Abstract: A process of making glass beads which comprises the steps of forming a fluid medium comprising an aqueous liquid having glass-forming material therein at least most of which is dissolved in the aqueous liquid, forming drops of such fluid medium, and converting the drops to glass beads by causing the drops to travel in separated condition first through a firing zone at glass-forming temperature to cause evaporation of liquid and formation of glass from the glass-forming material, and then through a cooling zone to cause the glass to solidify.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of expansible beads which are convertible by firing into cellular glass bodies, such process comprising the steps of preparing a slip having a liquid medium continuous phase and a disperse phase, the slip containing particles of glass or glass-forming material, a cellulating agent, and a binder, the disperse phase of the slip including at least most of the particles, dividing the slip into drops, and subjecting the drops while in divided condition to a heat treatment including heating and cooling stages so as to cause evaporation of liquid from the drops and conversion thereof into self-sustaining beads in which the glass or glass-forming particles are held together by the binder and which contain the cellulating agent or gas derived therefrom.