Abstract: A particulate composition suitable for use in a process of dressing a refractory structure which includes the steps of projecting against a site of refractory structure to be dressed a comburent gas stream carrying a mixture comprised of fuel particles and refractory oxide particles, which fuel particles are comprised of at least one element which is oxidisable to form at least one refractory oxide; and causing or allowing the fuel particles to burn, the particulate composition being a mixture including fuel particles comprised of at least one element which is oxidisable to form a refractory oxide; refractory oxide particles; and particles of fluxing agent the fluxing action of which is such that when the mixture is projected in a comburent gas stream and the fuel particles are caused or allowed to burn, the refractory structure becomes softened to an extent such that the refractory structure becomes dressed by removal or displacement of material thereof under the mechanical action of the impinging comburent

Abstract: A process of forming a coherent refractory mass on a surface comprises projecting against that surface, together with oxygen, a mixture of refractory particles and fuel which reacts in an exothermic manner with the projected oxygen to release sufficient heat to melt at least the surfaces of the refractory particles and thus form the refractory mass. The projected mixture contains, as fuel, finely divided particles of at least one element which is oxidizable to form a refractory oxide and it also contains carbonaceous particles which are of such a size or composition that carbon particles become occluded in the formed refractory mass. The mixture may contain, as said fuel, finely divided particles having a mean grain size of less than 50 .mu.m of silicon, aluminum and/or magnesium. The carbonaceous particles may comprise a carbonaceous core which is covered by a mantle inhibiting oxidation of the core.

Abstract: A process for increasing resistance to penetration of glass in a glazed opening, including removing the glass from the glazed opening; and replacing the glass by laminated glazing consisting of the glass removed to which is fastened, by cementing with the aid of at least one intermediate layer of thermoplastic material, a sheet of thinner glass which has dimensions substantially equal to those of the glass removed except for having a thickness which is less than that of the glass removed, and which has been subjected to a chemical tempering treatment.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mirror, including forming on a transparent glass sheet a copper reflective layer by chemical deposition from contact with a coppering solution; and coating the copper reflective layer with at least one protective layer effective to protect the copper reflective layer from corrosion by the atmosphere, wherein the copper reflective layer is formed under conditions effective to provide a mirror which, after having been subjected to a CASS Test for 120 hours, has a factor of luminous reflection which is at least 0.90 times what it was before the mirror was subjected to the CASS Test.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a refractory mass on a surface of a substrate by spraying against the surface a mixture of particles including oxidizable particles and refractory particles in a carrier gas, which carrier gas may contain oxygen but is not substantially all oxygen, and combusting the oxidizable particles to generate sufficient heat to soften or melt at least the surfaces of the refractory particles and form the refractory mass, which apparatus includes means for mixing the mixture of particles with a stream of the carrier gas; a lance having an outlet; a feed line for conveying the carrier gas and entrained mixture of particles to the lance outlet for spraying and having defined therein at least one orifice located downstream of the mixing means and at least 1 m from the lance outlet; and means for introducing oxygen gas into the carrier gas and entrained mixture of particles connected to the at least one orifice defined in the feed line.

Abstract: A light transmitting glazing pane includes a first coating on an exposed face of a glass sheet which reduces the emissivity of that face in respect of infra-red radiation having wavelengths in excess of 3 .mu.m, and on the or another face of the pane a solar radiation screening coating which is adapted to screen short wavelength infra-red radiation, the thickness of each coating being selected so that the pane has a visible light transmissivity of at least 70% and a total solar radiant energy transmissivity of at most 75%. Such panes are useful for limiting solar energy gain while allowing good through visibility, and they may therefore be used to form vehicle windows.

