US20030061835A1

US20030061835A1 - Glass plate and method for tempering a glass plate

Info

Publication number: US20030061835A1
Application number: US10/103,987
Authority: US
Inventors: Kazushige Yoda; Yasumasa Kato; Shuichi Akada
Original assignee: Asahi Glass Co Ltd
Current assignee: AGC Inc
Priority date: 2001-03-30
Filing date: 2002-03-25
Publication date: 2003-04-03
Also published as: US7341968B2; KR100814300B1; CN1623946A; CN1266063C; KR20020077256A; MXPA02003319A; EP1245545A1; BR0201005A; JP2003171131A; CZ2002998A3; CN1208266C; US20070117707A1; CN1378983A; EP1245545B1

Abstract

A method for tempering a glass plate having a thickness of from 2 to 3 mm, and having an average linear thermal expansion coefficient of at least 88×10⁻⁷/° C. at a temperature of from 50 to 300° C. and a softening point of from 715 to 740° C., which comprises quenching the glass plate from an initial glass temperature of quenching at which the viscosity is within a range of from 10⁹to 10¹⁰poise to a temperature at which the viscosity is 10¹²poise, so that the heat transfer coefficient h (W/m²K) satisfies the following formula (1), where t (mm) is a glass plate thickness:

h>4970.5-3149.9t+550.3t ² formula (1)

Description

The present invention relates to a glass plate capable of being readily tempered by heat and a method for tempering it.

Conventionally, a glass plate made of general soda lime silicate is used as a base plate for a tempered glass by heat. Such a tempered glass is produced usually by quenching a base plate after heating it to a predetermined initial glass temperature of quenching. This quenching is carried out by blowing an air to the heated glass plate in many cases.

In recent years, for weight saving of automobiles, it is required to produce a window glass for automobiles with a further thinner glass plate. However, if the thickness of the glass plate is from 2 to 3 mm, it is required to greatly increase the degree of quenching, and a conventional method can not be applied.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a glass plate capable of being readily tempered even if it has a thickness at a level of from 2 to 3 mm, and a method for tempering a glass plate.

In order to overcome the above problem, the present invention provides a method for tempering a glass plate having a thickness of from 2 to 3 mm, and having an average linear thermal expansion coefficient of at least 88×10 ⁻⁷/° C. at a temperature of from 50 to 300° C. and a softening point of from 715 to 740° C., which comprises quenching the glass plate from an initial glass temperature of quenching at which the viscosity is within a range of from 10⁹to 10¹⁰poise to a temperature at which the viscosity is 10¹²poise, so that the heat transfer coefficient h (W/m²K) satisfies the following formula (1), where t (mm) is a glass plate thickness:

h>4970.5-3149.9t+550.3t ² formula (1)

Further, the present invention provides a method for tempering a glass plate having a thickness of from 2 to 3 mm, and having an average linear thermal expansion coefficient of at least 88×10 ⁻⁷/° C. at a temperature of from 50 to 300° C. and a softening point of from 715 to 740° C., which comprises quenching the glass plate from an initial glass temperature of quenching at which the viscosity is within a range of from 10⁹to 10¹⁰poise to a temperature at which the viscosity is 10¹²poise, so that the heat transfer coefficient h (W/m²K) satisfies the following formula (2), where t (mm) is a glass plate thickness:

h>2123.6·t ^−1.4641 formula (2)

The present invention further provides the above method for tempering a glass plate, wherein a glass plate having the following composition is tempered:



	SiO₂	66.0-74.0 mass %,
	Al₂O₃	1.5-4.0 mass %,
	CaO	7.0-10.0 mass %,
	MgO	3.8-6.0 mass %,
	Na₂O	12.6-14.6 mass % and
	K₂O	0.4-2.0 mass %,

in a total amount of these components of at least 96 mass %, and



	SiO₂+ Al₂O₃	70.0-74.4 mass %,
	CaO + MgO	12.0-14.5 mass % and
	Na₂O + K₂O	13.5-15.5 mass %.



