Lithium Aluminosilicate Crystallized Glass for Transparent Electronic Housings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current chemically strengthened glasses used in electronic device housings face limitations in transparency, strength, and thermal conductivity, making them inadequate for advanced design and heat dissipation requirements.
Innovation Solution
A lithium aluminosilicate crystallized glass with specific properties, including high transmittance, low haze, high Young's modulus, fracture toughness, and thermal conductivity, is chemically strengthened through a controlled ion exchange process to create a glass with enhanced surface compressive stress and depth, achieving improved scratch resistance and thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a crystallized glass is used to improve scratch resistance and strength, then the glass becomes harder and more durable, but the transparency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the crystallization temperature (570-650°C) and composition parameters (SiO2: 65-75 mass%, Al2O3: 15-30 mass%, Li2O: 2-8 mass%) to achieve optimal crystal particle size (0.5-5 μm) that balances scratch resistance and transparency. The chemical strengthening parameters (molten salt composition, treatment temperature 400-500°C, treatment time) are also optimized to enhance surface compressive stress while maintaining optical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining amorphous glass matrix with crystalline phases (specifically lithium aluminosilicate crystals). This composite structure provides both the hardness and scratch resistance of crystals and the transparency of the glass matrix, achieving a synergistic effect that neither component could provide alone.
2Temperature
If the thermal conductivity is improved by crystal precipitation, then the heat dissipation capability increases, but the transparency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes thermal conductivity parameters by controlling crystal phase composition (lithium aluminosilicate crystals with specific structure) and distribution density, achieving thermal conductivity of 1.5-3.0 W/m·K while maintaining transparency. The crystallization temperature profile and holding time are precisely adjusted to create optimal thermal pathways without excessive crystal growth that would scatter light.
3Strength
If the chemical strengthening is enhanced by increasing surface compressive stress, then the strength and durability improve, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies manufacturing by optimizing chemical strengthening parameters: using eutectic mixture of LiCl-KCl as molten salt (melting point 359°C), controlling treatment temperature at 400-500°C for 1-24 hours to achieve surface compressive stress of 300-900 MPa. The glass composition is pre-designed with specific Li2O content (2-8 mass%) to facilitate ion exchange, reducing the need for complex multi-step processes.
4Illumination intensity
If the transparency is maintained at high level, then the designability improves, but the scratch resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves high transparency (average transmittance ≥70% at 380-780 nm) while maintaining scratch resistance by controlling crystal particle size to 0.5-5 μm through precise crystallization parameter optimization (temperature 570-650°C, time 1-24 hours). The small crystal size minimizes light scattering while providing sufficient hardness enhancement.
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 resulting glass provides excellent transparency, strength, and thermal conductivity, enabling effective heat dissipation and mechanical durability for electronic device housings while maintaining design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a chemically strengthened glass which has been brought into contact with molten salt containing alkali metal ions to cause ion exchange between alkali metal ions in the glass and the alkali metal ions in the molten salt to thereby form a compressive stress layer in a surface of the glass
Implementation Method 2
A crystallized glass is a glass in which crystals have been precipitated
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention pertains to a glass for strengthening, that: has an average transmittance of at least 70% when converted to a thickness of 0.8 mm at a wavelength of 380-780 nm; has a haze value of no more than 0.7% when converted to a thickness of 0.8 mm in a C light source; has a Young's modulus of at least 85 GPa; has a fracture toughness value of at least 0.90 MPa·m1/2; a thermal conductivity at 20° C. of at least 1.3 W/m·K; and comprises a lithium aluminosilicate crystallized glass.