Abstract: A fire control composition in particulate form and containing no water, which is particularly effective for fighting metal fires, i.e., Class D fires, and which comprises particles of crushed glass bearing a hydrophobic coating thereon so that agglomeration of the fire control composition due to adsorption of moisture during storage and use is substantially prevented and so that when applied to fire, the fire control composition forms a blanket over the fire which deprives the fire of oxygen and thereby smothers it. The composition additionally contains one or more particulate adjuvants selected from salts and/or spherulized vitreous beads, which adjuvants also bear a hydrophobic coating. Useful adjuvants include graphite particles and salts. The median grain size of the crushed glass is below 200 micrometers, preferably below 120 micrometers, for example, in the range of from 25 to 35 micrometers.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing vitreous beads in which particulate feedstock is delivered to a heated chamber and passed along it so that the feedstock is heated and converted to vitreous beads whereafter the beads are collected, characterised in that the chamber is shaped to provide a flow path for the particles which is of elongate cross-section and is arranged so that the particles pass downwardly through it under gravity, and in that the particles passing through the chamber are heated by radiant heating means which emanates from the chamber walls.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing glass wherein raw material is fed as a batch to a continuous glass-melting tank furnace, melted in a melting tank and passed to a refining tank via a submerged throat. The melt is heated in the refining tank to de-gas it, and then molten refined glass is delivered to a conditioning tank where it is brought to a desired working temperature. The refining tank is divided into upstream and downstream refining cells by a transverse sill. The melt in the upstream refining cell is heated to create a spring zone located towards the downstream end of that cell and a circulation of melt in that cell which feeds the spring zone.

Abstract: In processes of forming a refractory mass on a surface, a mixture of refractory particles and oxidizable particles which react exothermically with oxygen to generate sufficient heat to soften or melt at least the surfaces of the refractory particles are sprayed against that surface to bring about formation of said refractory mass. To promote the reliable and consistent formation of a durable refractory mass, the granulometry of the particles which are sprayed in the mixture is such that the 80% and 20% grain sizes of the refractory particles (that is, the screen mesh sizes G.sub.80 and G.sub.20 through which respectively 80% and 20% by weight of the particles will pass) have a mean greater than the mean of the 80% and 20% grain sizes of the oxidizable particles and the size range spread factor f(G) of the refractory particles is at least 1.

Abstract: Apparatus for pyrolytically forming a metal compound coating on an upper face of a hot glass substrate 1 comprises conveyor means 2 for conveying the substrate 1 in a downstream direction 3. A coating chamber 6 opening downwardly onto the path 1 and means 7 for spraying coating precursor downwardly towards the substrate.The spraying means 7 is located to spray the coating precursor solution from a height above the substrate path 1 of at least 75 cm. Heating means are provided for supplying heat to the spraying zone 9. Means such as aspirator boxes 39 is provided for generating aspirating forces on atmospheric material within the passageway 13 to encourage such material to flow along the substrate path to the downstream end (27) of the passageway and to enter exhaust ducting leading such material away from the substrate path.

Abstract: When forming a refractory mass on a surface a mixture of oxidizable particles and refractory particles in a comburent carrier gas is sprayed against that surface from an outlet of a lance. Thus on combustion of the oxidizable particles, sufficient heat is generated to soften or melt at least the surfaces of the refractory particles to bring about the formation of the refractory mass. The mixture of particles is itself mixed with a carrier gas stream, for example, by using venturi, and is fed along a line towards a lance outlet. Oxygen is introduced into such feed line at at least one location along the feed line and is mixed with the carrier gas/particle mixture during its flow towards the lance outlet before reaching that outlet, and preferably at least 1 meter from the outlet of the lance.

Abstract: A vehicle window 100 comprises a glass sheet 101 bearing a coating 102. The coating 102 is a tin oxide coating located on an external face of the vehicle window, and has been polished after deposition.Such a coating can confer increased abrasion resistance, and facilitates removal of frozen condensation. The coating may be electrically conductive so that it reduces the emissivity of the coated face in respect of infra-red radiation having wavelengths greater than 3 micrometers.A method of manufacturing a transparent vehicle window is disclosed which comprises depositing a coating on a face of a piece of glass in sheet or ribbon form, the coating deposited being a tin oxide coating. After deposition the coating is subjected to a polishing treatment.

