Abstract: Flat glass is disclosed, bearing a tin oxide coating layer which is at least 200 nm in thickness. In order to promote a uniform visual appearance across the coated area, the expected grain area of a representative sample of the tin oxide coating crystals measured in units of 10.sup.-4 .mu.m.sup.2 is numerically equal to a value of at least 0.4 times the layer thickness measured in nanometers.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in pyrolytically forming a metal oxide coating on an upper face of a hot glass substrate 1 in sheet or ribbon form comprises conveyor means 2 for conveying the substrate 1 in a downstream direction 3 along a path also indicated at 1 and a roof structure 5 defining a coating chamber 6 opening downwardly onto the path and comprising a passageway 11 along which coating precursor vapor and oxidizing gas can be conducted downstream in contact with the upper substrate face during the conveyance of the substrate. The roof structure 5 defines, in or adjacent the upstream end of the passageway 11, a mixing zone 7 which opens downwardly onto the substrate path 1. Means such as spray nozzle 35 is provided for injecting coating precursor material into the mixing zone 7 from a height of at least 50 cm above the level of the substate path 1.

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. Preferred coating materials include silanes, fluorocarbon compounds and synthetic polymers having shockabsorbing properties, especially synthetic polymers having a glass transition temperature (Tg), determined by differential scanning calorimetry, which is lower than 15.degree. C.

Abstract: A transparent fire-screening glazing panel has at least one solid intumescent layer comprising a hydrated alkali metal silicate and at least one sheet of glazing material, and the layer of intumescent material contains at least one silicate-stabilizing agent. Suitable stabilizing compounds include at least partially dissociated nitrogenized organic compounds, especially quaternary ammonium compounds such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide. To manufacture such a panel, the silicate-stabilizing agent may be incorporated into an aqueous solution of the intumescent material which is then hardened by drying to form the layer. Alternatively, the silicate-stabilizing agent may be incorporated into an aqueous solution of the intumescent material which is then dried to form grains which are subsequently incorporated into a layer held sandwiched between two sheets of glazing material.

Abstract: A process of imparting a predetermined curvature to a sheet of thermoplastics material in which a thermoplastics sheet is bent by placing it against a face of a bending form. The form having a moulding surface area of the required curvature. The process includes heating the thermoplastics sheet and causing or allowing it to conform to the moulding surface area. The thermoplastics sheet is formed oversized and is bent by placing it against a bending form having a moulding surface area portion of the required dimensions and curvature which is surrounded by a bending form surround. Next, the thermoplastics sheet is heated and caused or allowed to conform to the moulding surface area portion while its oversized margins are supported by the bending form surround. Thereafter, the thermoplastics sheet is cooled at a rate slow enough to maintain such conformity, and then the thermoplastics sheet is trimmed to size.

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, aluminium and/or magnesium. The carbonaceous particles may comprise a carbonaceous core which is covered by a mantle inhibiting oxidation of the core.

Abstract: The invention relates to an article comprising a glass sheet and having an etched pattern, and to a process of manufacturing an article comprising a glass sheet and having an etched pattern.The glass sheet 11 is a chemically tempered glass sheet, and the pattern comprises one or more grooves 10 etched into the article using fluorine ions to a depth of less than 2 .mu.m. The etched grooves 10 constituting the pattern may be formed in a layer 12 of inorganic material such as SiO.sub.2. They may have a width of less than 10 .mu.m and the spacing (p) between two adjacent grooves may also be less than 10 .mu.m.

Abstract: A process of forming a refractory mass on a surface, which process includes spraying against that surface a mixture of refractory particles and oxidisable particles which react exothermically with oxygen to generate sufficient heat to soften or melt at least the surfaces of the refractory particles and so bring about formation of said refractory mass, and causing the sprayed mixture to be heated sufficiently to cause the oxidisable particles to undergo such exothermic reaction, the granulometry of the particles which are sprayed in the mixture being such that the mean of the 80% and 20% grain sizes of the refractory particles is greater than the mean of the 80% and 20% grain sizes of the oxidisable particles and that the size range spread factor of the refractory particles is at least 1.2.

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. Preferred coating materials include silanes, fluorocarbon compounds and synthetic polymers having shockabsorbing properties, especially synthetic polymers having a glass transition temperature (Tg), determined by differential scanning calorimetry, which is lower than 15.degree. C.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing vitreous beads is disclosed in which feedstock particles of a glass-former composition containing less than 15% by dry weight of sodium and potassium calculated as their respective oxides and containing chemically bound water, are fed through a heating zone in which the particles are vitrified and spherulized and the resulting vitreous beads are cooled. The vitrifiable oxide forming elements of said glass-former composition may be chemically interlinked, and the feedstock may be prepared as a silica-based gel or precipitate having a composition suitable for vitrification into a glass of a desired composition which by virtue of its low alkali content is resistant to hydrolytic attack. By control of the cellulating agent content (bound water and optionally a gas evolving salt radical such as nitrate or sulphate) of the feedstock, and its granulometry, the relative proportions of solid and hollow beads which will be produced in a given spherulizing run can be controlled.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing vitreous beads is disclosed in which feedstock particles of a glass-former composition containing chemically bound water, are fed through a heating zone in which the particles are vitrified and spherulized and the resulting vitreous beads are cooled. The size of the feedstock particles and their content of substance which becomes gaseous during the passage of the particles through said heating zone are such that a least 20% by weight of the formed beads have a relative density greater than I.O. The vitrifiable oxide forming elements of said glass-former composition may be chemically interlinked, and the feedstock may be prepared as a silica-based gel or precipitate having a composition suitable for vitrification into a glass of any desired composition for example one which by virtue of its low alkali content is resistant to hydrolytic attack.

