Nanomechanical properties of commercial float glass

The float process produces flat glass with a tin-rich surface due to contact with the molten metal bath. The incorporation of tin into the glass network is expected to modify the mechanical properties of the surface and the relative durability of the two sides of the material. In this work nanoindentation was used to evaluate the elastic modulus and hardness of a 2 mm thick commercial float glass. The near-surface elastic modulus (depths < 400 nm) of both sides of the glass was elevated by up to 10%, and could not be attributed solely to the presence of tin. However, slight differences in hardness (<10%) between the air and tin sides of the float glass were observed. These results suggest that tin may alter the flow properties of the glass, but the elastic modulus changes are masked by other structural and chemical differences between the air and tin sides of the float glass.