	Al₂O₃	2.0-4.0 mass %,
	CaO + MgO	12.5-14.5 mass % and
	CaO/MgO	(mass ratio) = 1.7-2.2.

Further, the above glass plate preferably has a thickness of from 2 to 3 mm. Further, the above glass plate is preferably one produced by a conventional float glass process. Further, the above glass plate is preferably used as a window glass for automobiles.

Still further, the present invention provides a glass plate which has the following composition:



	SiO₂	66.0-74.0 mass %,
	Al₂O₃	2.0-4.0 mass %,
	CaO	7.0-10.0 mass %,
	MgO	3.8-6.0 mass %,
	Na₂O	12.6-14.6 mass % and
	K₂O	0.4-2.0 mass %,

in a total amount of these components of at least 96 mass %, and



	SiO₂+ Al₂O₃	70.0-74.0 mass %,
	CaO + MgO	12.5-14.5 mass %,
	Na₂O + K₂O	13.5-15.5 mass %, and
	CaO/MgO	(mass ratio) = 1.7-2.2.

Now, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments.

The glass plate to be used for the tempering method of the present invention has an average linear thermal expansion coefficient of at least 88×10 ⁻⁷/° C. at a temperature of from 50 to 300° C. If the average linear thermal expansion coefficient is lower than this, the glass plate tends to be poor in readily tempering properties. It is preferably at least 89×10⁻⁷/° C., particularly preferably at least 90×10⁻⁷/° C. However, a glass having an extremely high average linear thermal expansion coefficient has significantly different physical properties such as a softening point as compared with a conventionally used soda lime silicate glass in many cases. Accordingly, it is necessary to change a production process to use such a glass, such being impractical. Practically, the upper limit of the average linear thermal expansion coefficient at a temperature of from 50 to 300° C. is at a level of 92×10⁻⁷/° C., particularly at a level of 91×10⁻⁷/° C.

Further, the glass plate to be used for the tempering method of the present invention has a softening point of from 715 to 740° C. Here, the softening point is defined as a temperature measured by a test method as disclosed in JIS R3104. If the softening point exceeds this range, it may be necessary to change the existing production process. Particularly, in a case where a ceramic paint which crystallizes by heating in a thermal tempering step is used together, it may be necessary to employ a composition of a ceramic paint which is different from a conventional one, such as one which crystallizes at a temperature different from a conventional one, in some cases, such being disadvantageous. The softening point is preferably at least 720° C., particularly preferably at least 725° C. Further, it is preferably at most 735° C., particularly preferably at most 730° C.

Further, in the present invention, the glass plate is quenched from an initial glass temperature of quenching at which the viscosity is within a range of from 10 ⁹to 10¹⁰poise, to a temperature at which the viscosity is 10¹²poise, so that the heat transfer coefficient h (W/m²K) satisfies the above formula (1) or (2), where t (mm) is a glass plate thickness. Here, it is more preferred to satisfy the formula (2) than the formula (1).

If the initial glass temperature of quenching is higher than a temperature at which the viscosity is 10 ⁹poise, the glass plate is softened too much, whereby optical quality may not be maintained. Preferably, the initial glass temperature of quenching is at most a temperature at which the viscosity is 10^9.3poise. On the other hand, if the initial glass temperature of quenching is lower than a temperature at which the viscosity is 10¹⁰poise, the glass plate tends to be poor in readily tempering properties. Preferably, the initial glass temperature of quenching is at least a temperature at which the viscosity is 10^9.7poise.

Further, if the heat transfer coefficient at the time of quenching does not satisfy the above formula (1) or (2), the glass plate may not adequately be tempered.

