Abstract: An apparatus for downwardly drawing glass ribbon comprises edge directors, wherein an outer portion defining a first pair of surfaces and a second pair of surfaces. In one example, the first and second pair of surfaces of each edge director includes a glass wettability with a static contact angle within a range of from about 30° to about 60°. In another example, the outer portion comprises a platinum alloy including from about 0.05 weight % tin to about 5 weight % tin. Methods for forming glass include the step of providing the edge director with a desired glass wettability and/or a desired platinum alloy.

Abstract: A mold for shaping glass-based material can include a mold body having a surface, wherein at least a portion of the mold body near the surface comprises at least about 90% by weight nickel and from about 0.2% to about 0.35% by weight manganese; and a nickel oxide layer on the surface of the mold body. The nickel oxide layer has first and second opposing surfaces wherein the first surface of the nickel oxide layer contacts and faces the surface of the mold body and the second surface of the nickel oxide layer includes a plurality of grains. The plurality of grains has an average grain size of about 150 ?m or less.

Abstract: A method of making an electrode assembly for a furnace includes providing a heating element within the furnace. The method further includes providing a power feedthrough having an end portion that extends into the furnace to couple with the heating element. The power feedthrough includes a conductive member for transmitting electricity to the heating element. The method includes cleaning an exterior surface of the conductive member proximate the end portion of the power feedthrough. The method further includes a step of applying an electroless nickel plating to the exterior surface of the conductive member for preventing corrosion of the conductive member within the furnace. The method also includes connecting the end portion of the power feedthrough to the heating element.

Abstract: A mold for shaping glass can be made by a method that includes providing a mold body having a shaping surface comprising at least about 90% nickel and modifying the composition of the shaping surface of the mold body by exposing the shaping surface to an oxidizing heat treatment. The oxidizing heat treatment may include a ramping heat treatment, a fixed heat treatment, or both the ramping heat treatment and the fixed heat treatment. The ramping heat treatment may include increasing a heating temperature at a rate from about 20° C./hour to about 500° C./hour to a temperature from about 700° C. to about 1000° C. The fixed heat treatment may include holding the heating temperature from about 700° C. to about 1000° C. for a holding time of at least about 5 minutes.

Abstract: A mold for shaping glass-based material can include a mold body having a surface, wherein at least a portion of the mold body near the surface comprises at least about 90% by weight nickel and from about 0.2% to about 0.35% by weight manganese; and a nickel oxide layer on the surface of the mold body. The nickel oxide layer has first and second opposing surfaces wherein the first surface of the nickel oxide layer contacts and faces the surface of the mold body and the second surface of the nickel oxide layer includes a plurality of grains. The plurality of grains has an average grain size of about 150 ?m or less.

Abstract: A mold for shaping glass can be made by a method that includes providing a mold body having a shaping surface comprising at least about 90% nickel and modifying the composition of the shaping surface of the mold body by exposing the shaping surface to an oxidizing heat treatment. The oxidizing heat treatment may include a ramping heat treatment, a fixed heat treatment, or both the ramping heat treatment and the fixed heat treatment. The ramping heat treatment may include increasing a heating temperature at a rate from about 20° C./hour to about 500° C./hour to a temperature from about 700° C. to about 1000° C. The fixed heat treatment may include holding the heating temperature from about 700° C. to about 1000° C. for a holding time of at least about 5 minutes.

Abstract: A mold for shaping glass can be made by a method that includes providing a mold body having a shaping surface comprising at least about 90% nickel and modifying the composition of the shaping surface of the mold body by exposing the shaping surface to an oxidizing heat treatment. The oxidizing heat treatment may include a ramping heat treatment, a fixed heat treatment, or both the ramping heat treatment and the fixed heat treatment. The ramping heat treatment may include increasing a heating temperature at a rate from about 20° C./hour to about 500° C./hour to a temperature from about 700° C. to about 1000° C. The fixed heat treatment may include holding the heating temperature from about 700° C. to about 1000° C. for a holding time of at least about 5 minutes.

Abstract: A method of making an electrode assembly for a furnace includes providing a heating element within the furnace. The method further includes providing a power feedthrough having an end portion that extends into the furnace to couple with the heating element. The power feedthrough includes a conductive member for transmitting electricity to the heating element. The method includes cleaning an exterior surface of the conductive member proximate the end portion of the power feedthrough. The method further includes a step of applying an electroless nickel plating to the exterior surface of the conductive member for preventing corrosion of the conductive member within the furnace. The method also includes connecting the end portion of the power feedthrough to the heating element.

Abstract: An apparatus for downwardly drawing glass ribbon comprises edge directors, wherein an outer portion defining a first pair of surfaces and a second pair of surfaces. In one example, the first and second pair of surfaces of each edge director includes a glass wettability with a static contact angle within a range of from about 30° to about 60°. In another example, the outer portion comprises a platinum alloy including from about 0.05 weight % tin to about 5 weight % tin. Methods for forming glass include the step of providing the edge director with a desired glass wettability and/or a desired platinum alloy.

Abstract: An apparatus for downwardly drawing glass ribbon comprises edge directors, wherein an outer portion defining a first pair of surfaces and a second pair of surfaces. In one example, the first and second pair of surfaces of each edge director includes a glass wettability with a static contact angle within a range of from about 30° to about 60°. In another example, the outer portion comprises a platinum alloy including from about 0.05 weight % tin to about 5 weight % tin. Methods for forming glass include the step of providing the edge director with a desired glass wettability and/or a desired platinum alloy.

Abstract: A mold for shaping glass can be made by a method that includes providing a mold body having a shaping surface comprising at least about 90% nickel and modifying the composition of the shaping surface of the mold body by exposing the shaping surface to an oxidizing heat treatment. The oxidizing heat treatment may include a ramping heat treatment, a fixed heat treatment, or both the ramping heat treatment and the fixed heat treatment. The ramping heat treatment may include increasing a heating temperature at a rate from about 20° C./hour to about 500° C./hour to a temperature from about 700° C. to about 1000° C. The fixed heat treatment may include holding the heating temperature from about 700° C. to about 1000° C. for a holding time of at least about 5 minutes.

Abstract: An apparatus for downwardly drawing glass ribbon comprises edge directors, wherein an outer portion defining a first pair of surfaces and a second pair of surfaces. In one example, the first and second pair of surfaces of each edge director includes a glass wettability with a static contact angle within a range of from about 30° to about 60°. In another example, the outer portion comprises a platinum alloy including from about 0.05 weight % tin to about 5 weight % tin. Methods for forming glass include the step of providing the edge director with a desired glass wettability and/or a desired platinum alloy.

Abstract: An oxidation and corrosion resistant coating is applied to glass forming equipment by physical vapor deposition. The coating material is preferably aluminum oxide.

Abstract: A method for attaching a getter to a surface includes applying an adhesive to the surface and applying the getter to the adhesive layer so as to bond the getter to the surface.