METHOD OF HARDENING ARTICLES MADE FROM GLASS CRYSTALLINE MATERIAL OF BETA-SPODUMENE COMPOSITION BY ION EXCHANGE Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC C03C10/12 

FIELD: production of parts for radio industry from glass crystalline materials of β-spodumene composition obtained by ceramic technology.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method of ion exchange hardening includes treatment in sodium nitrate melt. Prior to treatment, article is kept above bath filled with sodium nitrate at temperature of 490-550°C for 2-5 h, after which it is treated in sodium nitrate melt at temperature of 400-420°C for 0.3-0.5 h. Then article is withdrawn from melt and cooled to temperature of 100-50°C after which it is subjected to repeated treatment in sodium nitrate melt at temperature of 420-440°C continued for 0.2-0.3 h. Proposed method provides for relative increase of strength up to 40%. Proposed method gives important advantage at series production at high level of strength at retained quality of hardened surface.

EFFECT: enhanced structural strength and operational reliability of articles.

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