Abstract: The invention relates to a furnace for the continuous melting of a composition comprising silica, the said furnace comprising at least two tanks in series, said tanks each comprising at least one burner submerged in the melt. The invention also relates to the process for manufacturing compositions comprising silica using the furnace, the silica and the fluxing agent for the silica being introduced into the first tank. The invention makes it possible to produce glass color frits, tile frits and enamel with a high productivity, low temperatures and short transition times.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for melting and refining vitrifiable materials, such that all or part of the thermal energy necessary for melting the said vitrifiable materials is supplied by the combustion of fossil fuel(s) with at least one oxidizer gas, the said fuel(s)/gas or the gaseous products resulting from the combustion being injected below the level of the mass of vitrifiable materials (7). The refining of the vitrifiable materials after melting takes place at least partly in the form of a “thin layer”. The invention also relates to the device for implementing the process and to its applications.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for manufacturing compounds based on one or more silicates of alkali metals, such as Na and K and/or alkaline earth metals such as Ca, Mg, and/or on rare earths, such as Ce, optionally in the form of mixed silicates which combine alkaline-earth metals, such as Ca, with the alkali metal(s) and the rare earth(s), by conversion of silica and of halides, especially of one or more chlorides, or sulfate or nitrate, of the said alkali metals and/or of the said rare earths and/or of the said alkaline-earth metals, such as NaCl, KCl or CeCl4. The heat needed for the conversion is supplied, at least partly, by one or more submerged burners. The subject of the invention is also an apparatus for carrying out the process and for its use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing compounds based on one or more silicates of alkali metals and/or of alkaline-earth metals, optionally in the form of mixed silicates that combine at least two of these elements, said process involving: (i) preferably a conversion reaction (1) in which halides of said alkali metals and/or of said rare earths and/or of said alkaline-earth metals are converted into the corresponding sulfates; (iii) a conversion reaction (2) in which said sulfates together with silica are converted into the corresponding silicates, the heat supply needed for this conversion being provided, at least in part, by a combustion reaction (3) using a submerged burner or a plurality of submerged burners.

Abstract: A subject matter of the invention is a process for destroying waste and/or rendering it inert, in particular industrial, biological or farm-produce waste: use is made of a reactor provided with heating means comprising at least one submerged burner, and said reactor is fed with at least partially vitrifiable materials, which are heated with said heating means in order to form and to maintain, in the reactor, an at least partially liquid/foamy phase at at least 800° C. Then said waste is introduced into said phase in order for its organic components to be decomposed therein by combustion and/or its inorganic components to be melted or coated in said phase. Finally, said phase, charged with molten/coated waste and/or with combustion products from said waste, is withdrawn from the reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a glass composition of silica-soda-lime type colored blue which comprises the coloring agents below in a content varying within the following limits, by weight: Fe2O3 (total iron) 0.2 to 0.51% CoO 10 to 50 ppm Cr2O3 10 to 300 ppm CuO 0-400 ppm the glass exhibiting a redox factor of less than 0.35, a dominant wavelength XD Of between 485 and 489 nm, an excitation purity of less than 13% and a selectivity at least equal to 1.1 under a thickness of between 3 and 5 mm. It also relates to the glass sheet obtained from the above-mentioned composition, said sheet being intended in particular to form an automobile window or for the construction industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant and to a process for manufacturing a glass, comprising the production of a main stream of a liquid main glass, by a main plant that includes a main furnace, and the production of an auxiliary stream of a liquid auxiliary glass, by an auxiliary plant that includes an auxiliary furnace having a submerged burner, the auxiliary stream being smaller than the main stream, the auxiliary glass having a composition different from that of the main glass and the two streams then being mixed to form a single total stream of the final glass. The auxiliary furnace especially provides the function of coloring the main glass so that the final glass is a colored glass. A highly homogeneous and bulk-colored flat glass may thus be manufactured by an installation having short transition times.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for melting and refining vitrifiable materials, such that all or part of the thermal energy necessary for melting the said vitrifiable materials is supplied by the combustion of fossil fuel(s) with at least one oxidizer gas, the said fuel(s)/gas or the gaseous products resulting from the combustion being injected below the level of the mass of vitrifiable materials (7). The refining of the vitrifiable materials after melting comprises at least one step of subjecting them to subatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant and to a process for manufacturing a glass, comprising the production of a main stream of a liquid main glass, by a main plant that includes a main furnace, and the production of an auxiliary stream of a liquid auxiliary glass, by an auxiliary plant that includes an auxiliary furnace, the auxiliary stream being smaller than the main stream, the auxiliary glass having a composition different from that of the main glass and the two streams then being mixed to form a single total stream of the final glass. The auxiliary furnace may especially be fitted with submerged burners, and provide the function of colouring the main glass so that the final glass is a coloured glass. A highly homogeneous and bulk-coloured flat glass may thus be manufactured by an installation having short transition times.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a gray glass composition of the soda-lime-silicate type having an overall light transmission under illuminant A (TLA) greater than 67% for a glass thickness equal to 3.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for manufacturing compounds based on one or more silicates of alkali metals, such as Na and K and/or alkaline earth metals such as Ca, Mg, and/or on rare earths, such as Ce, optionally in the form of mixed silicates which combine alkaline-earth metals, such a Ca, with the alkali metal(s) and the rare earth(s), by conversion of silica and of halides, especially of one or more chlorides, or sulfate or nitrate, of the said alkali metals and/or of the said rare earths and/or of the said alkaline-earth metals, such as NaCl, KCl or CeCl4. The heat needed for the conversion is supplied, at least partly, by one or more submerged burners.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for melting and refining vitrifiable materials, such that all or part of the thermal energy necessary for melting the said vitrifiable materials is supplied by the combustion of fossil fuel(s) with at least one oxidizer gas, the said fuel(s)/gas or the gaseous products resulting from the combustion being injected below the level of the mass of vitrifiable materials (7). The refining of the vitrifiable materials after melting comprises at least one step of subjecting them to subatmospheric pressure. The invention also relates to the device for implementing the process and to its applications.

Abstract: A subject matter of the invention is a process for destroying waste and/or rendering it inert, in particular industrial, biological or farm-produce waste: use is made of a reactor provided with heating means comprising at least one submerged burner, and said reactor is fed with at least partially vitrifiable materials, which are heated with said heating means in order to form and to maintain, in the reactor, an at least partially liquid/foamy phase at at least 800° C. Then said waste is introduced into said phase in order for its organic components to be decomposed therein by combustion and/or its inorganic components to be melted or coated in said phase. Finally, said phase, charged with molten/coated waste and/or with combustion products from said waste, is withdrawn from the reactor.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for melting and refining vitrifiable materials, such that all or part of the thermal energy necessary for melting the said vitrifiable materials is supplied by the combustion of fossil fuel(s) with at least one oxidizer gas, the said fuel(s)/gas or the gaseous products resulting from the combustion being injected below the level of the mass of vitrifiable materials (7). The refining of the vitrifiable materials after melting comprises at least one step of subjecting them to subatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for melting and refining vitrifiable materials, such that all or part of the thermal energy necessary for melting the said vitrifiable materials is supplied by the combustion of fossil fuel(s) with at least one oxidizer gas, the said fuel(s)/gas or the gaseous products resulting from the combustion being injected below the level of the mass of vitrifiable materials (7). The refining of the vitrifiable materials after melting takes place at least partly in the form of a “thin layer”.

Abstract: A process for melting and refining vitrifiable materials. In this method all or part of the thermal energy necessary for melting the vitrifiable materials is supplied by the combustion of fossil fuel with at least one oxidizer gas, the fuel, gas or the gaseous products resulting from their combustion are injected below the level of the mass of the vitrifiable materials. The refining of the vitrifiable materials after melting includes at least the step of subjecting them to subatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Use is made, for the manufacture of fire-resistant glazings of the G fire-resistance classes, comprising panes made of glass toughened by the thermal route by means of a conventional toughening plant and possessing safety glass properties, of glasses which exhibit a thermal expansion coefficient .alpha..sub.20-300 of between 6 and 8.5.times.10.sup.-6 K.sup.-1, a thermal stress factor .phi. of between 0.5 and 0.8N/(mm.sup.2.K), a softening point of between 750 and 830.degree. C. and a transformation point of at the very most 1190.degree. C.

Abstract: Glass compositions containing, expressed in percentages by weight, from 0.75 to 1.4% total iron expressed in the form Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, from 0.25 to 0.32% ferrous iron in the form of FeO and which has, and at a thickness of between approximately 3 and 3.3 millimeters, exibit a total light transmission factor under illuminent A (TL.sub.A) of at least 70%, a total energy transmission factor (T.sub.E) less than approximately 46% and a transmission factor for ultraviolet radiation (T.sub.UV) less than approximately 25%, and are suitable for the production of windows or panes for use in the architectural field or in automobile and industrial vehicles.

Abstract: Glass compositions containing, expressed in percentages by weight, from 0.75 to 1.4% total iron expressed in the form Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, from 0.25 to 0.32% ferrous iron in the form of FeO and which has, and at a thickness of between approximately 3 and 3.3 millimeters, exibit a total light transmission factor under illuminent A (TL.sub.A) of at least 70%, a total energy transmission factor (T.sub.E) less than approximately 46% and a transmission factor for ultraviolet radiation (T.sub.UV) less than approximately 25%, and are suitable for the production of windows or panes for use in the architectural field or in automobile and industrial vehicles.

Abstract: A furnace for melting vitrifiable materials having a compartment (1) for the melting/refining of the glass and which is provided in its upstream part with at least one opening (12) to be supplied with vitrifiable materials (10) with the aid of a charging device positioned facing and in the downstream part a discharge opening (17) for the molten glass issuing into one or more successive, downstream compartments (18, 19) for leading the molten glass to the forming zone. The melting of the vitrifiable materials takes place in the melting/refining compartment (1) essentially via a plurality of burners (16) with an oxidizer constituted by oxygen. It is designed to operate without any air introduction into the melting/refining compartment (1) coming from the downstream compartment or compartments.