Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for forming a glass ribbon may include a forming wedge disposed in a housing and including a pair of downwardly inclined forming surfaces converging at a root. A plurality of heating cartridges may be positioned in ports of the housing. Each heating cartridge may include a heat directing surface that is oriented at an angle of greater than about 90° with respect to a bottom surface of the heating cartridge. The heat directing surface may include at least one heating element positioned adjacent to the heat directing surface. The heating cartridge may be positioned such that the heat directing surface faces the forming wedge and an upper edge of the heat directing surface is positioned above the root to direct heat from the heat directing surface towards the root of the forming wedge.

Abstract: A fused silica body comprising a layer of vitreous silica adjacent at least a portion of an inner surface is described in embodiments herein. In other embodiments, a method of making a fused silica body with a layer of vitreous silica adjacent at least a portion of an inner surface is described herein, comprising heating at least a portion of the inner surface to the point of vitrification. In certain embodiments, the method involves passing a linear local heat source over the inner surface in a particular manner, such as a helical fashion transverse to the linear shape, and may involve creating on the inner surface of the body overlapping swaths of temporarily melted silica material.

Abstract: A method for producing a vial with low alkali elution by removing a deteriorated region caused by processing on an internal surface of a vial is disclosed. The method is for forming vials from borosilicate glass tubes with a bottom wherein an internal surface of the tube is fire-blasted with a flame.

Abstract: Thin glasses having high refractive index (nd), a layer composite assembly made from these thin glasses, a method for the production of the thin glasses, and the uses of the thin glasses are provided. The thin glasses are processed in an in line manufacturing process and have the optical properties of a classical optical glass. The thin glasses are highly transparent, crystallization-resistant, chemically resistant and highly refractive. The viscosity/temperature behavior of the thin glasses is adjusted to the manufacturing process via in line flat glass methods.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical glass element, comprising: annealing a press-molded product obtained by press molding into a lens shape a glass material comprised of a core portion comprised of an optical glass (first glass) with a transition temperature of 550° C. or higher and a covering portion comprised of a second glass covering the surface of said core portion; and then removing the covering layer from the surface of the press-molded product to obtain an optical glass element. To provide a method for manufacturing high-optical-performance mold-pressed lenses in which the defective external appearance of optical elements comprised of high-temperature glass materials with a Tg of 550° C. or higher is prevented.

Abstract: To provide a vial with low alkali elution and a method for producing the same by removing a deteriorated region caused by processing on an internal surface of a vial. A vial with reduced alkali elution and a method for producing the same by forming vials from borosilicate glass tubes comprises a first step of forming a borosilicate glass tube into a cup-shaped body by formation of a bottom of a vial, and a second step of forming the cup-shaped body into the vial by formation of a mouth of the cup-shaped body.

Abstract: The method for polishing glass products, comprises the following steps: specifying a contour or form or shape of the glass product; detecting the location or position of the glass product; calculating a path for a laser beam on the basis of the contour of the glass product and the location of the glass product; and scanning the path with the laser beam for polishing the glass product in order to fuse mold joints together or smoothen/polish them.

Abstract: A substrate processing chamber component has a structural body with localized surface regions having annealed microcracks. The annealed microcracks reduce crack propagation and increase fracture resistance. In one method of manufacture, the structural body of the component is formed, and a laser beam is directed onto localized surface regions of the body for a sufficient time to anneal the surface microcracks.

Abstract: A method of making a glass container comprising providing a mold defining an article having a base at a bottom of the mold cavity where the mold cavity comprises an undercut portion that defines a recess in the mold cavity; introducing molten glass to the mold; cooling the glass to cause the glass to shrink a sufficient amount that the protuberance recedes from the recess; and removing the container from the mold in a linear direction.

Abstract: Method of identifying a container (1) obtained by a process comprising the following steps: (A) starting from a blank (2) of the container (1), at least part of the said container (1) is formed; (B) a two-dimensional or three-dimensional marking zone (4), the temperature of which is maintained at a value below the glass transformation temperature of the constituent substrate, is provided in or on the substrate of the blank (2) and, in the said marking zone (4), an identification code (5) is reproduced by illumination (6) of the said marking zone (4) with at least one beam (7) of coherent monochromatic localized electromagnetic radiation to which the substrate is at least partially transparent, the said beam (7) being operated and controlled in order to remove or modify the constituent substrate of the wall (3) and to leave the identification code (5), in positive or negative form, in the said wall so that the said code is readable; and (C) at least the said marking zone (4) is annealed so as at least to reduc

