Abstract:
This thesis focuses on various mechanical properties affecting the performance of
two vendor-supplied glasses currently used for photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) with the
specific objective of improving these properties using chemical (potassium-sodium ion
exchange) strengthening. The results show that a 46% increase in MOR with one vendor
glass, and a 57% increase in the other, can be produced. The results also show narrowing
of the MOR distributions as indicated by an increased Weibull modulus. The additional
processing that leads to these improvements, along with increases in surface hardness,
had no negative effects on the light absorbance over the wavelengths of interest. These
findings suggest that the strengthening process could be optimized to produce even
greater strengths and better resiliency of the PMTs in service.
Description:
Advisory committee members: Matthew Hall, William LaCourse. Dissertation completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Materials Science and Engineering at the Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University
