Glass-Ceramic Container Transparency Fracture Toughness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional glass containers are prone to breaking under normal use conditions, such as being dropped or subjected to thermal shocks, due to their lack of strength and fracture toughness.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, highly transparent, and fracture-resistant glass-ceramic container is developed, featuring a body made of glass-ceramic material with an average wall thickness of 1 mm to 2.5 mm, which maintains transparency and achieves enhanced mechanical performance without the need for ion-exchange or tempering processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If glass containers are used to maintain transparency and chemical safety, then transparency and chemical durability are improved, but mechanical strength and fracture resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses glass-ceramic composite material that combines the transparency of glass with the fracture resistance of ceramic. The material contains crystalline phases (such as lithium disilicate, petalite, or beta-spodumene) embedded in a glass matrix, creating a composite structure that provides both optical clarity and mechanical strength. This resolves the contradiction by integrating two materials with complementary properties into a single unified material system.
2Strength
If wall thickness is increased to improve fracture resistance, then strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using glass-ceramic composition with specific crystalline phases that provide high fracture toughness. This allows the container to achieve adequate strength at reduced wall thickness (1-2.5 mm) compared to conventional glass containers that would require thicker walls for equivalent protection. The material parameter change enables thinner walls while maintaining safety.
3Strength
If ion-exchange or tempering processes are used to strengthen glass, then fracture resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating crystalline phases with specific orientations and distributions within the glass-ceramic matrix. The crystalline regions are locally enhanced to provide fracture resistance, while the overall material maintains its glass-like transparency and formability. This localized structural enhancement eliminates the need for complex surface treatment processes like ion-exchange or tempering.
Data Source
AI summary
Glass-ceramic containers and methods of making glass ceramic containers with high transparency and fracture toughness suitable for use as, for example a beverage or food container, such as for example, a baby bottle or personal hydration bottle. The glass ceramic containers may have an average wall thickness in the range of 1 mm to 2.5 mm and a fracture toughness of 1 MPa*m{circumflex over ( )}1/2 or more.