The formulae (1) and (2) are obtained by calculating heat transfer coefficients with which predetermined midplane tensile residual stresses are caused when a glass plate having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion of 90×10 ⁻⁷/° C. is quenched from 660° C., at thicknesses of 2.25 mm, 2.5 mm and 2.8 mm, and fitting the obtained respective heat transfer coefficients with a parabola, in accordance with Narayanaswamy O.S., Journal of the American Ceramics Society, vol. 61, No.3-4 (1978), 146-152. Here, the predetermined midplane tensile residual stresses are 50 MPa with a thickness of 2.8 mm, 51 MPa with a thickness of 2.5 mm and 54 MPa with a thickness of 2.25 mm, and it can be assumed that the glass plate is adequately tempered when such a midplane tensile residual stress is caused.

Specifically, the glass plate of the present invention preferably has the following composition:

in a total amount of these components of at least 96 mass %, and



	SiO₂+ Al₂O₃	70.0-74.0 mass %,
	CaO + MgO	12.0-14.5 mass % and
	Na₂O + K₂O	13.5-15.5 mass %.

Now, the components and their upper and lower limits of the above composition will be described below.

SiO ₂is a component to secure weather resistance, and if it is less than 66.0 mass %, the weather resistance may decrease. It is more preferably at least 67.0 mass %. Further, if it exceeds 74.0 mass %, the viscosity tends to be high, and melting may be difficult. It is more preferably at most 73.0 mass %, particularly preferably at most 72.0 mass %.

Al ₂O₃is a component to secure weather resistance, and if it is less than 1.5 mass %, the weather resistance may decrease. It is more preferably at least 1.7 mass %, particularly preferably at least 1.8 mass %. Further, if it exceeds 4.0 mass %, the viscosity tends to be high, and melting may be difficult. From this viewpoint, it is more preferably at most 3.5 mass %, particularly preferably at most 3.3 mass %.

CaO is a component to improve melting ability of raw materials, and if it is less than 7.0 mass %, the melting ability may decrease. It is more preferably at least 7.4 mass %, particularly preferably at least 8.4 mass %. Further, if it exceeds 10.0 mass %, the glass is likely to be devitrified, and stability when formed into a float glass may decrease. It is more preferably at most 9.8 mass %, particularly preferably at most 9.6 mass %.

MgO is a component to improve melting ability of raw materials, and if it is less than 3.8 mass %, the melting ability may decrease. It is more preferably at least 4.0 mass %, particularly preferably at least 4.2 mass %. Further, if it exceeds 6.0 mass %, the glass is likely to be devitrified, and stability when formed into a float glass may decrease. It is more preferably most 5.8 mass %, particularly preferably at most 5.6 mass %.

Na ₂O is a component to improve melting ability of raw materials, and if it is less than 12.6 mass %, the melting ability may decrease. It is more preferably at least 12.8 mass %, particularly preferably at least 13.0 mass %. Further, if it exceeds 14.6 mass %, the weather resistance may decrease. It is more preferably at most 13.8 mass %, particularly preferably at most 13.6 mass %.

K ₂O is a component to improve melting ability of raw materials, and if it is less than 0.4 mass %, the melting ability may decrease. It is more preferably at least 0.5 mass %, particularly preferably at least 0.9 mass %. Further, if it exceeds 2.0 mass %, the weather resistance may decrease, and the cost of the glass plate tends to increase. It is more preferably at most 1.8 mass %, particularly preferably at most 1.6 mass %.

In the composition of the glass plate of the present invention, the total amount of SiO ₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, MgO, Na₂O and K₂O is preferably at least 96 mass %. If it is less than this, physical properties depart from those of a conventionally used soda lime silicate glass, and it may be necessary to significantly change a production process of a conventional glass plate.

Further, the total amount of SiO ₂and Al₂O₃is preferably at least 70.0 mass % so as to prevent lowering of the softening point, and it is preferably at most 74.0 mass % so as to prevent decrease in the coefficient of linear thermal expansion and a resulting decrease in readily tempering properties. The total amount of CaO and MgO is preferably at least 12.0 mass % so as to prevent decrease in the coefficient of linear thermal expansion and a resulting decrease in readily tempering properties, and preferably at most 14.5 mass % so as to prevent lowering of the softening point. The total amount of Na₂O and K₂O is preferably at least 13.5 mass % so as to prevent decrease in the coefficient of linear thermal expansion and a resulting decrease in readily tempering properties, and preferably at most 15.5 mass % so as to prevent lowering of the softening point.