Abstract: A glass concentrator for manufacture of solar energy conversion module is provided including a webbing that has a load sustenance characteristic and a hail impact resistance characteristic based on a first thickness of the webbing. The concentrator also includes a plurality of elongated concentrating elements integrally formed with the webbing. Each of the elongated concentrating elements has an aperture region, an exit region and two side regions, which bears a geometric concentration characteristic provided by a highly reflective side regions and an aperture-to-exit. scale ratio in a range from about 1.8 to about 4.5. The glass concentrator can be attached with a plurality of photovoltaic strips cumulatively on each and every exit regions and clamped with a rigid or flexible back cover member to form a solar concentrator module for converting sunlight to electric energy. The solar concentrator module based on certain embodiments meets the industrial qualification standards.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a glass substrate of which the outer periphery portion is unprocessed. The present invention also relates to a manufacturing method for a glass substrate of which the outer periphery portion is unprocessed, characterized in that a first lapping process, a second lapping process, a polishing process and a washing process are carried out after a press molding process is carried out so as to compress glass between an upper mold and a lower mold without regulating the edge surface of the outer periphery portion of the glass and, then, a crystallization process or an annealing process is carried out.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing reflectors from glass or glass ceramics comprising the steps of: molding a reflector being open to the outside and having a closed bottom in a mold at a temperature above the transformation temperature; placing the reflector in a recess of a holder; heating up the reflector in the area of its bottom; lifting the bottom of the reflector from below using a die; punching out at least one opening from the bottom by moving at least one plunger into at least one matching opening in the die.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a quartz glass crucible has a deposition step of depositing quartz powder on an inner wall surface of a bottomed cylindrical mold, while rotating the mold, and a melting step of obtaining the quartz glass crucible by vitrifying the quartz powder deposited on the inner wall surface of the mold by heating and melting the quartz powder. In the deposition step, under a state where the quantity of electrostatic charge of the quartz powder is controlled to be within a range of 1.0 kV or below in absolute value, the quartz powder is applied to the inner wall surface of the mold, and the thickness of the quartz glass crucible is controlled by maintaining the density of the quartz powder deposition layer on the inner wall surface of the mold within a fixed range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to flame polish a thin glass sheet which includes cooling the thin glass sheet followed by heating the thin glass sheet with an intense flame to substantially reduce if not eliminate surface roughness of the glass sheet.

Abstract: A quartz glass crucible for silicon single crystal pulling operation that by a simple arrangement, attains prevention of any collapse onto the inside at a superior edge of straight trunk part; and a process for manufacturing the same. The quartz glass crucible for silicon single crystal pulling operation having a straight trunk part and a bottom part, is characterized in that at least the straight trunk part is provided with a gradient of fictive temperature so that the fictive temperature on the outermost side thereof is 25° C. or more lower than the fictive temperature on the innermost side thereof.

Abstract: An optical glass having a high refractive index and high dispersion characteristics that is suited to application to precision press molding to precisely mold the shape of final products for objectives not requiring grinding or polishing. An optical glass exhibiting a refractive index in the range of from 1.75 to 2.0, an Abbé number in the range of from 20 to 28.5. Optical parts comprised of this glass; press-molding materials comprised of this glass; methods of manufacturing the same; and methods of manufacturing molded glass products employing these materials.

Abstract: Molten glass is press-molded by a metallic die in which a cylindrical body is provided in a vertically standing manner at a central part of a bottom surface of a bottomed hole and a molding surface corresponding to a chamfering shape of an outer peripheral edge surface of a glass substrate is consecutively formed in an inner peripheral wall, and a glass substrate precursor provided with the chamfering shape axially consecutive on an outer peripheral surface thereof and a through hole formed at a central part thereof is thereby formed. The glass substrate precursor is cut perpendicular to an axial direction to be separated into respective glass substrates. Next, the respective glass substrates are subjected to a lapping process and a polishing process, if necessary, to produce a glass substrate as a final product. According to the manufacturing method, a glass substrate for information recording medium whose inner and outer peripheral edge surfaces are chamfered can be manufactured with an improved efficiency.

Abstract: A process for stably and efficiently producing quality glass articles such as preforms at high yields, and a process for producing an optical device from the preform obtained by the above process. In the process for producing a glass article, molten glass gobs having a predetermined weight each are poured, or molten glass drops having a predetermined weight each are dropped through a nozzle, into a boiling liquid having a boiling point lower than the class transition temperature of the glass constituting said glass article or a liquid which is temperature-adjusted beforehand so as to be caused to boil by the amount of heat of the glass, to form glass articles.

