Preparation of chemically strengthened glass with varying B2O3/SiO2 ratios using spodumene mineral residue

This study pioneers the use of spodumene mineral residue as a primary raw material for producing chemically strengthened glass, addressing concerns related to sustainable waste management. The resulting glasses achieve over 90% transparency at 550 nm, with compressive stress exceeding 1000 MPa and Vickers hardness surpassing 6.6 GPa. As the B2O3/SiO2 ratio increases, the depth of the compressive stress layer (DOL) of the samples shows a trend of initially decreasing and then stabilizing (DOL: 16-24 mu m). The compressive stress (CS) of all samples >1000 MPa. Analysis reveals that [BO4] units hinder ion exchanges while [BO3] promote strengthening. Furthermore, as the B2O3/SiO2 ratio increases, the refractive index rises, thermal stability decreases, and density initially increases before decreasing, while the trend for molar volume is opposite to that of density. This study provides a potential application solution for the treatment of spodumene mineral residue, promoting green and circular economic development.