Ion exchange systems and methods for ion exchanging glass articles
An ion exchange tank is provided. The ion exchange tank includes a processing chamber and an additive chamber separated by a weir system, the weir system having a flow channel fluidly connecting the processing chamber to the additive chamber, wherein the flow is divided from the additive chamber by a first partition and divided from the processing chamber by a second partition, wherein the additive chamber comprises a solids-absorbing material disposed therein.
1. An ion exchange tank comprising:
a bottom and sidewalls that define an interior space configured to hold a molten salt bath, the interior space comprising a processing chamber and an additive chamber separated by a weir system, the weir system comprising a flow channel fluidly connecting the processing chamber to the additive chamber,
wherein the flow channel is divided from the additive chamber by a first partition and divided from the processing chamber by a second partition,
wherein the additive chamber comprises a solids-absorbing material disposed therein, the solids-absorbing material comprising a material that selectively absorbs solids from molten salt in the additive chamber, and
wherein the ion exchange tank is configured for performing an ion exchange process on a glass article at least partially immersed in a salt bath within the processing chamber.
2. The ion exchange tank of claim 1 , wherein the solids-absorbing material is disposed at the bottom of the additive chamber.
3. The ion exchange tank of claim 1 , wherein the solids-absorbing material is disposed in an opening between the additive chamber and the flow channel of the weir system.
4. The ion exchange tank of claim 1 , further comprising a porous container wherein the solids-absorbing material is disposed in the porous container and wherein molten salt in the additive chamber flows through pores of the porous container to contact the solids-absorbing material.
5. The ion exchange tank of claim 1 , further comprising a processing chamber outlet in the processing chamber and an additive chamber outlet in the additive chamber.
6. The ion exchange tank of claim 1 , further comprising a first heating apparatus external to the processing chamber and positioned to heat the processing chamber and a second heating apparatus external to the additive chamber and positioned to heat the additive chamber.
7. The ion exchange tank of claim 6 , wherein the first heating apparatus has a lower operating power than the second heating apparatus.
8. The ion exchange tank of claim 6 , comprising a plurality of first heating apparatuses and a plurality of second heating apparatuses.
9. The ion exchange tank of claim 1 , further comprising a stirring apparatus disposed in the additive chamber, the stirring apparatus being configured to stir the contents of the additive chamber.
10. The ion exchange tank of claim 1 , wherein the second partition of the weir system comprises a height substantially equal to the height of sidewalls of the ion exchange tank.
11. The ion exchange tank of claim 10 , wherein the second partition of the weir system comprises a height that is less than the height of sidewalls of the ion exchange tank.
12. The ion exchange tank of claim 1 , further comprising a pump device configured to pump salt from the processing chamber to the additive chamber.
13. The ion exchange tank of claim 1 , comprising a glass article at least partially immersed in a salt bath within the processing chamber.
14. The ion exchange tank of claim 13 , wherein the glass article comprises a glass container.