Abstract: The float glass apparatus has a glass melt producing unit including a melting tank and a refining tank for the glass melt, a float tank including a metallic basin and metal bath contained in the basin, conducting devices for conducting the glass melt from the glass melt producing unit to the metal bath and auxiliary devices as needed. In order to minimize bubble defects and extend service life of apparatus parts made from platinum or a platinum alloy, the apparatus includes a device for minimizing direct current flowing between the glass melt producing unit and the float tank, which includes an auxiliary electrode connected with ground and located in the glass melt producing unit in electrical contact with the glass melt and a direct electrical connection between the metallic basin of the float tank and ground.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method of refining glass for which the temperature (T log 2) corresponding to a viscosity of 100 poise (10 Pa·s) is greater than or equal to 1480° C., characterized in that sulfides are used as a refining agent. It also relates to the glass article capable of being obtained by this method.

Abstract: A process for producing silicon which comprises: bringing molten silicon containing an impurity into contact with molten salt in a vessel to react the impurity contained in the molten silicon with the molten salt; removing the impurity from the system.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a glass, including, in order to obtain an excellent refining effect: preparing a raw glass batch including: an antimony compound containing pentavalent antimony; and an oxidizing agent (a cerium oxide, a sulfate, a nitrate); and melting the raw glass batch. In preparing the raw glass batch, it is preferable that the antimony compound be premixed with the oxidizing agent. When the nitrate is used as the oxidizing agent, the raw glass batch is prepared so as to include the antimony compound in an amount of more than 0.5 parts by mass and at most 3 parts by mass, in terms of an amount of antimony pentoxide, per 100 parts by mass of a base glass composition expressed in terms of an amount of an oxide.

Abstract: A conduit structure for molten glass, a conduit system for molten glass, a vacuum degassing apparatus and a method for vacuum-degassing molten glass by use of the vacuum degassing apparatus, which are capable of effectively removing components eluted from a refractory brick forming a conduit for molten glass, foreign substances generated in the interface between molten glass and a platinum wall surface forming a conduit for molten glass, a bubble remaining in a surface layer of molten glass, a glass material denatured by volatilization, and the like, are provided.

Abstract: A method of controlling blister formation in a glass melt flowing through a system comprising one or more refractory metal vessels by developing a blister index and determining the critical blister index value. The critical value of the blister index may be used to control the principal variables responsible for blister formation, including the water content of the melt, the concentration of reduced multivalent oxide compounds in the melt, and the hydrogen partial pressure of an atmosphere in contact with the outside surface of the refractory metal vessel. Also disclosed is a minimum partial pressure of hydrogen necessary to produce an essentially blister-free glass article in a glass essentially free of arsenic and antimony.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of refining lithium aluminosilicate glass capable of being controllably ceramized and free of arsenic oxide, antimony oxide and tin oxide, in which at least 0.05% by weight of at least one sulfide is added to the glass batch materials and said materials are melted at a temperature below 1750° C. The invention also relates to the glass-ceramics obtained from said colored glass, especially glass colored by vanadium oxide, and cooktops and cooking utensils including such glass-ceramics.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for efficiently remove bubbles present on a surface of molten glass, which can solve a problem that bubbles remaining on a surface of molten glass are get inside at a time of forming the glass to cause inside bubbles, to thereby provide a glass substrate of good quality, and which can improve productivity of glass substrates; and to provide a process for producing glass employing the above method for removing bubbles. The present invention provides a method for removing bubbles from molten glass, which is a method for removing floating bubbles on a surface of molten glass, wherein a floating bubble on the surface of molten glass is irradiated with at least one laser beam.

Abstract: A method of producing a glass having a SiO2—Al2O3—B2O3—RO based composition, where RO is at least one of MgO, CaO, BaO, SrO and ZnO, a melting temperature corresponding to 102.5 poise of 1570° C. or higher and an alkali content of 0.01 to 0.2% and a ZrO2 content of 0.01 to 0.3%, as expressed in % by mass. And, a method of producing a glass having a SiO2—Al2O3—B2O3- RO based composition, where RO is at least one of MgO, CaO, BaO, SrO and ZnO, a density of 2.5 g/cm3 or less, an average thermal expansion coefficient of 25 to 36×10?7/° C. in a temperature range of 30 to 380° C., a strain point of 640° C. or higher and an alkali content of 0.01 to 0.2% and a ZrO2 content of not less than 0.01% and less than 0.4%, as expressed in % by mass.

