Abstract: A method for the production of single-material optical fibers having a light conducting core supported within a protective sleeve by at least one extremely thin support component characterized by providing a blank having a core and at least one support component disposed within a protective sleeve, heating the blank to a drawing temperature, drawing the blank into a form of an optical fiber and either during the drawing or subsequent thereto, transversely stretching the support component to reduce the ratios of the thickness of the support component to its transverse width and to the thickness of the core of the fiber. In one embodiment of the invention, subsequent to the drawing, a fluid such as a gas under excessive pressure is applied internally to the protective sleeve to expand and inflate the sleeve to transversely stretch the support component.

Abstract: Two molds attached to the same carriage and filled with molten glass in the form of a gob, are presented by a roller track from beneath a pair of blowing spindles or pipes with which the molds are nested until the glass therein is fixed or set in the clamping means of the spindles, after which the molds disengage from the parisons attached to the spindles by a descending portion of the roller track which guides their carriage. The carriages are moved along the roller track by an endless chain conveyor synchronized with the movement of the glass forming machines carrying the pair of blowing spindles. The parisons attached to the spindles are then formed and blown into the containers in the normal manner of that of a "Westlake" turntable type of glass container making machine.

Abstract: In the art of manufacturing alkaline glasses in electric resistance furnaces, improved results are obtained by use of a porous insulating blanket formed from granulated or aggregated raw batch and by conforming the interior of the furnace to the currents within the melt and permitting the formed gaseous components to escape the rough the porous insulating blanket.

Abstract: The novel embodiments disclosed herein also illustrate a novel method for making a recuperator structure. A multiplicity of elongated tubes are formed of a glass that is thermally crystallizable to a low expansion glass-ceramic. In one embodiment, each of the tubes is sealed at each end and contains an expansible fluid medium. Each of the tubes has a portion intermediate the ends thereof which is substantially straight. Pluralities of the multiplicity of tubes are tightly packed into a first plurality of layers with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to each other. The first plurality of layers are arranged with the straight intermediate tube portions thereof in a stacked array with respect to each other, and with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to the axes of the corresponding intermediate tube portions in the other first plurality of layers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fusion and casting machine for the preparation of glass buttons for analysis.The machine contains an assembly of several heaters which moves with a precession motion imparting agitation to the content of the molten materials. When the materials are fused, agitation stops, flame goes out, moulds which were intially above the crucibles move under the crucibles, and the crucibles turn over and transfer their content into the moulds where solidification takes place. Perfect glass buttons are produced: these are stable, homogeneous, flat, smooth, bubble-free and need no further processing before the anaylsis.

Abstract: A silver-halide photochromic glass of alkali-boroaluminosilicate base composition, having a brown coloration in the faded and darkened state, is provided by treating a potentially photochromic glass of specified composition according to a defined two-phase heat treatment to develop photochromic properties therein.

Abstract: This invention relates to the production of glass-ceramic articles in the Li.sub.2 O--MgO--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 system nucleated with TiO.sub.2, and, optionally, ZrO.sub.2 which, containing beta-spodumene solid solution as the predominant crystal phase, exhibit average coefficients of thermal expansion over the range of 25.degree.-1000.degree. C. of less than about 15 .times. 10.sup.-.sup.7 /.degree. C. and total elongations after 2000 hours at 950.degree. C. of less than about 1000 PPM. The compositions are especially useful in the manufacture of honeycomb structures which are to be subjected to extreme changes in temperature, such as are experienced in regenerative heat exchangers for use in turbine engines.

Abstract: A method of producing an optical reticle and the reticle produced thereby. thin layer of aluminum is deposited on the face of a sapphire substrate and a reticle pattern is chemically etched therein. The system is then exposed to air at an elevated temperature for approximately one hour to oxidize the remaining aluminum layer. A film of titanium is next placed over the rough aluminum oxide as by sputtering, for example, and the excess titanium is etched away by the same pattern to produce the finished reticle.

Abstract: A method of densifying a fumed metal oxide is disclosed wherein the metal oxide is converted to a flowable sol and then dried to form a fragmented solid which is calcined. The calcined oxide may be wet milled to provide a slip for casting articles such as fused silica crucibles used in melting silicon.

Abstract: Fused oxide type glasses produced by flame hydrolysis are described. These glasses are composed of P.sub.2 O.sub.5 and, optionally, SiO.sub.2. P.sub.2 O.sub.5 is present in an amount of at least 2% by weight.

Abstract: The instant invention is concerned with a unique method for crystallizing glass bodies into glass-ceramic articles. More particularly, this invention is drawn to a method whereby glass-ceramic articles can be formed without cooling the precursor glass below the transformation range thereof. Thus, the glass melt is cooled and formed into a vitreous body. This vitreous body is cooled to a temperature no lower than about 25.degree.-250.degree. C. above the transformation range where nucleation is developed therewithin. Essentially immediately thereafter, the nucleated body is exposed to a temperature between about 100.degree.-500.degree. C. higher than that of the nucleation step to cause the growth of crystals on the nuclei. The process significantly expedites the production of glass-ceramic articles and substantially reduces energy consumption from the forming stage to the finished product.

