# US 2014/0360230 A1 · Method for the chemical strengthening of glass > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360230 A1 - Document ID: US20140360230A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/248,975 - Filed: 2014-04-09 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-06 - Assignees: Gyrotron Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Gyrotron Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Vladislav Sklyarevich; Mykhaylo Shevelev - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360230A1 ## CPC - C03C 21/008: {in solid phase, e.g. using pastes, powders} - C03C 23/0065: {by microwave radiation} - C03C: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS ## Abstract A method for strengthening a glass article. The method includes exposing a selected area of the glass article to a beam of electromagnetic radiation in order to diffuse first alkali metal ions in the selected area out of the glass article and to diffuse second alkali metal ions on a surface of the glass article and in the selected area into the glass article. The second alkali metal ions are larger than the first alkali metal ions. The beam of electromagnetic radiation heats first alkali metal ions and the second alkali metal ions to a temperature that is greater than that of a glass network of the glass article. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for strengthening a glass article, the method comprising: exposing a selected area of the glass article to a beam of electromagnetic radiation in order to diffuse first alkali metal ions in the selected area out of the glass article and to diffuse second alkali metal ions on a surface of the glass article and in the selected area into the glass article, the second alkali metal ions being larger than the first alkali metal ions, wherein the beam of electromagnetic radiation heats first alkali metal ions and the second alkali metal ions to a temperature that is greater than that of a glass network of the glass article. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, wherein the beam of electromagnetic radiation includes: a frequency that is within a range of a resonate frequency of the first alkali metal ions and the second alkali metal ions in the glass network; and a power density that is great enough cause the diffusion of the second alkali metal ions and the first alkali metal ions without heating the glass article higher than a strain point of the glass article. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of strengthening a glass article according to claim 2, wherein the beam of electromagnetic radiation further includes a power distribution having a uniformity that is greater than a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening the glass article according to claim 1, further comprising melting a source of the second alkali metal ions during the exposure of the glass article to the beam of electromagnetic radiation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method for strengthening the glass article according to claim 4, further comprising: applying the source of the second alkali metal ions onto the surface of the glass article; and drying the glass article before exposing the glass article to the beam of electromagnetic radiation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, wherein the beam of electromagnetic radiation has a Gaussian power distribution of 99% or more. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, further comprising using a gyrotron to project the beam of electromagnetic radiation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 6, further comprising using a gyrotron to project the beam of electromagnetic radiation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, wherein exposing the glass article to the beam of electromagnetic radiation includes projecting the beam of electromagnetic radiation through a source of the second alkali metal ions and into the glass article. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, wherein exposing the glass article to the beam of electromagnetic radiation includes projecting the beam of electromagnetic radiation through the glass article and into a source of the second alkali metal ions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, wherein exposing the glass article to the beam of electromagnetic radiation includes pulsing the beam of electromagnetic radiation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, wherein the glass article is selected from among sodium aluminosilicate glass, lithium aluminosilicate glass, and soda lime glass. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, wherein the selected area of the glass article is an entire surface of the glass article. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, wherein the selected area is less than an entire surface of the glass article. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, wherein characteristics of the electromagnetic beam permit the first alkali metal ions and the second alkali metal ions to be heated without heating the glass article to a temperature that is greater than a strain point of the glass article. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of the beam of electromagnetic radiation is selected from a range of 23.8 GHz to 300 GHz. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, further comprising re-exposing the selected area to the beam of the electromagnetic radiation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 1, further comprising cooling the selected area during the exposing of the selected area of the glass article to the beam of electromagnetic radiation. ### Claim 19 A method for strengthening a glass article, the method comprising: applying, onto a surface of the glass article that has first alkali metal ions therein, a source of second alkali metal ions that are larger than the first alkali metal ions; performing an ion exchange by penetrating the source of the second alkali metal ions and a surface of the glass article with electromagnetic radiation that includes: a narrowband frequency that is selected from a range of 23.8 GHz to 300 GHz; and a power density that creates an electrical field within the glass article that is strong enough to perform the ion exchange without heating the glass article to a temperature that is higher than a strain point of the glass article; and controlling the electromagnetic radiation so that the narrowband frequency is within a range of a resonant frequency of the first alkali metal ions and the second alkali metal ions in the glass network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method for strengthening a glass article according to claim 19, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is substantially monochromatic so that substantially all of the electromagnetic radiation has a same frequency.