Abstract:
For application in light-weight bulletproof glass, the borosilicate glass was strengthened by ion exchange and crystallization. Basically, the mechanical properties of borosilicate glass were better than soda-lime-silicate (SLS) glass. Properties of ion exchanged glass heated at different conditions were measured. The Vickers hardness, fracture toughness and bending strength of ion exchanged samples were 821.8 Hv, 1.3404 MPa∙m1/2, and 953 MPa, which is about 120%, 180%, and 450% higher than parent borosilicate glass, respectively. The borosilicate glass was heated by 2-step crystallization. As a result, the Vickers hardness, fracture toughness and bending strength of crystallized samples were 735.7 Hv, 1.0779 MPa∙m1/2, and 493 MPa, which is about 17%, 45%, and 149% higher than parent borosilicate glass, respectively. The results prove that light-weight bullet proof can be fabricated by ion exchange technique of borosilicate glass. The mechanical properties of borosilicate glass were increasing with additions of ZrO2 (until 7.5 wt. %). Transmittance of ion exchanged and crystallized borosilicate glasses were decreased slightly at the visible range.