Glass-based articles that include a hydrogen-containing layer extending from the surface of the article to a depth of layer. The hydrogen-containing layer includes a hydrogen concentration that decreases from a maximum hydrogen concentration to the depth of layer. The glass-based articles exhibit a high Vickers indentation cracking threshold. Glass compositions that are selected to promote the formation of the hydrogen-containing layer and methods of forming the glass-based article are also provided.

Glass-based articles that include a compressive stress layer extending from a surface of the glass-based article to a depth of compression are formed by exposing glass-based substrates to water vapor containing environments. The glass-based substrates include low amounts of phosphorous. The methods of forming the glass-based articles may include elevated pressures and/or multiple exposures to water vapor containing environments.

Glass-based articles that include a compresive stress layer extending from a surface of the glass-based article to a depth of compression are formed by exposing glass-based substrates to water vapor containing environments. The methods of forming the glass-based articles may include elevated pressures and/or multiple exposures to water vapor containing environments.

Methods for manufacturing and/or reinforcing a carbon-containing glass material are disclosed. The method includes supplying a non-thermal equilibrium plasma including a plurality of positive charged gas particles and a plurality of ionized inert gas particles into a reaction chamber, and accelerating at least the plurality of positive charged gas particles through the reaction chamber based on application of an external electric potential to the non-thermal equilibrium plasma. The method includes bombarding a surface-to-air interface of the glass material with the accelerated positive charged gas particles and the ionized inert gas particles, and forming an interphase region in the glass material in response to the bombardment. The method includes forming a compressive stress layer in the glass material in response to the bombardment by at least the ionized inert gas particles. The compressive stress layer may be disposed between the interphase region and the surface-to-air interface of the carbon-containing glass material.

In some implementations, a carbon-containing glass material includes a surface-to-air interface and an interphase region extending from the surface-to-air interface along a direction to a depth within the carbon-containing glass material. The surface-to-air interface may be exposed to ambient air, and the interphase region may include a plurality of few layer graphene (FLG) nanoplatelets formed in response to recombination and/or self-nucleation of a plurality of carbon-containing radicals implanted within the interphase region. The FLG nanoplatelets have a non-periodic orientation configured to at least partially inhibit formation or propagation of microcracks and/or micro-voids in the carbon-containing glass material. The glass material may also include a compressive stress layer disposed between the interphase region and the surface-to-air interface of the carbon-containing glass material, the compressive stress layer induced by ion bombardment of the carbon-containing glass material by a plurality of ionized inert gas particles.

Methods for manufacturing a carbon-containing glass material are disclosed. The method includes flowing a hydrocarbon gas and silane into a reactor, and providing an additive to the reactor. The method includes generating a non-thermal equilibrium plasma based on excitement of the hydrocarbon gas and the silane by a microwave energy, where the non-thermal equilibrium plasma includes a plurality of methyl radicals. The method includes ion-bombarding the glass material with at least the methyl radicals to create an interphase region. The method includes forming a plurality of FLG nanoplatelets within the interphase region based on recombination or self-nucleation of the methyl radicals. The FLG nanoplatelets may be dispersed throughout the interphase region in a non-periodic orientation that at least partially inhibits formation of cracks in the glass material. The method includes doping surfaces of the FLG nanoplatelets with the additive, and intercalating the additive between adjacent graphene layers within the FLG nanoplatelets formed in the glass material.

A strengthened glass container or vessel such as, but not limited to, vials for holding pharmaceutical products or vaccines in a hermetic and/or sterile state. The strengthened glass container undergoes a strengthening process that produces compression at the surface and tension within the container wall. The strengthening process is designed such that the tension within the wall is great enough to ensure catastrophic failure of the container, thus rendering the product unusable, should sterility be compromised by a through-wall crack. The tension is greater than a threshold central tension, above which catastrophic failure of the container is guaranteed, thus eliminating any potential for violation of pharmaceutical integrity.

The invention relates to a method for treating a silicate-type glass comprising alkali and alkaline-earth metal oxides or d.sup.10 or IIIA metal oxides, said method comprising at least the following steps: (a) incorporation of nitrogen into the surface of the glass; and (b) thermal poling treatment of the material obtained in (a), under a chemically inert controlled atmosphere. The invention also relates to the material produced by said method.

Glass-based articles that include a compressive stress layer extending from a surface of the glass-based article to a depth of compression are formed by exposing glass-based substrates to water vapor containing environments. The glass-based substrates have compositions selected to avoid the formation of haze during the treatment process. The methods of forming the glass-based articles may include elevated pressures and/or multiple exposures to water vapor containing environments selected to avoid the formation of haze during the treatment process.

A process for fabricating a substrate comprising a laser-induced plasma assisted modified layer, and a substrate comprising an ion-implanted layer. The process comprises ablating ions from a first target and a separate second target with incident radiation from a laser in the presence of a substrate whereby a quantity of ablated ions from the first target and the second target are separately implanted into the substrate. Ablated ions from the second target are implanted into the substrate amongst implanted ions from the first target. Ablated ions of the first target (e,g Erbium) are a different material compared to ablated ions of the second target (e.g. Ytterbium). The resulting ion-implanted layer may have a substantially uniform distribution of the implanted ions from both the first and second targets collectively, and may be at a significantly greater depth than previously possible, desirably to a well-defined and sharp boundary within the substrate.