Edge-strengthening of flat glass with acrylate coatings

Edge-strengthening is a novel technology used to strengthen glass by applying a coating only on the edges. In this work, edge flaws of flat glass articles were examined in detail via scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging. Then the effect of using weatherable acrylate coatings on edge-strengthening of flat glass was determined. Four-point bending measurement showed that the coatings provided more than twofold increase of the mean flexural strength and a factor of about two increase of the tensile stress needed to reach 0.8% cumulative probability of failure. The coatings were found to cover the flaw zone at the glass edges and partially fill in the cracks. Different surface treatments led to different levels of strengthening, indicating the importance of coating adhesion. The coating’s thermal and mechanical properties affected the extent of strengthening effect. A coating formulation with a higher glass transition temperature tended to provide a better strengthening effect, indicating the importance of closure stress within cracks generated during film curing process. Challenges of applying the edge-strengthening technology are also discussed.