Abstract: A channel (1) for the outflow/conditioning of molten glass includes a duct and superstructure (5) and is designed to transfer the molten glass from a vitrifiable material melting and refining zone (6) to a molten glass forming zone, in order to take it from its melting temperature to its forming temperature. It consists of a multiplicity of successive zones (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) located substantially transversely in relation to its longitudinal axis, each zone having its own function, being heat-controlled in an autonomous manner and insulated over part of its height relative to the adjacent zones by partitions (15). The zones include at least one transition zone (8), at least one drainage zone (9), at least cooling zone (10, 11, 12) and at least one thermal and/or chemical homogenization zone (13, 14).

Abstract: The invention refers to an unshaped refractory composition which can be used in the construction of glass furnace hearths and which comprises by weight:(a) 55 to 99% of particles of a fused cast refractory material, the fused cast refractory material including a vitreous phase and containing, as main constituents, ZrO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, and optionally Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;(b) 0 to 5% of a hydraulic cement;(c) 1 to 15% of a filler consisting of very fine, substantially spherical particles of a metal oxide;(d) 0 to 25% of fine particles of a size less than 40 microns chosen from particles of ZrO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, fused cast refractory products comprising by weight 75-85% ZrO.sub.2, 2-8% SiO.sub.2, 9-17% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.5-0.7% of other oxides, and mixtures thereof; and(e) 0.01 to 1% of a surface-active agent, the amount being with respect to the total weight of the constituents (a), (b), (c) and (d).