Ion-Implanted Glass for Vacuum Insulated Glazing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum-insulated glass units face issues with glass pane durability due to adverse contact with spacers during high-impact events and thermal stress, leading to potential cracking and pressure increase within the evacuated space.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a strengthened portion on the inner surface of the glass panes by implanting nitrogen, carbon, or argon ions, combined with a low-emittance coating and tempered glass, to enhance the mechanical properties and reduce interactions with spacers, thereby maintaining the vacuum and insulation integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If internal spacers are used to separate the glass panes, then the structural stability and spacing between panes is improved, but the glass panes become vulnerable to cracking and damage during high-impact events due to direct contact with spacers
Solution Approach 1:
The glass pane is given different properties in different regions: the bulk glass maintains its original properties while the surface layer receives ion implantation treatment to create a strengthened portion with enhanced mechanical properties. This localized treatment allows the glass to resist spacer contact damage without compromising the overall spacing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The ion implantation strengthening is performed in advance on the glass panes before they are assembled into the VIG unit. This preliminary action prepares the glass surface to withstand future high-impact events and spacer contact, preventing cracking before it occurs.
2Strength
If the glass panes are made thicker to increase strength, then the resistance to impact and stress is improved, but the thermal insulation performance deteriorates due to increased conductive heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the overall thickness of the glass pane, the strengthening is applied locally to the surface layer through ion implantation. This allows the bulk of the glass to remain thin (maintaining good thermal insulation) while the surface layer provides the necessary mechanical strength to resist impact and stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical properties of the glass surface are changed through ion implantation, which modifies the surface structure and creates compressive stress. This parameter change enables the thin glass surface to withstand high impacts without needing to increase thickness, thus maintaining thermal insulation performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional glass panes are used without surface treatment, then the manufacturing cost and process complexity remain low, but the durability and resistance to spacer contact damage are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The glass surface undergoes ion implantation treatment that changes its physical and chemical parameters, creating a strengthened layer with enhanced durability. This treatment is applied during the manufacturing process, maintaining relative simplicity while significantly improving the glass's resistance to spacer contact damage and high-impact events.
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 ion-implanted glass panes demonstrate improved resistance to cracking and stress, maintaining the vacuum and insulation performance over time, reducing the risk of pressure increase and fogging, and enhancing the overall durability and energy efficiency of the vacuum insulated glazing units.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the inner surface of the first glass pane comprises a strengthened portion that comprises a plurality of implanted ions
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum insulated glazing unit comprising a first glass pane and a second glass pane arranged in parallel, the second glass pane spaced apart from the first glass pane, wherein each glass pane comprises inner and outer surfaces, wherein the inner surfaces define a gap therebetween; a plurality of spacers arranged in the gap between of the inner surface of the first glass pane and the inner surface of the second glass pane; and a side seal material attached around a periphery of the first glass pane and the second glass pane, thereby forming a sealed cavity between the glass panes, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the first glass pane comprises a strengthened portion that comprises a plurality of implanted ions, wherein the plurality of implanted ions are nitrogen ions, carbon ions, argon ions, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.