Novel nanostructured transparent Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2 carnegieite-based glass ceramics with high crystallinity

Developing next-generation cover glasses with high crystallinity and transmittance, such as transparent nanocrystalline Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2 (NAS) glass, has proved highly challenging. Herein, we propose a novel nanostructured transparent NAS glass-ceramic with high crystallinity (65 %) and transmittance (91 %) owing to the involved separation of crystallization peaks and the diffusion barrier properties of ZrO2. Compared with untreated glass, this glass-ceramic shows a considerable increase in hardness (from 5.18 to 7.15 GPa, i.e. >38 %). With the increased crystallinity, no substantial reduction in transmission is detected and the crystal type and size can be effectively controlled by the limitation of ZrO2. Hence, the findings project a novel method for creating high crystallinity and transmittance, providing new directions for transparent NAS glass-ceramic.