METHOD OF HARDENING ARTICLES MADE BY ION EXCHANGE PROCESS FROM VITROCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL OF β-SPODUMENE COMPOSITION Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC C03C10/12 C03C21/00 

FIELD: production of articles for radio engineering field from vitrocrystalline materials of β-spodumene composition by ceramic technology.

SUBSTANCE: method of ion-exchange hardening includes treatment of article by sodium nitrate melt followed by inertial cooling. Prior to treatment of article, a layer of sodium nitrate, 0.5-2.0 mm thick in form of homogeneous paste is applied on article and is dried for 0.8-1.0 h at temperature of 80-100°C and then at temperature of 525-600°C continued for 0.75-1.0 h; process of ion exchange hardening is repeated for 3-4 times. Proposed method increases increment of strength up to 48%. Procedure is facilitated and require no complex engineering structures at retained quality of surface hardening which is very important at series production.

EFFECT: enhanced strength of articles; enhanced operational reliability; facilitated procedure of ion exchange hardening.

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