Abstract: In order to provide a particularly homogeneous pressure and temperature profile in a gas cushion for the levitating support of glass or glass ceramic, the invention provides a device (19) for transporting or supporting glass ceramic or glass, which comprises at least one diaphragm (1, 2) that has at least one continuous bearing surface (3) and at least one gas feed chamber (51-55) and at least one gas discharge chamber (71-75), the gas feed chamber (51-55) and the gas discharge chamber (71-75) having a gas-permeable connection to the bearing surface (3).

Abstract: In order to provide a particularly homogeneous pressure and temperature profile in a gas cushion for the levitating support of glass or glass ceramic, the invention provides a device (19) for transporting or supporting glass ceramic or glass, which comprises at least one diaphragm (1, 2) that has at least one continuous bearing surface (3) and at least one gas feed chamber (51-55) and at least one gas discharge chamber (71-75), the gas feed chamber (51-55) and the gas discharge chamber (71-75) having a gas-permeable connection to the bearing surface (3).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the rapid melting of glasses in a skull crucible is provided. The method and apparatus introduce high-frequency energy into the contents of the crucible by means of a coil arrangement surrounding the skull crucible, in order to heat the melt, and the batch is laid and the molten glass discharged in the upper region of the crucible, and undissolved constituents of the batch are retained by means of a cooled bridge which is immersed in the melt. The glass is taken off above the coil arrangement and is fed for further processing without flowing through the coil region.

Abstract: A process for producing a borate-containing, low-alkali material is provided. The process includes induction-heating a boron-containing melting material directly in an appliance using an alternating electromagnetic field. The, melting material as a constituent includes at least one metal oxide, the metal ions of which have a valency of at least two, in a quantitative proportion of at least 25 mol %, and in which the ratio of the molar substance quantities of silicon dioxide to borate in the melting material is less than or equal to 0.5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for changing glass compositions in continuously operated melting installations which has a significantly shortened melt changeover time and therefore lower costs and in which the glass quality is not adversely affected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-purity bioactive glass, having the following composition in % by weight: SiO2 ??35-86 Na2O ?5.5-35 CaO ??4-46 P2O5 ??1-15 Further additional 0.05-15 substances and to a process for producing it, in which the glass is produced in a radiofrequency-heated skull crucible.

Abstract: The invention describes a method and an apparatus for the rapid melting of in particular high-purity, aggressive and/or high-melting glasses in a skull crucible, in which high-frequency energy is introduced into the contents of the crucible by means of a coil arrangement surrounding the skull crucible, in order to heat the melt, and the batch is laid and the molten glass discharged in the upper region of the crucible, and undissolved constituents of the batch are retained by means of a cooled bridge which is immersed in the melt. According to the invention, the glass is taken off above the coil arrangement (1.3) and is fed for further processing without flowing through the coil region. This has the advantage that simple, conventional components can be used to connect the melting unit to the further-processing stations, and the type of connection can be selected in such a way that it is possible to prevent the quality of the glass from being impaired by connection techniques which are less than optimum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for changing glass compositions in continuously operated melting installations which has a significantly shortened melt changeover time and therefore lower costs and in which the glass quality is not adversely affected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for ceramising glass ceramics (so-called green glass). The process according to the present invention comprises the following procedural steps: green glass (3) is manufactured; the green glass is placed in a suspended state on a levitation substrate by supply of levitation gas; the green glass is heated in the suspended state by IR radiation until such time as the desired ceramising has set in.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for ceramising glass ceramics (so-called green glass).