Effect of Strong Acid Erosion on the Surface Modification and Wear Properties of Soda Iime Silica Glass

Using water contact angle, Infrared spectroscopy, nano-indentation, and Vickers hardness instrument, the effects of HCl solution (pH=1) erosion on the surface modification and wear properties of soda lime silica (SLS) glass were investigated. The wear behavior of SLS glass was analyzed by rubbing against SiO₂ ball upon a reciprocating tribometer. Experimental results indicated that the mechanochemical properties of SLS glass did not change after being corroded by deionized water for 24 h and 50 h. However, when corroded by a strong acid, the fracture toughness of SLS glass increased, accompanying with the decrease of the nano-hardness, reduced modulus, Vickers hardness and the wear-resistance in humid air (RH=50%). Further analyses indicated that the influence of acidic conditions on the mechanical and wear properties of SLS glass were related to the alternation layer upon the Na⁺ ions leaching out of glass surface. The leaching of Na⁺ ions in the strong acid conditions was more easily to occur, resulting in the formation of “SiO₂-rich” layer. Since the glass surface became more hydrophilic after being corroded by strong acid, the wear debris can adsorb on the friction interface more easily during the wear process, this may change the wear mechanism from tribochemical wear into adhesive wear, resulting in the decrease of wear-resistance of SLS glass in humid air.