Abstract: A method for the production of an article suitable as a circuit element is formed by admixing vanadium dioxide or doped vanadium dioxide with a binder of vanadium pentoxide and phosphorus pentoxide then heating and shaping the admixture into a shape.

Abstract: The attenuation in a dielectric optical waveguide can be reduced by the following techniques:1. Surrounding the double crucible during the drawing operation by a non-oxidizing atmosphere.2. Feeding glass rod into the melt at a slow rate.3. Guiding glass rod into the melt so that movement of the glass rod transverse to the melt surface is inhibited.4. Melting the glass in the double crucible under vacuum.

Abstract: The invention achieves local variation, or a continuous gradation, in photochromic or phototropic properties across the face of glass lenses and lens blanks, especially those of ophthalmic quality. The lenses and lens blanks contain all those ingredients required to produce photochromic or phototropic behavior. They are exposed to a locally variable temperature field or environment, in such manner as to, in at least one portion of the lens or lens blank cause the temperature therein to exceed the strain point but not the softening point of the glass. In other portions of the lens or lens blank the temperature is below the strain point, thus causing development of phototropic or photochromic behavior only in those portions of the lens or lens blank exposed to the temperatures above the strain point.

Abstract: Increased optical transmission is provided for a body of light transmissive polycrystalline alumina body treated at elevated temperatures with a molten flux composition. A tube of the flux polished material which can be used as the light transmissive envelope for high intensity discharge lamps especially sodium vapor lamps, improves light output from the lamp as the result of increased in-line transmission for the treated envelope member. A method of chemically polishing polycrystalline alumina material in this manner is also disclosed.

Abstract: Suitable glass-ceramic base compositions, including some silicates, aluminosilicates, lithium aluminosilicates, and boroaluminates, are modified by the addition of suitable quantities of transition metal oxides prior to melting and forming into thermally-crystallizable glass articles. Appropriate crystallization and post-crystallization heat treatments are thereafter employed to cause crystallization of the articles and the formation and growth of films thereon, which films are characterized by the presence of transition metal compounds, typically of spinel structure, therein. Such films demonstrate useful electrical, magnetic, catalytic and/or light-absorptive properties.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing carbon-free homogeneous silicate compositions comprising;Combining a hydrolyzable metal alkoxide with a clear solution of a partially hydrolyzed silicon tetraalkoxide so as to form a clear solution of a further hydrolyzable metallosiloxane;Adding an additional quantity of water to said solution in an amount in excess of that required to theoretically hydrolyze residual alkoxy groups of said further hydrolyzable metallosiloxane, thereby forming a substantially hydrolyzed metallosiloxane;Fractionally distilling said substantially hydrolyzed metallosiloxane, i.e. heating under a fractionating column, in the presence of free water for a time sufficient to remove all residual alcohol as distillate and hydrolyze residual alkoxy groups.

Abstract: Making perforate optical sections (lenses) of pseudophakoi with avoidance of drilling operations and adversities thereof. Lens material is drawn with embedded acid soluble columns corresponding in diametral size and relative juxtaposition to the size and spaced locations of holes needed in a lens and the columns are etched away prior to or following final edging and surface finishing of the lens. Making multiple lens preforms is contemplated.

Abstract: A method for producing an image dissector having one end portion fixed in a matrix type and the other end portion fixed in a straight line. A conduit is formed by arranging plurality of single rods having an acid-soluble glass layer on one of side surfaces of every single rod so that said acid-soluble glass layers will be arrayed in parallel planes and by subjecting said single rods to thermal forming. Said conduit is soaked in acid, after shielding its one end portion, in order to dissolve said acid-soluble glass layers and to separate the other portion into ribbon-shaped layers. An image dissector is produced by arraying end portions of separated ribbon-shaped layers in a straight line and fixing them together.

Abstract: A glass article having relatively high degrees of surface smoothness, durability, and light transmissivity can be made by forming a glass comprising, in mole percent on an oxide basis, 70-80% SiO.sub.2, 8-18% Na.sub.2 O and/or K.sub.2 O, and 5 to 10% of ZnO and/or PbO; hydrating the glass under acidic conditions to include a water content of up to 12% by weight while reducing the alkali content; reacting the hydrated glass with a HF-containing solution to remove up to 30 weight % of the glass; dehydrating the glass, if necessary, to reduce the total water content to a range of 3 to 7 weight percent; and pressure molding the glass under conditions sufficient to impart an optical quality surface smoothness of a die to the glass surface.