Abstract: A glazing assembly, suitable for use as an emergency escape, includes a laminated panel composed of at least two sheets of vitreous material adhered to a polymeric intervening layer which extends continuously between the at least two sheets of vitreous material, wherein, in at least one minor area zone of the laminated panel, possibility of elongation of the polymeric intervening layer under the influence of mechanical stess when the at least two sheets of vitreous material are broken, is different compared with the possibility of elongation of the polymeric intervening layer over the rest of the laminated panel.

Abstract: A device for the formation, by pyrolysis, of a coating of metal or a metal compound on one face of a hot glass substrate which is in motion by bringing the face into contact with a gaseous reagent includes a roof; support device for conveying the hot glass substrate along a path through a coating chamber defined between the roof and the face of the hot glass substrate; at least one reagent gas inlet in the form of a slot opening directly into the coating chamber and extending transverse to the path of the hot glass substrate for supplying and distributing gaseous reagent to the coating chamber; and at least one exhaust gas outlet for discharging exhaust gas from the coating chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for the distribution of particulate material including glass beads onto one of freshly applied paint or polymer material applied to a surface, includes a housing having defined therein an upper chamber for the receipt of particulate material and a lower chamber including a downwardly directed opening. The housing additionally has feeding control means positioned between the upper chamber and the lower chamber to allow the particulate material to pass in a controlled manner from the upper chamber to the lower chamber. At least one distribution grid is positioned in the lower chamber through which substantially all of the particulate material to be applied onto the surface passes to the downwardly directed opening.

Abstract: A glazing panel which is transparent and fire-resistant, including at least one vitreous structural ply including at least one rough-faced ply composed of vitreous material having a mean coefficient of linear thermal expansion over a temperature range of 20.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. which is not greater than 7.5.times.10.sup.-6 K.sup.-1 and having a rough face for which roughness, R.sub.tm, is not less than 0.1 .mu.m; and at least one layer of intumescent material directly bonded to and in contact with the rough face of the at least one rough-faced ply.

Abstract: In ceramic welding processes, oxidizing gas and a mixture of refractory and fuel powders are projected against a surface and the fuel is burnt to generate sufficient heat that the refractory powder becomes at least partially melted or softened and a cohesive refractory weld mass is progressively built up against that surface. In order to reduce any tendency for the weld mass to include a low-grade refractory phase and thus promote the refractoriness of that weld mass, the fuel powder is present in a proportion of not more than 15% by weight of the total mixture and includes at least two metals selected from aluminum, magnesium, chromium and zirconium, in that at least the major part by weight of the refractory powder consists of one or more of magnesia, alumina and chromic oxide, and in that the molar proportions of silica and calcium oxide present in the refractory powder (if any) satisfy the following expression:molar concentration of SiO.sub.2 in %.ltoreq.0.2+molar concentration of CaO in %.

Abstract: A method is described for monitoring the thickness and uniformity of a transparent coating applied to a substrate in sheet form. The method comprises directing polychromatic light at the coating at a plurality of locations and measuring the intensity of light reflected from said coating. At each location, the intensity of reflected light is measured at at least two discrete monitoring wavelengths and said measurements are processed to generate an electrical signal which may be compared with one or more predetermined threshold values and with such electrical signals generated at other locations to yield indications of whether the thickness and uniformity of the coating lies within predetermined tolerance values.. The first discrete monitoring wavelength lies in the range 400 to 480 nm (blue) and the second discrete monitoring wavelength lies in the range 580 to 750 nm (red). A third discrete monitoring wavelength, which lies in the range 480 to 580 nm (green) may also be used.

Abstract: The invention concerns a ceramic welding process in which a mixture of refractory and fuel particles is projected from an outlet at an end of a lance in a gas stream against a target surface where the fuel particles combust in a reaction zone to produce heat to soften or melt the projected refractory particles and thereby form a coherent refractory weld mass. A method of monitoring the distance between the lance outlet and the reaction zone is disclosed in which the reaction zone and at least part of the gap between that reaction zone and the lance outlet is monitored by a camera and an electronic signal is produced indicative of the distance ("the working distance") between the lance outlet and the reaction zone.

Abstract: A reflective article such as a mirror or an energy-screening transparent panel comprises a reflective metal coating deposited on a glass substrate. The metal coating comprises a reflective layer of silver and has been treated with a solution containing ions of at least one of the group consisting of: Cr (II); V (II or III); Ti (III or II); Fe (II); In (I or II); Cu (I); and Al (III). Such a treatment affords protection of the reflective coating against corrosion.

Abstract: A method of forming a polymeric matrix containing inorganic filler material including the steps of fixing catalyst to the surface of filler material to provide catalyst-bearing filler material; bringing together the catalyst bearing filler material and polymerizable material; and causing polymerization of the polymerizable material, under conditions effective therefor, to form the polymeric matrix.

Abstract: A reflective article such as a mirror or an energy-screening transparent panel comprises a reflective metal coating deposited on a glass substrate. The metal coating comprises a reflective layer of silver and has been treated with a solution containing ions of at least one of the group consisting of: Cr(II); V(II or III); Ti(III or II); Fe(II); In(I or II); Cu(I); and Al(III). Such a treatment affords protection of the reflective coating against corrosion.

Abstract: A method of producing dealkalized sheet glass in which sheet glass is dealkalized in stages. The method includes dealkalizing sheet glass in a first stage by exposing the sheet glass to contact with a first dealkalizing medium including at least one acid gas for a period of at least 1 minute while the sheet glass is at a temperature above 400.degree. C.; and further dealkalizing the sheet glass in a subsequent stage by exposing the sheet glass after the first stage to contact with a second dealkalizing medium including at least one acid gas for a period of at least 3 minutes while the sheet glass is at a temperature which is at least 50.degree. C. below one of the temperature of the sheet glass during the first stage and the minimum temperature of the sheet glass during the first stage, and ranges between 400.degree. C. and 250.degree. C.

