Corning Incorporated
LOW TEMPERATURE LASER BLEACHING OF POLYCHROMATIC GLASS CERAMICS

Abstract:

A method of marking a glass-ceramic article includes the steps of: illuminating a glass-ceramic article with a beam from a laser, the glass-ceramic article having a thickness, T; and forming a mark in the glass-ceramic article while translating at least one of the glass-ceramic article or laser. The mark has a Contrast Ratio greater than 10. The step of forming a mark includes focusing the beam from the laser within the thickness, T, of the glass-ceramic article. The focusing of the beam results in alteration of a chemical property or a physical property of the glass-ceramic article. The mark produced by the beam from the laser extends through at least 50% of the thickness, T, of the glass-ceramic article. The glass-ceramic article may have a global temperature less than 100.degree. C. during the marking process and does not fracture as the mark is formed.