Further, SrO or BaO may be used instead of CaO or MgO within a range of not impairing the effects of the present invention. Further, Li ₂O may be used instead of Na₂O or K₂O within a range of not impairing the effects of the present invention.

Further, to the glass plate of the present invention, as e.g. a residual component of refining agents, coloring components or components improving light transmission and absorption function, Fe ₂O₃, CoO, Se, NiO, Cr₂O₃, MnO, V₂O₅, TiO₂, CeO₂, SnO, ZnO or SO₃may be added within a range of not impairing the effects of the present invention.

As one measure indicating the readily tempering properties of a glass plate, a difference between a temperature at which the viscosity is 10 ⁹poise and a temperature at which the viscosity is 10¹²poise (hereinafter referred to as “tempering viscosity temperature difference”) is mentioned. If the tempering viscosity temperature difference is small, the readily tempering properties tend to improve. Specifically, the tempering viscosity temperature difference is preferably at most 100° C., particularly preferably at most 95° C. However, glass having an extremely small tempering viscosity temperature difference tends to have significantly different physical properties such as a softening point as compared with conventionally used soda lime silicate glass in many cases. Accordingly, it may be necessary to change a production process to use such a glass, such being impractical. Practically, the tempering viscosity temperature difference is at least 90° C.

In order to decrease the tempering viscosity temperature difference, it is effective to increase the total amount of CaO and MgO. On the other hand, if the total amount of CaO and MgO is increased, the devitrification temperature may increase, and stability in float forming may decrease. Further, the softening point may also be lowered.

Taking the above points into consideration, the composition of the glass plate of the present invention particularly preferably satisfies the following conditions:

When the above conditions are satisfied, glass capable of being readily tempered, having a relatively high softening point, can be obtained, without substantially impairing stability in float forming.

More preferably, the following conditions are satisfied:



	Al₂O₃	2.5-4.0 mass %,
	CaO + MgO	13.0-14.5 mass % and
	CaO/MgO	(mass ratio) = 1.7-2.2.

The method for producing the glass plate of the present invention is not particularly limited, but the glass plate can be produced as follows for example. A blended material is continuously supplied to a melter and heated to about 1,500° C. by e.g. heavy oil for vitrification. Then, this molten glass is refined, and then formed into a glass plate having a predetermined thickness by e.g. a float process. Then, this glass plate is cut into a predetermined shape to produce the glass plate of the present invention.

Then, the cut glass plate is subjected to a tempering treatment. The tempering treatment is carried out, as mentioned above, by heating the glass plate to a predetermined temperature and then quenching it. Simultaneously with the heating for the tempering treatment, bending or baking of a ceramic paint may be carried out.

Now, the present invention will be explained in further detail with reference to Examples. However, it should be understood that the present invention is by no means restricted to such specific Examples.

Using as materials silica sand, feldspar, dolomite, soda ash, salt cake, ferric oxide, titanium oxide and cerium oxide, a batch prepared so that an aimed composition as identified in Table 1 would be obtained was melted in a conventional type melter (an atmosphere at an O ₂concentration at a level of 2%), and the molten glass was supplied to a small size float test apparatus connected to the melter to produce a glass plate.

The compositions are shown in Table 1 together with physical properties of the glass plates. Examples are all examples of the present invention.

