How can I increase the mechanical strength of glass?

The brittleness of glass, as well as the presence of microcracks and inhomogeneous zones in the glass, contribute to its low actual strength. Because glass does not flow when stressed, the microcracks on the surface expand dramatically, and the stress is concentrated to the point of rupture. To increase the mechanical strength of glass, annealing, tempering, surface treatment and coating, micro crystallization, and other composite materials can be used. These methods can greatly improve the mechanical strength of glass, with some increasing its bending strength exponentially and others increasing it dozens of times. Click here for our collection of glass machine.

When using high-temperature glass, it will inevitably be subjected to external impact. To withstand this impact, a good mechanical property is required. At the same time, the mechanical properties of glass can help to reduce breakage during the use, processing, and transportation processes. Mechanical property enhancement has a significant impact on the high-temperature-resistant glass. Mechanical strength is the most important indicator of its mechanical properties, with high compressive and low tensile strengths. There are several methods for increased mechanical strength, which are as follows:

1. Enhance the hardness. Cracks appear on the glass surface, and even if they are difficult to detect with the naked eye, micro-cracks are extremely easy to break. Of course, cracks take the brunt of the appearance of scratches. In addition to the processing process to avoid mechanical damage, a high-temperature glass hardness (primarily wear-resistant hardness) is used.

2. Enhance chemical stability. The excellent chemical stability of the high-temperature-resistant glass is the second approach to preventing surface cracks. Sight glass, in particular, is frequently exposed to a range of conditions that cause chemical deterioration. As a result, the chemical stability of the glass at the water-resistant level (ISO 720–85) is necessary. Poor chemical stability of the glass surface will erode to develop microcracks, causing the glass's mechanical strength to decline dramatically, even down to the original 1/20, which is also one of the reasons why some defective glass products are easily broken after forming.

3. The composition of homogenized glass. Uneven glass composition will result in a significant reduction in mechanical strength. The appearance of macroscopic defects such as stones, stripes, and gas lines in glass is incredibly easy to detect, but it is difficult to erase in manufacturing, which has the largest impact on the stone's strength. Production must be properly monitored. Component faults in microscopic inhomogeneity are difficult to detect with the naked eye and are usually visible under a 5000x electron microscope. Small composition changes generated by melting can lead the glass to become brittle, which can only be rectified by a series of process actions such as increasing the melting temperature. Another source of microscopic inhomogeneity is incorrect high-temperature resistant glass composition selection and improper heat treatment due to phase separation.

4. Reduce your stress. Stress is created by a decrease in mechanical strength, which primarily refers to internal glass stress induced by composition or temperature differences. This has a significant impact on the strength of high-temperature glass. The temperature difference caused by internal stress and the glass expansion coefficient is due to the large high-temperature glass that must be processed repeatedly to reduce its internal stress; thus, to minimize the temperature difference, choose a glass with a low expansion coefficient and anneal it thoroughly.

5. Enhance the appearance. The design of high-temperature-resistant glass has a considerable impact on its strength; a simple shape and consistent thickness can significantly improve the glass's strength. Because safety performance criteria are highly respected, high-temperature glass thickness has been increasing in recent years.

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