Abstract: The apparatus for producing glass beads of the present invention comprises a melting pot 2 for heating and melting glass, a nozzle 2A for dripping molten glass 4 in the melting pot 2, which is disposed at the bottom of the melting pot 2, and a liquid glass droplet receiver 11 filled with cooling solution 150 for cooling the liquid glass droplet 10 dripped from the nozzle 2A, which is disposed under the nozzle 2A, wherein the cooling solution 150 is made from a material that forms a bubble layer around the liquid glass droplet 10 as the cooling solution 150 is vaporized due to the heat of the liquid glass droplet 10 during a period when the liquid glass droplet 10 is cooled down to a temperature lower than the glass transfer temperature in the cooling solution 150.

Abstract: A large-sized substrate having a diagonal length of not less than 500 mm and a ratio of flatness/diagonal length of not more than 6.0×10?6 is disclosed. By use of the large-sized substrate for exposure of the present invention, the exposure accuracy, particularly the register accuracy and resolution are enhanced, so that it is possible to achieve high-precision exposure of a large-sized panel. With the processing method according to the present invention, it is possible to stably obtain a large-sized photomask substrate with a high flatness, and since the CD accuracy (dimensional accuracy) at the time of exposure of the panel is enhanced, it is possible to perform exposure of a fine pattern, leading to a higher yield of the panel. Furthermore, by applying the processing method according to the present invention, it is also possible to create an arbitrary surface shape.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for removing scratches from a planar panel of translucent or transparent material, such as glass, without removal from its frame. A heat source supplying a controlled amount of heat is moved across the surface of the planar panel at a controlled velocity and at a controlled distance from the surface so as to progressively melt a thin surface layer at portions of the surface heated by the moving heat source. The melted material re-flows under surface tension to smooth scratches in the surface layer. Movement of the heat source is repeated over different portions of the surface until all scratched areas have been treated. The treated panels have a smooth surface with scratches removed, and have good optical and structural qualities.

Abstract: There are provided a method of manufacturing a glass substrate for information recording media that allows the inner and outer peripheral edge surfaces of the glass substrate for information recording media to be smoothed easily and inexpensively, a glass substrate for information recording media manufactured using this method, and an information recording medium using this glass substrate. A donut-shaped glass disk for information recording media having an outer peripheral edge surface and an inner peripheral edge surface is prepared. At least one of the outer peripheral edge surface and the inner peripheral edge surface of the glass disk is smoothed by melt-heating to a temperature at or above the softening point of the glass by irradiating with at least one laser beam.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a quartz glass jig for use in semiconductor industries, which enables increasing the surface layer cleanliness simply and surely at low cost; it also provides a quartz glass jig improved in surface layer cleanliness. The inventive means for resolution are a method comprising processing a quartz glass raw material into a desired shape by a treatment inclusive of fire working, annealing for stress removal, and cleaning treatment to obtain the final product, the method is characterized by that it comprises performing gas phase etching step and gas phase purification step on the surface layer of the quartz glass jig after applying the annealing treatment for stress removal but before the cleaning treatment, wherein the gas phase purification step is carried out continuously after the gas phase etching step.

Abstract: A member of processing a quartz member for a plasma processing device capable of suppressing the production of particles at the beginning of the use thereof and the production of chips thereafter, the quartz member for the plasma processing device, and the plasma processing device having the quartz member mounted thereon, the method comprising the steps of removing a large number of cracks 155 produced, after a diamond grinding, in the quartz member 151 for the plasma processing device used for a shield ring and a focus ring by performing a surface processing with abrasive grains of, for example, #320 to 400 in grain size, and performing the surface processing by using abrasive grains of smaller grain size to remove ruptured layers 163 while maintaining irregularities capable of adhering and holding deposit thereto.

Abstract: The optical fiber base material heat treatment method can be provided that the first flame polishing heats the surface of the optical fiber base material (106) with fixing a length of the optical fiber base material (106) and the second flame polishing heats the surface of the optical fiber base material (106) by lower temperature than the temperature of the heating of the first flame polishing.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a preform having a supporting core by effecting successive passes with a plasma torch while material is being supplied, and by effecting at least one glazing step with the plasma torch and without material being supplied includes:a) a first glazing step effected at slow speed from a first end of the preform to the second end thereof;b) pre-separation of the preform adjacent to the first end, thereby reducing its diameter to substantially that of the supporting core;c) a second glazing step effected from the first end to the second end of the preform; andd) complete separation of the preform at the place of pre-separation.

