Borosilicate Glass Container Surface Sodium Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Type I glass containers, despite being the most chemically resistant, can still corrode and release harmful species like sodium, barium, and aluminum, posing health risks, especially when storing aggressive or unstable pharmaceutical solutions, and existing barrier coatings do not always provide sufficient chemical resistance.
Innovation Solution
A borosilicate glass container with a bare inner surface having a sodium atomic fraction of less than or equal to 2.0% up to 300 nm depth, and optionally treated with sodium sulphate grains for easy surface inspection and washing, to enhance chemical resistance without additional coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Type I borosilicate glass is used for container walls, then chemical resistance is improved, but harmful species (sodium, barium, aluminum, boron) are still released into the solution posing health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a modified surface layer (0-300 nm depth) with different chemical composition than the bulk glass. This surface layer has reduced sodium content (≤2.0 at.%) and enhanced chemical resistance specifically where it contacts the pharmaceutical solution, while the bulk glass composition remains unchanged. This localized modification prevents harmful species release at the critical interface without compromising the overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the glass surface by controlling the atomic fraction of sodium and other elements in the top 300 nm layer. By adjusting these compositional parameters (Na ≤2.0 at.%, SiO2 ≥90 at.%, B2O3 ≤10 at.%, Al2O3 ≤5 at.%) in the surface region, the patent achieves superior chemical resistance and reduced extractable species while maintaining Type I glass classification.
2Reliability
If barrier coatings (silica or silicone-based) are applied to the inner glass surface, then chemical resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the barrier function from external coatings and integrates it directly into the glass matrix itself. By modifying the glass composition and creating a chemically resistant surface layer within the glass wall, the patent eliminates the need for separate barrier coating applications. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining excellent chemical resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The glass container serves its own protection needs through its inherently modified surface structure. The chemically resistant surface layer (0-300 nm) is formed as an integral part of the glass wall during manufacturing, enabling the container to protect itself without requiring additional external coatings or complex multi-step processing.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional soda-lime-silica glass is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but chemical resistance becomes insufficient for aggressive pharmaceutical solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the glass composition to achieve Type I borosilicate glass characteristics (high SiO2 ≥90 at.%, B2O3 ≤10 at.%, Na2O ≤2.0 at.%) while maintaining manufacturing efficiency. This parameter optimization provides superior chemical resistance comparable to expensive specialized glasses, yet remains compatible with standard manufacturing processes.
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 container achieves excellent chemical resistance with reduced release of extractable species, making it suitable for sensitive pharmaceutical and diagnostic substances while being cost-effective and easy to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
said glass wall having an atomic fraction of sodium, as measured by X-ray induced photoelectron spectrometry, that is lower than or equal to 2.0 at. % up to a depth of at least 300 nm from the surface of the inner face
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a container (1) comprising a glass wall (2) defining a receiving cavity (3) for receiving a substance, in particular for a pharmaceutical or diagnostic substance, the glass wall (2) having an inner face (4) located facing the receiving cavity (3), the container (1) being characterized in that the wall (2) is made of borosilicate glass, the innerface (4) forming a bare glass surface intended to come into direct contact with the substance, the glass wall (2) having an atomic fraction of sodium, measured by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, which is less than or equal to 2.0 at. % up to a depth of at least 300 nm from the surface of the inner face (4).