Abstract: A process and device for abating air-borne particles during glass melt handling processes by using electrostatic precipitation. The invention is effective in abating both precious metal inclusions and non-metallic inclusions in the produced glass.

Abstract: A process for melting at least one mineral material in powder form includes using at least one laser beam (12) for supplying the energy necessary to the melting, and gradually supplying mineral powder to a zone (10) that is impacted by the laser beam(s) so as to obtain the largest surface possible for interaction between the material and the laser beam(s).

Abstract: Heat in a stream of combustion products obtained from a glassmelting furnace heated by oxy-fuel combustion is passed to incoming glassmaking materials in a heat exchanger without requiring reduction of the temperature of the stream yet without causing softening of the glassmaking material.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for making a glass preform with nanofiber reinforcement. The apparatus comprises a container for melting one or more glass components in a mixture comprising the glass components and one or more nanofibers. The container has an opening that allows escape of any gas released from the glass components when the glass components are melted in the container. The apparatus further comprises one or more heating elements for heating the container. The apparatus further comprises one or more electric field devices, positioned exterior to the glass components, that create an electric field in a volume of the mixture in order to orient the nanofibers within the glass components when the glass components are melted in the container.

Abstract: A plant for producing inorganic fibers from rocks includes a furnace for obtaining a melt connected to a feeder, working aperture and a warmed feeder with draw dies located below a working aperture. A transition chamber is installed on the feeder exit, the transition chamber intended for creation of a thin layer melt flow. An enclosure contains the working aperture. The transition chamber has a heater, a threshold installed at an entrance of the transition chamber and a plate rigidly fixed to an adjustable damper located over the threshold and adapted to move up and down together with the adjustable damper, with the plate surface being parallel to the bottom of the transition chamber. The plant is intended for obtaining the melt flow of a desired thickness and quality.

Abstract: In the process of producing a glass, a glass melt is formed from an initial glass batch, an inorganic or organic peroxide is include in the glass melt as a refining agent in an amount suitable for refining, and then the glass melt is refined at a refining temperature equal to or greater than a decomposition temperature of the inorganic or organic peroxide. The inorganic peroxides used in the glass-making process only include cations that are already present in components of the initial glass batch. The organic peroxides used in the glass-making process are chosen so that the organic residue remaining in the melt after release of oxygen is decomposed to volatile water and CO2.

Abstract: Corrosion of the inner surface of the crown of a glassmelting furnace is reduced or avoided by directing at low velocity along that surface a gaseous stream comprising water vapor, or comprising the combustion products of an oxy-fuel burner operated at a stoichiometric ratio of at least 1.0, or the combustion products of a burner operated at a stoichiometric ratio less than 1.0, or by injecting into the furnace interior a gaseous reactant which reacts with alkali species in said space.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sintered product elaborated from a starting charge containing 75-99% of zircon, in mass percentage based on the oxides and having the following average weight chemical composition, in mass percentages based on the oxides 60%?ZrO2?72.8%, 27%?SiO2?36%, 0.1%?B2O3+GeO2+P2O5+Sb2O3+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+V2O5, 0.1%?ZnO+PbO+CdO, B2O3+GeO2+P2O5+Sb2O3+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+V2O5+ZnO+PbO+CdO?5% 0% ?Al2O3+TiO2+MgO+Fe2O3+NiO+MnO2+CoO+CuO?5%, other oxides: ?1.5%, for a total of 100%. Notably used in a glass furnace.

Abstract: A method of forming a glass melt, including measuring predetermined amounts of raw materials to define a glass batch, combining predetermined amounts of sources of silica, calcia and boron from the glass batch to yield a first pre-batch, substantially consolidating the first pre-batch into first pre-batch granules, combining predetermined amounts of sources of silica, calcia, and alumina from the glass batch to yield a second pre-batch, mixing the first and second pre-batches and any remaining portion of the glass batch to yield a batch mixture, and heating the batch mixture to yield a glass melt. Typically, the raw materials at least include sources of silica, alumina, calcia and boron and each respective first pre-batch granule defines a cohesive agglomerate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for refining and delivering a supply of molten glass include melting a supply of glass in a melter and discharging a stream of molten glass. A refining section is provided to refine the molten glass discharged by the melter and to deliver the molten glass downstream to a glass forming apparatus. The refining section is mounted for movement into and out of contact with the stream of molten glass to connect and disconnect the glass forming apparatus with the stream of molten glass.

