Thermally Prestressable Borosilicate Glass for Fire Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current borosilicate glasses lack the ability to be processed into fire protection safety glasses with a pane thickness of less than 6 mm, and existing thermally toughened soda-lime glasses face limitations in fire resistance due to their low softening temperature and thermal expansion coefficients, leading to premature deformation and loss of fire protection effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A borosilicate glass composition characterized by specific constituent phases, including reed mergnerite, potassium reedmergnerite, cordierite, anorthite, diopside, and boron trioxide, is developed to optimize thermal expansion coefficients, processing points, and modulus of elasticity, allowing for higher thermal toughenability and reduced density, enabling the production of fire-resistant safety glasses with a thickness of less than 6 mm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If thermally toughened soda-lime glass is used for fire protection, then fire resistance time can be achieved (30-60 minutes), but the glass exceeds its softening temperature and deforms during fire exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the glass by incorporating specific amounts of boron oxide (10-25 mol%), aluminum oxide (5-20 mol%), magnesium oxide (5-15 mol%), and calcium oxide (5-15 mol%) to raise the softening temperature above 1000°C while maintaining fire resistance performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite glass system combining multiple oxide components (silicon dioxide, boron oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, sodium oxide, and potassium oxide) to achieve both high fire resistance and high softening temperature that cannot be obtained with single-component glasses
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the edge cover area is increased to achieve higher fire resistance, then fire protection time increases, but thermal expansion stresses cause the glass to break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the coefficient of thermal expansion parameter to 3.0-5.0 ppm/K by adjusting the glass composition, which reduces thermal expansion stresses during fire exposure and allows larger edge covers to be used without causing glass breakage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different functional zones within the glass structure through compositional optimization, with the bulk composition controlling thermal expansion characteristics and surface composition providing mechanical strength and thermal resistance
3Reliability
If borosilicate glass composition is optimized for high thermal toughenability, then fire resistance and strength improve, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific compositional parameter ranges (10-25 mol% boron oxide, 5-20 mol% aluminum oxide, etc.) that balance thermal performance with manufacturability, ensuring the glass can be produced using conventional float glass processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses conventional float glass manufacturing processes with modified composition rather than developing entirely new manufacturing methods, achieving improved performance through compositional optimization within existing technological capabilities
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The optimized borosilicate glass composition achieves enhanced thermal toughenability, increased fire resistance, and reduced weight, enabling the production of safety glasses that meet stringent fire protection standards while maintaining high strength and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a desired coefficient of thermal expansion below and a high coefficient of thermal expansion above the glass transformation range
Implementation Method 2
The invention relates to borosilicate glasses, in particular flat glasses, which have optimal thermal toughenability
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to borosilicate glasses, in particular flat glasses, which exhibit optimal thermal tempering properties and can be used as thermally tempered high-strength flat glass products for safety glazing, among other applications, in the construction industry, for vehicle glazing, and for home tech applications. In particular, they are characterized by a high modulus of elasticity, a desired coefficient of thermal expansion below and a high coefficient of thermal expansion above the glass transformation range, as well as desired values for the upper cooling point and the processing point.