Corning Incorporated
Laser controlled ion exchange process and glass articles formed therefrom

Abstract:

A method for forming ion-exchanged regions in a glass article by contacting an ion source with at least one surface of the glass article, forming a first ion-exchanged region in the glass article by heating a first portion of the glass article with a laser, and forming a second ion-exchanged region in the glass article. Characteristics of the first ion-exchanged region may be different from characteristics of the second ion-exchanged region. A depth of the ion-exchanged region may be greater than 1 .mu.m. A glass article including a first ion-exchanged region, and a second ion-exchanged region having different characteristics from the first ion-exchanged region. The thickness of the glass article is less than or equal to about 0.5 mm.