Abstract: A ceramic welding process, including projecting a ceramic welding powder including a mixture of refractory particles and fuel particles composed of a fuel material which is capable of being oxidized to form a refractory oxide against a surface in at least one stream of carrier gas which contains at least sufficient oxygen for substantially complete oxidation of the fuel particles, whereby sufficient heat is released for at least surface melting of the projected refractory particles and a ceramic weld mass is formed against the surface under the heat of oxidation of the fuel particles; and projecting at least one additional stream of gas selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and a gas containing oxygen against the surface so as to form a substantially continuous gas curtain surrounding the at least one stream of carrier gas.

Abstract: Vitreous filler material for incorporation into a polymerizable matrix, including a filler material which is vitreous; a polymerization catalyst; and a fixing agent which is applied to at least a part of the surface of the filler material and which affixes the polymerization catalyst to the surface of the filler material. Fixing catalyst to the surface of the filler material prior to its being contacted with the polymerizable matrix material facilitates good distribution of the catalyst within the polymerizable matrix material, and advantageously allows rapid catalytic action and a reduction in the amount of catalyst required.

Abstract: A coated glass substrate includes a glass substrate; and a metal oxide coating provided on the glass substrate, which metal oxide coating is a pyrolytically formed oxidized metal coating, includes a metal oxide layer whose metal constituents consist essentially of aluminum atoms and vanadium atoms in an amount ranging from about 2% to about 10% of the aluminum atoms, and has a refractive index of at least 1.67.

Abstract: A light-transmitting fire resistant glazing panel includes at least two vitreous sheets between which is sandwiched at least one intervening layer of intumescent material, for example, of hydrated sodium silicate. Two of the vitreous sheets are of different thicknesses and they are bonded together via the sandwiched intumescent material. The thinner of the two vitreous sheets is of conforming size to the thicker sheet and the thinner sheet and intumescent layer are shaped to leave the main face of the thicker sheet to which they are bonded exposed at a plurality of local marginal areas. This allows a hinge bracket 11 to be attached to the thicker sheet 1 at the exposed area 5 by a plurality of bolts leading through holes in the thicker sheet. The bolts may comprise sheathes, e.g. of nylon, or they may lead through bushes, e.g. of nylon, to avoid direct contact between the metal of the bolts and the glass if this is desired.

Abstract: In ceramic welding processes, oxidising gas and a mixture of refractory and fuel powders are projected against a surface and the fuel is burnt to generate sufficient heat that the refractory powder becomes at least partially melted or softened and a cohesive refractory mass is progressively built up against that surface. In order to reduce any tendency for the weld mass to include a low-grade refractory phase and thus promote the refractoriness of that weld mass, the fuel powder is present in a proportion of not more than 15% by weight of the total mixture and includes at least two metals selected from aluminium, magnesium, chromium and zirconium, and in that at least the major part by weight of the refractory powder consists of one or more of magnesia, alumina and chromic oxide, and in that the molar proportions of silica and calcium oxide present in the refractory powder (if any) satisfy the following expression: molar concentration of SiO.sub.2 in % .ltoreq.0.

Abstract: A reflective article includes a glass substrate and a reflective metal coating deposited on the glass substrate including a reflective layer of silver and having a surface stratum which has a population of tin atoms which is augmented as compared with the population of tin atoms (if any) in an underlying subsurface stratum by at least one tin atom per hundred metal atoms thereby conferring on the reflective metal coating an enhanced resistance to corrosion. The reflective layer of silver is treated with an acidified aqueous solution of a stannous salt, which solution is free from opalescence, thereby to augment tin atom population in a surface stratum of the reflective metal coating.

Abstract: A composition of matter which is a powder mixture for use in a process of forming a porous refractory mass on a surface, the composition including refractory particles, fuel particles which are capable or reacting exothermically with an oxidizing gas to forming at least one refractory oxide and which are present in a quantity effective to release, on projection together with the oxidizing gas, sufficient heat to melt at least the surfaces of the refractory particles so that the refractory particles and at least some of the at least one refractory oxide bond together; and particles of porosity-inducing material comprised of at least one of hollow and porous particles which become incorporated in the refractory mass formed on projection and which have at least one of a composition and a particle size selected so that incorporation of the porosity-inducing material in the powder mixture results in the formation of porosity within the refractory mass formed on projection.

Abstract: Apparatus for pyrolytically forming an oxide coating on an upper face of a moving, hot glass substrate, including a substrate path and a downwardly opening hood positioned along the substrate path and defining together with the substrate path a coating chamber; support device for conveying a hot glass substrate along the substrate path past the coating chamber; a device for introducing coating precursor material in the vapor phase into a carrier gas stream comprised of a carrier gas including a device for inducing turbulence in the carrier gas stream to ensure intimate mixing of the carrier gas and the coating precursor material; a device including at least one venturi for introducing oxygen into the precursor-containing carrier gas stream before it enters the coating chamber and provide a gas mixture stream; a device for supplying to the coating chamber the gas mixture stream; and a device for aspirating atmosphere including coating reaction products and unused coating precursor material from the coating cha

Abstract: In order to prepare particles of a vitreous enamel for use in forming a vitreous enamel body by fusing the particles together to form the body, at least one enamel frit and at least one non-vitreous additive are formed into an agglomerated granular feedstock and passed through a heating chamber whereby such feedstock becomes at least partially molten and rounded, whereafter the resulting rounded vitreous enamel beads are caused or allowed to cool to a temperature below their melting point.