Abstract: A spherulizing furnace for manufacturing vitreous beads includes feed means for delivering particulate feedstock, a spherulizing zone in which the feedstock particles may be heated and converted to vitreous beads, and means for collecting the resulting beads, wherein the feed means includes a reservoir adapted to hold a fluidized bed of feedstock particles, the reservoir having at least one overflow feed outlet opening over which fluidized particles flow under gravity for delivery to the spherulizing zone. A process of manufacturing vitreous beads, and vitreous beads made thereby, includes delivering feedstock to a spherulizing zone of a spherulizing furnace, passing the feedstock through the spherulizing zone so that the feedstock is heated and converted to vitreous beads, and collecting the beads. The feedstock particles are delivered under gravity by fluidized overflow from a fluidized bed reservoir to the spherulizing zone.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of forming a pyrolytic tin oxide coating on a face of a hot glass substrate during transport of the glass through a coating station into which a coating precursor solution containing a tin compound is sprayed so that the glass is contacted by material from which the tin oxide coating is formed by pyrolysis. The coating is formed by spraying a solution containing at least two additives. These additives and their amounts, and the thickness to which the coating is formed, are selected so that the coating contains doping atoms and has an emissivity in respect of infra-red radiation having wavelengths greater than 3 micrometers of at most 0.3 and a specific internal haze factor of at most 1.5.

Abstract: A decorative mirror having a reflective silver layer deposited on a transparent sheet. A substance which reacts with silver is applied to the silver layer to create randomly distributed areas containing reaction products including non-metallic silver where the visible light reflectance of the mirror is modified or interrupted. In order to manufacture the mirror, a transparent sheet is wetted with a silvering solution to form a reflective silver layer, and while the sheet is still wet with the silvering solution the sheet is contacted with randomly distributed droplets of a solution of a substance which reacts with silver, the two solutions being made up using different solvents. The substance which reacts with silver may be a tin compound in an alcoholic solution, the silvering being effected with an aqueous solution. The silver layer whose reflective properties have been modified may be overcoated with a second silver layer, and the whole protected with further layers, for example of copper and paint.

Abstract: A spherulizing furnace for manufacturing vitreous beads, including a chamber; means for heating the chamber; feed means for delivering a particulate feedstock to one end of the chamber; and means for collecting vitreous beads from another end of the chamber, wherein the chamber includes a pair of opposed walls which are spaced apart by a distance less than their breadth and which are angled to the horizontal so that the chamber has an upper end and a lower end, the feed means is arranged to deliver feedstock to the upper end of the chamber so that the feedstock can pass through the chamber under gravity, and the means for heating the chamber is arranged to heat at least one wall of the pair of opposed walls so that feedstock passing between the pair of opposed walls is heated by radiant heat.

Abstract: In or for a polymeric article incorporating a synthetic polymer and a filler material, which filler material includes glass beads bearing coatings of at least one coating agent in a total coating amount not exceeding 1% and preferably between 0.02% and 0.2%, by weight based on the weight of uncoated beads, which coatings limit adhesion between the glass beads and the synthetic polymer and confer an increased impact resistance on the article as compared with an article which includes uncoated glass beads as filler material but is otherwise identical.

Abstract: Light transmitting glass has at least one surface area which is matted by surface pits. That surface area has a population of merging or contiguous surface pits, the pits being of such small area and profile that clearly legible typed characters of 10-pitch size are still clearly legible when viewed through such matted surface area when that surface is held at a distance of 10 cm from the said characters. At least one matted surface area may be occupied by a population of surface pits which are of such small size that a disk having a diameter of 10 micrometer cannot be placed thereon without overlapping at least two pits.

Abstract: Light transmitting glass having at least one surface area which is matted by surface pits, including an etched surface area having a population of merging or contiguous surface pits of polyhedral form, each pit having a small area so that at least 30% of visible light normally incident on the at least one surface is diffusely transmitted through the surface and the at least one surface having a total luminous transmittance of normally incident visible light of not less than TT-10 where TT is the total luminous transmittance through the same surface prior to etching expressed as a percentage of the total incident visible light.