TABLE 1


Examples	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

*1	88	92	89	90	90	90	90	92	91
*2	725	720	726	724	722	725	721	710	727
SiO2	71.3	69.1	70.5	69.9	68.5	69.5	68.2	69.1	68.5
Al2O3	1.6	2.5	1.7	2.5	1.8	2.1	3.1	1.8	3.1
CaO	7.7	8.2	8.2	8.4	8.4	8.8	8.4	9.4	8.5
MgO	4.4	4.4	4.4	4.0	4.2	4.4	4.8	4.1	4.4
Na2O	13.3	13.9	12.9	13.9	13.7	13.3	13.5	13.8	13.5
K2O	0.9	1.1	1.5	0.5	0.8	1.1	1.1	1.0	1.2
Subtotal	99.15	99.15	99.15	99.15	97.35	99.15	99.05	99.22	99.15
SO3	0.24	0.24	0.24	0.24	0.10	0.24	0.24	0.21	0.24
Fe2O3	0.50	0.50	0.50	0.50	0.60	0.50	0.60	0.51	0.50
TiO2	0.14	0.14	0.14	0.14	0.40	0.14	0.14	0.01	0.14
CeO2	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	1.50	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
SiO2 + Al2O3	72.9	71.6	72.2	72.4	70.3	71.6	71.3	70.9	71.6
RO	12.1	12.6	12.6	12.4	12.6	13.2	13.2	13.5	12.9
R2O	14.2	15.0	14.4	14.4	14.5	14.4	14.6	14.8	14.7
CaO/MgO	1.75	1.86	1.86	2.10	2.00	2.00	1.75	2.30	1.93
T(log η = 9)	656	653	657	655	662	656	659	651	658
T(log η = 12)	561	560	562	562	569	563	566	559	565
*3	95	93	95	93	93	93	93	92	93
T(log η = 4)	1034	1021	1032	1026	1033	1024	1028	1042	1027
*4	991	1002	1007	1008	985	1025	1031	1030	1026
*5	43	19	25	18	48	−1	−3	12	1

In Table 1, the coefficient of linear thermal expansion is an average linear thermal expansion coefficient at a temperature of from 50 to 300° C. as measured in accordance with JIS R3102, and the unit is ×10[0043] ⁻⁷/° C. Further, the softening point was measured in accordance with JIS R3104, and the unit is ° C. The unit of each component is mass %. Here, the values were obtained by extrapolation except for Examples 5 and 6.
T(log η=4), T(log η=9) and T(log η=12) in Table 1 are temperatures at which the viscosity is 10[0044] ⁴poise, 10⁹poise and 10¹²poise, respectively, and the unit is ° C. They were calculated from a viscosity curve prepared based on a temperature at which the viscosity was from 10²to 10⁵poise as measured by a rotating-cylinder method, and a softening point as measured in accordance with JIS R3104. Further, the devitrification temperature was measured by examining presence or absence of devitrification by observation with an optical microscope after a glass plate sample heated in an electric furnace maintained at various temperatures was quenched, and the unit is ° C.
The readily tempering properties were evaluated from a difference between a temperature at which the viscosity was 10[0045] ⁹poise and a temperature at which the viscosity was 10¹²poise, and shown in the column “tempering viscosity temperature difference” in Table 1. It can be said that the readily tempering properties are high when the tempering viscosity temperature difference is at most 100° C., and the readily tempering properties are particularly high when it is at most 95° C.
The stability in float forming was evaluated from a difference between a devitrification temperature and a temperature at which the viscosity was 10[0046] ⁴poise, and shown in the column “difference (float formability)” in Table 1. When the temperature at which the viscosity was 10⁴poise is the same as or higher than the devitrification temperature, float forming can stably be carried out.
Then, the glass as identified in Example 8 of Table 1 was formed into a glass plate of 1,350×550 mm with a thickness of 2.5 mm, and quenched for tempering from 640° C. at a heat transfer coefficient of 648 W/m[0047] ²K.
The obtained tempered glass plate was subjected to a test wherein the position of point 3 was fractured, in accordance with JIS R3212, whereupon the number of roughest fragments was from 63 to 142, and an adequate tempering was confirmed. [0048]
As mentioned above, according to the glass plate and the method for tempering it of the present invention, a glass plate which is a thin glass plate having a thickness at a level of from 2 to 3 mm, and which has a degree of tempering which is by no means inferior to a conventional glass plate of at least 3 mm, can be obtained. Such a tempered glass plate is useful as e.g. a glass plate for vehicles such as automobiles and trains and further for buildings. [0049]
The entire disclosures of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-099201 filed on Mar. 30, 2001 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-293601 filed on Sep. 26, 2001 including specifications, claims and summaries are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. [0050]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for tempering a glass plate having a thickness of from 2 to 3 mm, and having an average linear thermal expansion coefficient of at least 88×10⁻⁷/° C. at a temperature of from 50 to 300° C. and a softening point of from 715 to 740° C., which comprises quenching the glass plate from an initial glass temperature of quenching at which the viscosity is within a range of from 10⁹to 10¹⁰poise to a temperature at which the viscosity is 10¹²poise, so that the heat transfer coefficient h (W/m²K) satisfies the following formula (1), where t (mm) is a glass plate thickness:

