Abstract: The invention relates to glass powder, especially a biologically active glass powder, which includes a plurality of glass particles and which is characterized by the following features: the glass particles are made up by >90 % of non-spherical particles; the geometry of the individual non-spherical particle is characterized by a ratio of length to diameter of 1.1 to 105.

Abstract: A method for melting inorganic materials, preferably glasses and glass-ceramics, in a melting unit with cooled walls is provided. The method includes selecting the temperature of at least one region of the melt is selected in such a way as to be in a range from Teff?20% to Teff+20%, where the temperature Teff is given by the temperature at which the energy consumption per unit weight of the material to be melted is at a minimum, with the throughput having been selected in such a way as to be suitably adapted to the required residence time.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for heating a melt in a melting vessel with cooled walls is provided. The melt is heated conductively by current flowing between at least two cooled electrodes, which each replace part of the wall of the melting vessel.

Abstract: In order, inter alia, to provide an apparatus and a process for melting inorganic substances which allow a high product quality to be obtained and the technological outlay to be reduced, the invention provides a process and an apparatus in which the volumetric ratios between a melting region and a refining region can be flexibly adapted.

Abstract: The invention describes a method and an apparatus for the rapid melting of in particular high-purity, aggressive and/or high-melting glasses in a skull crucible, in which high-frequency energy is introduced into the contents of the crucible by means of a coil arrangement surrounding the skull crucible, in order to heat the melt, and the batch is laid and the molten glass discharged in the upper region of the crucible, and undissolved constituents of the batch are retained by means of a cooled bridge which is immersed in the melt. According to the invention, the glass is taken off above the coil arrangement (1.3) and is fed for further processing without flowing through the coil region. This has the advantage that simple, conventional components can be used to connect the melting unit to the further-processing stations, and the type of connection can be selected in such a way that it is possible to prevent the quality of the glass from being impaired by connection techniques which are less than optimum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for changing glass compositions in continuously operated melting installations which has a significantly shortened melt changeover time and therefore lower costs and in which the glass quality is not adversely affected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for melting or refining glass or glass ceramics. According to the invention, a device of this type is provided with the following characteristics: a plurality of tubes which are U-shaped and arrange side by side so that they form a cage like skull channel that is open on top, and a high frequency oscillation circuit which comprises an induction coil. The tubes can be connected to a cooling medium. The induction coil wraps around the channel in such a manner that winding sections extend along the lateral walls of the channel.

Abstract: A device for the melting of highly pure optical glasses and/or for the treatment of melts is provided. The device is intended for a subsequent refining or homogenization process making use of the skull technique. The device uses a number of coated metal tubes whose surface is free of glass-coloring ions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a glass melt.