Research Projects

Global demand for strong display glass is increasing day by day as the displays are becoming an integral part of different electronic and electrical devices. Through this research, we plan to develop scratch-resistant, high-strength, transparent nanocrystalline lithium aluminosilicate (LAS) glass-ceramics (GC) to replace the traditional soda lime silicate (SLS) glass-based displays. Conventional glass displays have lower strength and are prone to breakage on moderate impact. In order to increase the strength of the displays, glass-ceramics containing nanocrystalline precipitates in the glass matrix are now being studied globally to enhance mechanical properties. In view of the above, our study will focus on the development of glass-ceramics containing lithium aluminosilicate (LAS) nanocrystals that possess unique properties, such as high strength, superior hardness, high elastic modulus, higher fracture toughness and high thermal shock resistance. Further, the chemical toughening of glass-ceramics surfaces will lead to further strengthening, resulting in high impact resistance. In this work, the major thrust will be on the development of high strength transparent nanocrystalline glass-ceramics by composition optimization using molecular dynamic simulation technique followed by chemical strengthening. Despite huge demands for electronic displays as demands for crack-resistant cover glasses are ever-increasing, no research is being conducted in India and no such glasses/GCs are manufactured in the country so far. Moreover, many crystal structures such as β-spodumene (LiAlSi2O6), β-eucryptite (LiAlSiO4) and virgilite (Li0.5Al0.5Si2.5O6) crystals can be derived in glass matrix by varying ratios of Li2O, Al2O3, and SiO2 in the compositions. There is a huge scope for basic studies on the combination of crystals, their volume percent presence, and its effect on mechanical properties. Ion exchange mechanisms of LAS glass-ceramics are not yet explored and there are ample scopes for fundamental studies.

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