Chemically Strengthened Glass Surface Etching for Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glass articles used in electronic devices and construction materials often lack sufficient strength to withstand external impacts, particularly in thin and lightweight applications.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the preparation of a glass article with a glass bulk and a low-refractive surface layer, followed by etching or polishing to remove the low-refractive surface layer, which includes cleaning with acid and base solutions to enhance strength and reduce surface defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the glass article is made thin to reduce weight and improve portability, then weight and ease of carrying are improved, but strength and impact resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies chemical strengthening by immersing the glass in a molten salt bath containing potassium ions, which causes ion exchange where smaller sodium ions in the glass are replaced by larger potassium ions. This parameter change in ionic composition creates compressive stress in the surface layer, significantly enhancing the strength of thin glass articles to withstand external impacts while maintaining their lightweight nature.
2Strength
If the low-refractive surface layer is removed by etching to improve strength, then strength and impact resistance are improved, but surface quality and optical properties may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary chemical strengthening by ion exchange before the etching process. This preliminary action of creating compressive stress in the surface layer ensures that even after the low-refractive surface layer is removed by etching, the glass article maintains high strength and impact resistance, compensating for any potential surface quality changes.
3Strength
If chemical strengthening by ion exchange is performed to improve strength, then strength and impact resistance are improved, but a low-refractive surface layer is formed which may affect optical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the low-refractive surface layer formed during chemical strengthening through an etching process using acid or base solutions. This extraction of the surface layer eliminates the optical interference caused by the low-refractive index region, restoring optimal optical properties while preserving the underlying compressive stress structure that provides enhanced strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition of the surface layer by removing the low-refractive index region through etching. This parameter change in surface composition eliminates optical interference while maintaining the compressive stress profile in the subsurface region, thereby preserving both optical properties and mechanical strength.
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 method produces a glass article with improved strength and reduced surface defects, enhancing its ability to withstand external impacts while maintaining transparency and reducing weight.
Implementation Method 1
cleaning the low-refractive surface layer with an acid solution
Implementation Method 2
cleaning the low-refractive surface layer with a base solution after the cleaning it with the acid solution
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for producing a glass article is provided. The method for producing a glass article, the method including preparing a glass to be processed, the glass comprising a glass bulk and a low-refractive surface layer disposed on the glass bulk, and etching away the low-refractive surface layer to form an etched glass, wherein the etching away the low-refractive surface layer comprises: cleaning the low-refractive surface layer with an acid solution; and cleaning the low-refractive surface layer with a base solution after the cleaning it with the acid solution.