Copper-Alkali Ion Exchange of Alkali Aluminosilicate Glasses in Molten CuCl-An Ion Exchange Controlled by the Cu+→Cu2+ Oxidation Reaction in Glass

The kinetics of copper‐potassium ion exchange of potassium aluminosilicate glass have been investigated in molten CuCl at 550°C in air and nitrogen. The presence of oxygen dissolved in molten CuCl has a great effect on the Cu‐K ion‐exchange kinetics, i.e. ion exchange in nitrogen is controlled by the interdiffusion process of Cu+ and K+ in the glass, whereas ion exchange in air seems to be controlled by the Cu+→Cu2+ oxidation reaction.