The Influence of Surface Polishing on the Mechanical and Chemical Properties of Crystal Glass

Crystal glass is characterized by a high transmittance, high refractive index, good hardness, and chemical stability, which makes it an excellent material for use in a wide variety of decoration, lamp, handicrafts, high-grade tableware, and jewelry. Nevertheless, these applications of crystal glass involve complicated mechanical processing, including cutting and polishing. This article examines the morphology, optical, mechanical, and chemical properties of crystal glass following a range of processing treatments. The findings revealed that the surface roughness of the crystal glass subjected to mechanical processing was markedly diminished, while the optical transmittance was enhanced. However, the hardness of the polished sample exhibited a notable decline. Concurrently, the quantity of lead ion precipitation following acid immersion increased considerably, reaching 2.63 mg/L. After acid treatment, many hydrogen ions appeared on the surface, and the water contact angle of the sample significantly increased, especially for untreated crystal glass samples with more surface area.