angle of water droplets > 150°, allowing them to slide off quickly.

Drainage channel design: Set up a drainage channel along the edge of the tableware or in the holding area to quickly discharge the liquid. For example, the V-shaped groove on the edge of the dinner plate can increase the flow rate of the liquid by 50%.

Second, types and applications of anti-slip textures

Macroscopic texture (visible to the naked eye)

Convex points and particles

Circular protrusions: Evenly distributed along the edges or handles of tableware to enhance the friction during holding (such as the silicone protrusions on coffee cup handles, with a diameter of 2-3mm and a spacing of 3-5mm).

Frosted particles: A rough surface is formed through sandblasting or etching processes, suitable for metal tableware (such as the frosted handle of stainless steel spoons, with a surface roughness Ra≥3.2μm).

Stripes and waves

Vertical stripes: Designed along the length of the tableware, guiding the sliding direction of fingers and enhancing stability (such as the 5mm wide stripes along the edge of the dinner plate, with a depth of 0.5mm).

Wavy pattern: By continuously undulating, it increases friction and is suitable for children's tableware (such as the wavy pattern on the outside of plastic bowls, with a difference of 1-2mm between the peaks and troughs).

Microscopic texture (invisible to the naked eye)

Laser engraving microstructure

Honeycomb texture: Hexagonal micro-holes with a diameter of 50-100μm are engraved on the ceramic surface by laser, increasing the surface roughness.

Bionic shark skin texture: Imitating the groove structure of shark skin to reduce liquid adhesion, suitable for the surface of soup spoons.

Chemical etching micropores: Forming micron-sized pores on the metal surface to increase surface energy and enhance adsorption force (such as the etched surface of titanium alloy forks, with pore diameters of 20-50μm).

Third, the anti-slip texture adaptation of different materials

Ceramics and Glass

Underglaze raised patterns: Raised patterns are fired under the glaze layer, which are both anti-slip and aesthetically pleasing (such as the raised patterns on the edges of blue and white porcelain bowls).

Laser engraving texture: Engraving microstructures on the glaze surface without affecting cleanliness (such as hydrophobic laser patterns on the inner wall of a teacup).

Metal

Embossing process: Three-dimensional textures are formed through mold pressing (such as the diamond-shaped embossing pattern on stainless steel forks).

Anodized micro-pores: Form an oxide layer of micro-pores on the surface of aluminum products to enhance friction (such as the anodized surface of aluminum lunch boxes).

Plastics and silicone

Two-color injection molding protrusions: Combining soft silicone with hard plastic to form elastic protrusions (such as the silicone handle of a children's spoon).

Foaming process: Mixing foaming agent into plastic to form a micro-porous structure (for example, the surface roughness Ra of foamed plastic dinner plates is ≥6.3μm).

Fourth, scenario-based anti-slip design

Children's tableware

Fully wrapped anti-slip sleeve: Wrap a silicone sleeve around plastic tableware to increase the holding area (for example, the thickness of the silicone sleeve is 2-3mm, covering more than 80% of the surface of the tableware).

Animal-shaped texture: Add fun through bionic design (for example, the ears of the panda-shaped dinner plate are raised, with a diameter of 5mm and a height of 2mm).

Tableware for the elderly

Wide edge sliding strip: Set a 5-8mm wide silicone anti-slip strip along the edge of the plate to enhance stability (for example, the height of the anti-slip strip is 1-1.5mm).

Finger-shaped grooves: Finger grooves are designed in the holding area of tableware to conform to the curve of the hand (for example, the depth of the finger groove on the handle of a soup spoon is 2mm and the width is 15mm).

Outdoor tableware

High friction coefficient coating: Apply anti-slip paint (such as polyurethane coating, with a friction coefficient > 1.0) on the surface of metal tableware.

Detachable anti-slip cover: Replaceable anti-slip covers are provided to adapt to different environments (for example, the rubber anti-slip cover is 3mm thick, and the inner diameter is suitable for the diameter of tableware ±0.5mm).

Fifth, the optimization direction of anti-slip texture

Cleanliness balance

Avoid dead corner design: The texture depth should be less than 1mm to prevent food residue from accumulating (for example, the depth of the stripes on the edge of the plate is recommended to be 0.3-0.8mm).

Self-cleaning texture: It adopts a hydrophobic and oleophobic surface to reduce the difficulty of cleaning (for example, the contact Angle of the superhydrophobic coating is greater than 160°).

Touch and aesthetics

Soft and hard combination: Add a soft anti-slip layer locally on hard tableware (such as silicone anti-slip stickers on wooden tableware).

Color contrast: Enhance visual appeal through the color difference between the anti-slip texture and the main body of the tableware (such as the black silicone anti-slip strip on a white ceramic dinner plate).

Sustainability

Biodegradable materials: Anti-slip covers are made of natural rubber or plant-based silicone (for example, the degradation cycle of bio-based silicone is shortened to 3-5 years).

Modular design: Anti-slip components can be disassembled and replaced, extending the service life of tableware (for example, the replacement time of the snap-fit anti-slip cover is less than 1 minute).