Fabrication of lightweight and thin bulletproof windows using borosilicate glass strengthened by ion exchange

Borosilicate glass was strengthened by ion-exchange for lightweight bulletproof windows. The conditions for ion-exchange for strengthening borosilicate glass (3, 4 and 6 mm thick) produced the ultimate mechanical properties at 560 degrees C for each duration of 10, 12 and 15 mm. The flexural strength values of the ion-exchanged glass with thickness of 3, 4 and 6 mm were 0.745, 0.783 and 0.810 GPa, respectively, which were about 2.8 times higher than parent glass. A lightweight bulletproof window could thus be manufactured from strengthened glass with a ballistic velocity of 889.4 m/s. The transmittance of bulletproof windows (over 86%) satisfied the international standards. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.