Method of strengthening glass using plasma torches and/or arc jets, and articles made according to the same
US9604877B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 2011 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2237/327
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Certain example embodiments relate to an improved method of strengthening glass substrates (e.g., soda lime silica glass substrates). In certain examples, a glass substrate may be chemically strengthened by creating an electric field within the glass. In certain cases, the chemical tempering may be performed by surrounding the substrate by a plasma including certain ions, such as Li+, K+, Mg2+, and/or the like. In some cases, these ions may be forced into the glass substrate due to the half-cycles of the electric field generated by the electrodes that formed the plasma. This may advantageously chemically strengthen a glass substrate on a substantially reduced time scale. In other example embodiments, an electric field may be set in a float bath such that sodium ions are driven from the molten glass ribbon into the tin bath, which may advantageously result in a stronger glass substrate with reduced sodium content.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.