Abstract: During the fire-polishing of a lengthwise extended glass body (3), for example a preform for drawing optical fibers, the glass body (3) is held by a holding device (5, 7), and is heated by a burner (23) moving at a variable advancing speed parallel to the lengthwise axis (19). The surface temperature of the glass body (3) is determined with a temperature measuring device (25). The mechanical stress condition of the glass body (3) is detected with an optical device (29) and can be controlled by varying the burner temperature and/or the advancing speed of the burner. The invention makes it possible to counteract the occurrence of high mechanical stresses in the glass body (3).

Abstract: When blank-molded optical glass bodies are manufactured according to known methods based on blank-molding technology, the product exhibits rings in the glass and folds as well as an impression that precisely coincides with the contact surface of the parison inside the pressing die before the pressing operation. These defects are not permissible in blank-molded lenses, however, because they cause an undesirable optical effect such as changing the glare value in automobile headlights. Such defects are process-dependent and are caused by the fact that the transfer of the parison to the pressing die and the pressing itself are two separate operations that are performed with different tools.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process wherein a large glass preform is flame abraded to have a clear and smooth surface. In particular, the present invention pertains to a method for flame abrading a surface of a rotating glass preform by an oxyhydrogen flame which moves along a length of the glass preform, in which a movement velocity of the oxyhydrogen flame or a flow rate of oxyhydrogen of the oxyhydrogen flame is varied to conduct the flame abrasion treatment.

Abstract: Optical glass of cubic, spherical or polygonal shape is fire polished on a graphite or Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, concave surface with a surface roughness of 100 Angstroms or less. The optical glass having a surface roughness of 400 Angstroms or less is placed on the concave surface and fire polished by heating the optical glass between the yield point and softening point of the glass in a reducing atmosphere if the concave surface is made of graphite. A Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 concave surface is required for Pb.sup.+2 containing glasses. The molded preform obtained has a surface roughness of 100 Angstroms or less.

Abstract: A process for producing tabular building and decorative materials similar to natural stone and having high strength for the facing of facades, walls and floors in interior and exterior applications from thermally treated mixtures of crushed glass, ceramic components and finely divided additives and materials produced by the process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of treating light waveguide ends in which the light waveguide is mechanically polished and thereafter the reflectance of the light waveguide is reduced by vaporizing at least some glass at the light waveguide end by the use of a laser beam.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method for polishing fiber optic connectors. After a light waveguide distal end is mechanically ground and/or polished, the distal end is slightly melted in order to reduce reflectance. Melting may be induced by a laser, microtorch, or electric arc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing optical fibres in which a quartz glass tube is coated on the inside with core material, the assembly is contracted to form a solid rod which is then inserted into a quartz glass tube, after which the assembly is drawn. The last tube is thermally treated to eliminate contaminations at the surface which may detrimentally influence the tensile strength of the ultimate fibre.

Abstract: A microlens is precisely positioned on the end of an optical fiber by urging the fiber against a moving abrasive lap at a desired angle and simultaneously turning the fiber end, either continuously or in discrete steps. The turning causes the fiber end to contact the abrasive at points all around its periphery, thereby removing material equally from all sides of the fiber and producing a precise lens form. The pressure with which the fiber end is urged against the abrasive is maintained substantially constant by spring action of the fiber. The resulting conical lens is centered on the fiber by action of friction forces which constrain the fiber to rotate in a fixed position despite the fiber's freedom of movement within a guide tube. The invention repeatably provides optically accurate lenses of a variety of conifurgations centered to within one micron on fibers of all types, including polarization-preserving fibers.

Abstract: The use of a flat faceplate comprised of self-polished float glass substantially reduces the cost of a cathode ray tube incorporating a flat tensioned shadow mask while affording a high degree of video image acuity. The float glass flat faceplate does not require polishing and acid etching to provide a high degree of smoothness in its inner and outer surfaces and, in combination with a flat tensioned shadow mask mounted to the flat faceplate, offers a low cost, easily manufactured and assembled color CRT front assembly.

Abstract: A high temperature stable woven fiber fabric has uniform minimum gas permeability of less than 2.0 L/M/cm.sup.2 and is capable of withstanding at least 10,000 cycles in a Bally.TM. Flexometer test without failure. An untreated fabric is subjected to a sequential process which provides uniform permeability and greater flexibility and acid resistance to the treated fabric. The treated fabric is particularly useful in high temperature applications such as filter elements and furnace curtains.

Abstract: A burner for a machine for the thermomechanical treatment of glass tubes is oriented obliquely with respect to a path of movement followed by the glass tubes in the machine. The burner is connected to a fuel delivery pipe and is provided with nozzles arranged in tiers in the desired direction.

