US4110096A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of precipitation of a dopant in a porous silicate glass
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-11-26
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Granted: 1978-08-29
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Expires: 1995-11-26
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a new glass material applicable in those situations where thermal and/or mechanical shock would limit the use of other glass materials, presently available. Dopants are deposited into the interconnected pores of a porous glass in a non-uniform manner such that upon consolidation and cooling the final article has its surface under compressive stress. Dopants may also be added to control color and other appearance features.
Inventors
- 👤 Pedro B. Macedo
- 👤 Theodore A. Litovitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:59
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C21/00; C03C11/00; C03C11/005; C03C13/00; C03C13/04; C03C13/045; C03C13/046; C03C15/00; C03C23/00; C03C23/0095; C03C3/00; C03C3/04; C03C3/076; C03C3/089; C03B; C03B2201/00; C03B2201/06; C03B2201/08; C03B2201/10; C03B2201/30; C03B2201/32; C03B2201/34; C03B2201/50; C03B2201/54; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P40/00; Y02P40/50; Y02P40/57
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A process for producing a rigid glass product which comprises immersing a porous silicate glass having interconnected pores in a liquid solution of dopant in a liquid solvent therefor to stuff the pores of said glass with said solution, said dopant being precipitatable from said solution, precipitating the dopant to provide a distribution of precipitated dopant within the pores of said glass, subsequently removing solvent from said pores while avoiding destruction of the integrity of the porous glass and avoiding upsetting said distribution of said dopant in said pores, and heating to collapse said pores containing said dopant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A process for producing a rigid glass product which comprises immersing a porous silicate glass having interconnected pores in a liquid solution of dopant in a liquid solvent therefor to stuff the pores of said glass with said solution, said dopant being precipitatable from said solution, precipitating the dopant to provide a distribution of precipitated dopant within the pores of said glass, subsequently removing solvent from said pores while avoiding destruction of the integrity of the porous glass and avoiding upsetting said distribution of said dopant in said pores, and heating to collapse said pores containing said dopant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dopant precipitating step is carried out before evaporation of any solvent occurs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said subsequent removal of solvent is by evaporation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said glass before said precipitating step is immersed in a solvent for the dopant to remove at least a portion of said dopant from predetermined areas of said glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said immersing step comprises successively immersing said glass in at least two successive solutions containing successively lower concentrations of dopant to provide in different portions of the pores of said glass different concentrations of said dopant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dopant is substantially completely precipitated prior to removing solvent from said pores.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dopant is caused to precipitate by cooling said solution within said pores.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dopant is caused to precipitate by chemical precipitation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process as claimed in claim 8 wherein said dopant is precipitated by immersing said glass in a solvent in which said dopant is less soluble than the initial solvent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dopant is precipitated by a combination of cooling said solution in the pores of the glass and by chemical precipitation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dopant is precipitated by cooling and evaporating said solution in the pores of said glass.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein after said precipitating step and before said solvent removing step said glass is immersed in additional solvent for said dopant to reduce the concentration of said dopant in said pores of predetermined areas of said glass.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
Process as claimed in claim 12 wherein after said precipitating step and before immersing said glass in said additional solvent a portion of said solvent of said solution in said pores is removed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
Process as claimed in claim 6 wherein after immersion in said dopant solution and before said precipitating step said glass is immersed in a solvent for said dopant so as to change the concentration of said dopant in said pores of predetermined areas of said glass.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solvent is water and is displaced with an organic solvent before the step of removing solvent from said pores.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dopant is a coloring dopant and wherein said step of removing solvent comprises subjecting said glass stuffed with said dopant solution to temperatures in the range of 50° C. to 150° C. below the glass transition temperature of the undoped consolidated glass in a reactive atmosphere for controlling the oxidation state of said coloring dopant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of removing solvent from the pores of said glass is commenced in a vacuum at a temperature below room temperature.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solvent is water and the removal of said solvent from the pores of said glass is commenced in a desiccator at or about room temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein after the bulk of the solvent is removed during the step of removing solvent, the glass is slowly heated at less than 100° C./hr. up to a temperature in the range of 50 to 150° C. below the glass transition temperature of the undoped consolidated glass.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dopant contains a transition metal ion or a rare earth metal ion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dopant contains cesium, strontium, thorium, uranium or barium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solution contains more than one dopant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
Process as claimed in claim 5 wherein each said successive solution contains a dopant not contained by another said successive solution.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said subsequent removal of solvent is by displacement by another solvent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
Process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dopant is selected from the class consisting of oxides or salts of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, noble metals to the extent not included as transition metals, copper, zinc, boron, aluminum, thalium, germanium, tin, lead, phosphorous, arsenic, antimony and bismuth.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-08-28 | 1982-02-27 | 1982-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-08-28 | 1986-02-27 | 1986-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-08-28 | 1990-02-27 | 1990-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |