Abstract: A metal oxide coating is formed on a vitreous or non-vitreous substrate by applying a solution containing at least one metal compound to the substrate and then heating the coated substrate to convert the compound in situ to leave a coating of metal acetyl acetonate or a mixture of metal acetyl acetonates in a solvent including an aprotonic solvent, a substituted or unsubstituted monocarboxylic acid solvent, an amine or diamine solvent, or a mixture of two or more solvents selected from these groups.

Abstract: In the diffusion of ions from a contacting medium constituting a source of such ions into surface layers of a body of glass or vitrocrystalline material for the purpose of modifying at least one property of the body, the uniformity of the diffusion across the surface of the body is improved by placing the medium contacting the body in the form of a mist composed of suspended droplets of the treating medium.

Abstract: A heat insulating screen forming a part of an oven or furnace comprising two or more sheets of glass of vitrocrystalline material mounted in facing relationship, one sheet providing one exterior face of the screen having been subjected to a chemical tempering treatment, the other sheet providing the other exterior face of the screen having improved thermal properties which are obtained either by utilizing a borosilicate glass which has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 5 x 10.sup.-6 /.degree. C or a sheet bearing at least one coating capable of screening off a significant amount of incident infrared radiation.

Abstract: A metallic oxide coating is formed on a substrate which may be vitreous, partially vitreous or nonvitreous by applying to the substrate a solution of one or more metallic salts selected from the group of the acetates, halides and nitrates in an aprotic solvent having a dielectric constant greater than 15 and a dipolar moment greater then 3D. The substrate and applied solution are then subjected to heat to convert in situ the metallic salt to form a coating comprising at least one metallic oxide.

Abstract: In the coloring of bodies of glass by diffusion of coloring ions from a treatment medium into surface layers thereof, the repeatability of the resulting coloration is improved by controlling not only the treatment temperature and composition of the medium and the treatment time, but also by controlling the electrical potential within the medium between a pair of electrodes in contact therewith. Preferably, for electrodes of specified composition and structure, this potential is maintained at a value between -600 mV and +300 mV.

Abstract: Glass bodies formed from a vitrifiable composition are given a desired coloration by introducing a reducing agent into surface layers of the body, during or after its formation from a molten composition, and the then the body surface into contact with a diffusion medium composed of a mixture of a salt furnishing reducible metal ions which are capable of being reduced by the reducing agent, and a diluting agent constituted by a salt of another metal, the body being subjected to temperature conditions such as to cause the reducible metal ions to diffuse into the body surface layers and to there be chemically reduced by the reducing agent.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pre-heating a vitrifiable batch before it is introduced into a glass melting furnace. The hot gases from the furnace are used for this purpose. The batch is fed onto a support which provides apertures or openings. The support and the batch on it are heated by hot gases from the furnace until the batch is in at least a partly molten condition in which it flows through the support apertures.

Abstract: In the manufacture of sheet glass by drawing a ribbon of glass upwardly from a molten glass bath via a meniscus located at the glass surface in the drawing zone, a pool of molten material is contained in the bath beneath the drawing zone by a refractory member and the molten material pool is thermally conditioned to maintain a predetermined temperature profile in at least part of the drawing zone.