Abstract: Apparatus for pyrolytically forming a metal compound coating on an upper face of a hot glass substrate 1 in sheet or ribbon form comprises conveyor means 2 for conveying a the substrate along a path also indicated at 1 in a downstream direction 3, a roof structure 5 defining a coating chamber 6 opening downwardly onto the path 1 and means 7 for discharging coating precursor material into the chamber 6. Upstream of the coating chamber 6 there is an antechamber 25 which communicates with the coating chamber 6 via an entry slot 24 which is defined in part by the path of the substrate 1, and via which gas can be caused to flow into the coating chamber 6 so as to form (when the apparatus is in use) a blanket layer which covers the upper face of the substrate 1 along a first part of the length of the chamber 6. Means 26 is provided for controllably preheating the gas forming the blanket layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to coating glass beads with a mixture of substances which mixture comprises a first substance which if used alone would tend to make the beads hydrophobic while leaving them oleophilic and as second substance which if used alone would tend to make the beads both hydrophobic and oleophobic. Said coated beads maybe used in a synthetic polymeric matrix, as a coating over paint and as a coating on a road surface.

Abstract: A transparent glazing panel comprising at least one sheet of coated glazing material bears on a first sheet face 3 a first light transmitting coating 13 at least 400 nm in thickness which comprises doped tin oxide and/or doped indium oxide and reduces the emissivity of that sheet face in respect of infra-red radiation having wavelengths in excess of 3 .mu.m. On a second sheet face 1, the panel bears a second light transmitting metal oxide coating 21 which comprises at least 30% tin and at least 30% titanium calculated as weight percent of the respective dioxide in that second coating. The second coating 21 increases the reflectivity of that sheet face in respect of normally incident visible light to at least 20%, while the light absorbing properties of that second coating are such that it has a computed internal transmission factor in respect of visible light of at least 60%.

Abstract: A hot vitreous substrate 1 travels on a conveyor 2 through a coating station 5 where a metal compound is formed in situ on a face of the substrate 1 by pyrolytic decomposition of coating material 9 sprayed towards the substrate from a spray head 6 which repeatedly traverses the substrate path. Radiant heating means 11 located on the side of the substrate 1 being coated directs radiant heat towards the transverse region swept by the zone of impingement 10 of the coating precursor material 9 on the substrate 1.

Abstract: A metal or metal compound coating is formed on a face of a hot ribbon 3 of freshly formed glass as it travels forwardly 4 through a coating station 19 where coating precursor material is sprayed onto the surface of the glass. The coating precursor material is sprayed in one or more streams 1 of droplets which is or are directed downwardly and forwardly towards the ribbon 4 and is repeatedly displaced to and fro across the ribbon path so that the ribbon 3 is scanned by the droplet stream(s) 1. Especially in order to form a thick coating of tin oxide on a rapidly moving ribbon, the velocities of the droplets in the stream(s) 1 are such that substantial splashing occurs at the ribbon face.

Abstract: Molten glass 1 flows continuously from a glass melting furnace 2 to a drawing tank 7 whence the glass is drawn as a continuous ribbon 10 from a slot 11 in a refractory device 12 such as a debiteuse partially immersed in the molten glass.The center of the slot 11 is spaced from each of upstream 6 and downstream 9 end walls of the drawing tank 7 by at least 550 mm. The debiteuse 12 is preferably spaced from those walls by at least 350 mm.This promotes and facilitates production of a high yield of glass of a high standard of thickness uniformity and of good planeity.These advantages are enhanced when the ribbon is passed over a bending roll 13 in a drawing chamber 8 above the drawing tank 7 and thence to a horizontal annealing lehr 14.

Abstract: A method for processing intumescent material which forms a layer of a transparent fire-screening panel, which method includes forming a layer containing an aqueous solution of intumescent material on a cyclically moving support, removing water from the layer of material on the support by applying heat, removing the intumescent layer from the support within one cycle of its application thereto in such a manner that the layer becomes reworked or broken, and incorporating the removed intumescent material into a glazing panel.

Abstract: A process of forming a multi-ply laminate which comprises at least one ply 2 of thermoplastics material forming a transparent outer ply of the laminate, such process comprising assembling the plies 1, 2 of the laminate, degassing its inter-ply space or spaces and subjecting it to bonding conditions including environmental laminating pressure distributed over the outside of the or each said thermoplastics outer ply 2 by a moulding plate 3 is characterised by the steps of:enveloping at least the edges of the assembled laminate plier 1, 2 and moulding plate(s) 3 by means 4 defining therewith an edge space 5 in communication with the inter-ply space(s),reducing the pressure P5 within the edge space 5 to commence degassing of the assembly and heating the assembly (curve T) while the main faces of the assembly are subjected to at least atmospheric environmental pressure P6 and subsequently, while the assembly is subjected to environment laminating pressure P6raising the edge pressure P5 to reduce or eliminate any d

Abstract: Molten glass 1 flows continuously from a glass melting furnace 2 to a drawing tank 7 when the glass is drawn as a continuous ribbon 10 and is passed over a bending roll 13 in a drawing chamber 8 above the tank 7 and then to a horizontal annealing lehr 14.A high yield of glass, especially thin glass, of a high standard of thickness uniformity and good planeity is promoted and facilitated by causing the molten glass 1 to flow upwardly through a slot 11 in a refractory device 12 partially immersed in molten glass in a deep drawing tank.