SALT BATH COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR REGENERATING SALT BATH COMPOSITIONS

摘要

Methods for regenerating a salt bath composition include heating the salt bath composition to an ion exchange temperature to form a molten salt bath. The methods may further include contacting at least a portion of an ion-exchangeable article that includes lithium oxide (Li₂O) with the molten salt bath. Lithium cations may diffuse from the ion-exchangeable article and into the molten salt bath. Additionally, the methods may include adding a first phosphate salt to the molten salt bath. A lithium phosphate salt that includes at least a portion of the lithium cations may be formed and precipitate from the molten salt bath. Furthermore, the methods may include adding a multivalent salt that includes a multivalent metal cation to the molten salt bath. A second phosphate salt that includes the multivalent metal cation may be formed and precipitate from the molten salt bath.