h>4970.5−3149.9t+550.3t formula (1)

2. A method for tempering a glass plate having a thickness of from 2 to 3 mm, and having an average linear thermal expansion coefficient of at least 88×10⁻⁷/° C. at a temperature of from 50 to 300° C. and a softening point of from 715 to 740° C., which comprises quenching the glass plate from an initial glass temperature of quenching at which the viscosity is within a range of from 10⁹to 10¹⁰poise to a temperature at which the viscosity is 10¹²poise, so that the heat transfer coefficient h (W/m²K) satisfies the following formula (2), where t (mm) is a glass plate thickness:

h>2123.6·t ^−1.4641 formula (2)

3. The method for tempering a glass plate according to claim 1, wherein a glass plate having the following composition is tempered:

in a total amount of these components of at least 96 mass %, and

4. The method for tempering a glass plate according to claim 3, wherein a glass plate having the following composition is tempered:

5. The method for tempering a glass plate according to claim 2, wherein a glass plate having the following composition is tempered:

in a total amount of these components of at least 96 mass %, and

6. The method for tempering a glass plate according to claim 5, wherein a glass plate having the following composition is tempered:

7. The method for tempering a glass plate according to claim 3, wherein the glass plate has at least one member selected from the group consisting of Fe₂O₃, CoO, Se, NiO, Cr₂O₃, MnO, V₂O₅, TiO₂, CeO₂, SnO, ZnO and SO₃added thereto.

8. The method for tempering a glass plate according to claim 5, wherein the glass plate has at least one member selected from the group consisting of Fe₂O₃, CoO, Se, NiO, Cr₂O₃, MnO, V₂O₅, TiO₂, CeO₂, SnO, ZnO and SO₃added thereto.

9. The method for tempering a glass plate according to claim 1, wherein the glass plate has a thickness of from 2 to 3 mm.

10. The method for tempering a glass plate according to claim 1, wherein the glass plate is obtained by a float process.

11. The method for tempering a glass plate according to claim 1, wherein the glass plate is used as a window glass for automobiles.

12. A glass plate which has the following composition:

in a total amount of these components of at least 96 mass %, and

13. The glass plate according to claim 12, which is obtained by tempering a glass plate having the following composition:

14. The glass plate according to claim 12, which comprises SrO or BaO instead of CaO.

15. The glass plate according to claim 12, which comprises SrO or BaO instead of MgO.

16. The glass plate according to claim 12, which has at least one member selected from the group consisting of Fe₂O₃, CoO, Se, NiO, Cr₂O₃, MnO, V₂O₅, TiO₂, CeO₂, SnO, ZnO and SO₃added thereto.

17. The glass plate according to claim 12, which has a thickness of from 2 to 3 mm.

18. The glass plate according to claim 12, which is obtained by a float process.

19. The glass plate according to claim 12, which is used as a window glass for automobiles.