Method of Increasing the Strength And/or Hardness of a Glass Article

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention relates to a method for significantly increasing the strength and hardness of glass articles, such as those made from soda-lime or borosilicate glass. The process involves three main steps: heating the glass to a temperature above its transformation point, rapidly cooling it (shock cooling) to a temperature below this point, and then performing an ion exchange process at this lower temperature. The method can be applied to cost-effective, standard glass types and achieves high levels of mechanical strength in much shorter times than traditional methods.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Manufacturing durable drinking glasses, bottles, vases, and other household glassware.
• Production of lightweight and strong glass plates for windows, displays, or electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, or monitors.
• Creating kitchenware such as bowls or plates that are more resistant to breakage and scratching.
• Mass production of robust glass containers for the food and beverage industry.
• Glass items used in public spaces or transportation where higher safety and reduced breakage risk are critical.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Increases glass strength by several times compared to untreated glass, particularly flexural strength and hardness.
• Allows the use of inexpensive, commonly available glass types instead of costly specialty glass, reducing production costs.
• Significantly reduces processing time for strengthening glass (as short as 15–45 minutes) compared to traditional chemical hardening methods (8–36 hours).
• Permits manufacturing of thinner and lighter glass products without sacrificing strength, leading to material savings and lighter end products.
• Simple, efficient process that combines advantages of both thermal and chemical glass strengthening, suitable for industrial mass production.
• High flexibility: works for glass articles with various wall thicknesses and complex shapes.
• Results in glassware that is more resistant to scratches and everyday wear.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to methods of increasing the strength, especially the flexural strength, of a glass article produced from a glass material. The method includes the step of heating the glass article to a first temperature above the transformation temperature of the glass material, the step of shock cooling the glass article to a second temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass material, and the step of performing an ion exchange process at the second temperature.