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Cover Glass

Chemical Strengthening Process for Cover Glass: A Technical Guide

May 20269 min read

Ion Exchange Process Explained

Chemical strengthening achieves over 8x the strength of ordinary annealed glass through K⁺-Na⁺ ion exchange. This guide explains ion exchange principles, depth of layer (DOL), compressive stress (CS), drop ball testing, modulus of rupture, and compares chemical vs physical tempering for thin display cover glass.

Key Performance Metrics

  • Surface Compressive Stress (CS): 600-900 MPa typical range
  • Depth of Layer (DOL): 20-100+ microns depending on requirements
  • Central Tension (CT): Balanced for optimal strength without spontaneous breakage

Chemical vs Physical Tempering

For thin glass (≤3mm), chemical strengthening is superior to physical tempering, maintaining optical clarity while delivering higher surface compression without the distortion associated with rapid quenching.

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