When it comes to silicate glass, toughness and scratch resistance are two critical factors that determine its applications. This article delves into an innovative type of silicate glass that not only offers enhanced toughness but also superior scratch resistance. The secret ingredient? Rubidium ions.

Materials Required

• Silicate glass samples
• Rubidium chloride (RbCl) or other rubidium salts
• Furnace
• Raman Spectroscope
• NMR Spectroscope
• Molten salt bath

Step 1: Preparation of Molten Salt Bath

1. Prepare a molten salt bath containing rubidium chloride (RbCl) or other rubidium salts.
2. Heat the salt bath to a temperature between 400-500°C.

Step 2: Ion-Exchange Process

1. Immerse the silicate glass samples into the molten salt bath.
2. Maintain the temperature and allow the ion-exchange to occur for a period ranging from 4 to 24 hours, depending on the desired level of rubidium ion incorporation.

Step 3: Cooling and Removal

1. After the ion-exchange process is complete, gradually cool down the molten salt bath to room temperature.
2. Carefully remove the silicate glass samples and clean them to remove any residual salt.

Step 4: Thermodynamic Stability Assessment

1. Measure the glass transition temperature (Tg) using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to assess the thermodynamic stability of the glass.

Step 5: Structural Characterization

1. Use Raman spectroscopy to analyze the structural changes in the glass matrix.
2. Employ NMR spectroscopy to further confirm the reduction in non-bridging oxygen atoms and the formation of more robust Si-O-Si bonds.

Step 6: Mechanical Testing

1. Conduct mechanical tests such as tensile strength and scratch resistance to evaluate the enhanced mechanical properties of the glass.

Step 7: Application Testing

1. Test the rubidium-ion-doped silicate glass in specific applications like optoelectronics or aerospace components to assess its performance under real-world conditions.