Abstract: A molded glass reflector member for a lamp unit employing a tungsten halogen lamp as the light source is disclosed having a recessed opening at its base end and which further provides an engagement surface for mounting said lamp unit. Specifically, said improved lamp unit includes a molded glass reflector member terminating at its base end in an elongated hollow cavity protruding from the rear side of said reflector member, said cavity having a recessed opening of smaller size at the rearmost end which also provides a recessed engagement surface for mounting said lamp, and a tungsten halogen lamp secured in said hollow cavity so that its light source is positioned at the focal point of said reflector member and the lamp inleads project through said recessed opening. In a preferred embodiment, said recessed opening is formed by spaced apart shoulders extending from the inner walls of the protruding hollow cavity.

Abstract: Glass objects, lenses in particular, can be pressed with precision from a glass which contains 45-55 mol. % P.sub.2 O.sub.5, 15-40 mol. % BaO, 5-15 mol. % Li.sub.2 O, 5-35 mol. % PbO, 0-2 mol. % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 0-6 mol. % F. A cube of glass is made from the above composition and preheated to a temperature of 20.degree.-60.degree. C. above the American softening point to obtain a polishing effect. The preheated cube is then inserted into preheated dies which are closed to form a precision pressed object of the glass.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the reclamation of inorganic fibers from waste continuous strips of inorganic fibers. A binding agent, such as an organic binder, must be removed before the fibers can be reused or further processed. One or more layers of continuous strips are conveyed to a heating zone where the strips 42 are supported along a predetermined path as a heating fluid is drawn rapidly through the strips. The heating fluid is controlled as to temperature, pressure and mass flow rate to insure that the binder is properly decomposed and that the products of decomposition are rapidly carried away from the strips to prevent heat buildup which could cause a temperature increase to the fusion point of the fibers. Process temperatures are thus suitably controlled to below the fusion temperature of the fiber material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of making a glass article containing a thin surface film antireflective coating made by providing a dispersion containing at least one metalloorganic compound in solution, depositing a thin coating of such dispersion on the glass substrate, heating the film to drive off the solvent and to decompose the organic components, thus forming a glass film from the remaining inorganic oxide components, further heating the glass film layer to cause phase separation thereof, and thereafter etching and leaching such film to dissolve out preferentially one of the phases of the phase-separated glass, leaving a skeletonized surface film having a graded refractive index; and products resulting from such process.

Abstract: An glass manufacturing process and apparatus having a vertical air-cooled electric furnace and a transverse air-cooled refiner section. The furnace and the refiner are provided with a plurality of molybdenum plate electrode cartridge assemblies. Molten glass is removed from the furnace refiner section by means of a plurality of basin cylinders symmetrically disposed within the transverse refiner. An extruder mechanism accepts molten glass from each basin cylinder and applies the molten glass to a pair of extrusion rolls and onto a molten tin bath. The extrusion rolls are eccentrically pivoted off-center such that the separation distance between them can be varied. A cutting frame is then lowered over the tin bath such that the molten glass sheet is held firmly while it is cut into lite sizes by a cutting mechanism. After cutting, a transfer unit having suction orifices is lowered over the glass sheet and lifts the newly cut glass sheet either to an annealing stage or to a tempering stage.

Abstract: Sized fiber glass fabric is cleaned and desized by contacting the sized fabric with an oxidizing agent under alkaline conditions followed by treatment with an organic solvent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for manufacturing glass ribbon by pouring molten glass onto a bath of molten metal. As the glass ribbon advances along the length of the molten metal bath, the edges of the glass ribbon are simultaneously guided and cooled. Guide members positioned within the tank simultaneously guide the advancing glass ribbon by a thrust bearing and cool the edges of the glass ribbon by cooling means. The thrust bearing is separated from the cooling means by thermal insulating means.

Abstract: A method of making low cost solar cells on a large scale basis by means of a continuous process of fabricating float glass and coating the float glass, in sequence, with tin oxide, cadmium sulphide, and copper sulphide, while the glass floats atop tanks of molten material in a furnace of proper temperature for each step of the process, the application of the coatings, in a preferred embodiment, being accomplished by depositing materials which form the coatings on contact with heated surfaces at such slow rates and, in the case of spray application, via drops of such uniformity that the float glass may (1) remain at uniform temperatures by virtue of the superior thermal conductivity of the molten material and retain those temperatures despite the abstraction of heat from the glass by evaporation of liquids and/or formation of crystalline layers, and (2) be substantially free of temperature gradients along the surface of the sheet glass.