Method and system for forming shaped glass articles

Abstract

A method of forming a shaped glass article includes placing a glass sheet on a mold such that a first glass area of the glass sheet corresponds to a first mold surface area of the mold and a second glass area of the glass sheet corresponds to a second mold surface area of the mold. The first glass area and the second glass area are heated such that the viscosity of the second glass area is 8 poise or more lower than the viscosity of the first glass area. A force is applied to the glass sheet to conform the glass sheet to the mold surface. During the heating of the second glass area, the first mold surface area is locally cooled to induce a thermal gradient on the mold.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A shaped glass article having an optical quality surface area suitable for an electronic device cover glass formed by a method comprising:
 placing a glass sheet on a mold having a mold surface with a profile of the shaped glass article, the placing being such that a first glass area of the glass sheet corresponds to a first mold surface area of the mold surface and a second glass area of the glass sheet corresponds to a second mold surface area of the mold surface;   heating the first glass area and the second glass area to a glass viscosity at or above 10 10.1  poise;   locally heating the second glass area to a glass viscosity at or below 10 9.9  poise;   applying a force to the glass sheet to conform the glass sheet to the mold surface when the second glass area is at a glass viscosity at or below 10 9.9  poise; and   locally cooling the first mold surface area to induce a thermal gradient on the mold surface that results in the glass viscosity in the first glass area remaining above 10 9.9  poise during the local heating of the second glass area.   
     
     
         21 . A shaped glass article, comprising:
 a glass body having a three-dimensional shape, at least one surface of the glass body having a waviness height less than 30 nm over a 15 mm by 25 mm measurement area and a roughness average less than 1 nm.   
     
     
         22 . The shaped glass article of  claim 21 , wherein the glass body has a flat area that is flat to within 100 μm over a 25 mm×25 mm area. 
     
     
         23 . The shaped glass article of  claim 22 , wherein the glass body has at least one bend area with a bend radius of less than 10 mm. 
     
     
         24 . The shaped glass article of  claim 22 , wherein the glass body has an optical transmission greater than 85% in a wavelength range of 400 nm to 800 nm. 
     
     
         25 . The shaped glass article of  claim 22 , wherein the glass body has a compression strength greater than 300 MPa. 
     
     
         26 . The shaped glass article of  claim 22 , wherein the glass body has a hardness of greater than 7 on the Mohs scale. 
     
     
         27 . The shaped glass article of  claim 22 , which is made of an alkali aluminosilicate glass. 
     
     
         28 . The shaped glass article of  claim 22 , wherein the glass body is adapted for covering an electronic device having a flat display.