Abstract: The invention is directed to oxyhalide fining agents for glass and processes for making glass using such a fining agent.

Abstract: A system for and method of analyzing a cullet stream prior to batch formulation in glass manufacturing. Cullet is fed onto a conveyor where a real-time composition analysis is performed. Contaminants are optionally removed, and a determination is made as to whether the cullet batch color is consistent with a predetermined tolerance threshold. If necessary, the glass batch formulation is modified in view of the cullet analysis. Virgin raw materials requirements of the modified glass batch formulation may then be communicated to the batch controller before sending batch ingredients to the mixing stage and completing the overall glass manufacturing process.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing container includes a container body and an electron donor. The container body is made of a precious metal or an alloy containing a precious metal and has an inner surface to be brought into contact with molten glass and an outer surface kept from contact with molten glass. The electron donor is electrically connected to the outer surface of the container body. The electron donor is made of an electron donating material capable of donating electrons to the container body at operating temperatures.

Abstract: The optical glasses have increased refractive indices and are useful for making space-saving and light-weight imaging optics with lenses of different glass types for use in different objects travelling in space. The optical glasses are suitable for production of optics having low total weight, which is decisive for space applications. These space glasses have high UV- and VIS-transmittance in a range of between 300 and 800 nm and high stability of transmittance over a period of years, because their aging has been greatly limited.

Abstract: The optical glasses have increased refractive indices and are useful for making space-saving and light-weight imaging optics with lenses of different glass types for use in different objects travelling in space. The optical glasses are suitable for production of optics having low total weight, which is decisive for space applications. These space glasses have high UV- and VIS-transmittance in a range of between 300 and 800 nm and high stability of transmittance over a period of years, because their aging has been greatly limited.

Abstract: Feed materials are melted in a first vessel to form a glass melt at a first temperature T1, the glass melt containing at least one fining agent. The molten glass is next cooled to a second temperature T2 less than T1 in a second vessel wherein an oxygen-comprising gas is not actively added (e.g. bubbled) into the melt during the duration of the time the melt is at T2. The molten glass is thereafter heated to a third temperature T3 greater than T1 and subsequently formed into a glass article.

Abstract: The neutral glass according to the present invention is characterized by excellent hydrolytic stability, a relatively low processing temperature and low content of boron oxide. Here, the neutral glass has the following composition, in percent by weight based on oxide content: SiO2, 70-79; B2O3, 0-<5; Al2O3, <5; ZrO2, 0.5-<5; TiO2, 0.5-6; Na2O, 1-6; K2O, 3 to 8; and Li2O, 0-0.5, wherein a total amount of SiO2 and B2O3 is less than 83 percent by weight.

Abstract: The glass composition of the present invention is an inorganic glass composition in which the volume ratio of helium with a mass number of 3 to helium with a mass number of 4, namely 3He/4He in the glass (0° C., 1 atm) is smaller than the volume ratio 3He/4He in the atmosphere. The method of producing a glass article of the present invention includes the steps of: melting a glass raw material by heating; homogenizing molten glass; forming the molten glass into a desired shape; and cooling the shaped glass to room temperature, in which helium with a certain mass ratio is dissolved in the glass material so that the glass article of the present invention is obtained.

Abstract: Incinerator ashes, which is obtained after treating municipal solid waste, incinerator ashes or its plasma vitrified slag is made into mineral fibers. Cullet is added during manufacturing the mineral fibers for conditioning. The mineral fibers thus obtained have a good strength and could raise value of recycled product. In addition, it could reduce impact of the incinerator ashes to the environment and environmental protection is achieved.

Abstract: The apparatus (300) for feeding, homogenizing, and conditioning a high viscosity glass melt for manufacturing display glass has a stirring device (110, 406), an upstream connecting part (100, 400) that connects the stirring device (110, 406) to an upstream melting and/or refining unit, and a downstream connecting part (120, 420) that connects the stirring device (110, 406) to a downstream forming or shaping device. Wall material and base material of the first and connecting parts and the stirring device (110, 406) coming in contact with the glass melt are made from a zirconium-dioxide-containing fire-resistant material containing a large amount, preferably more than 85 wt. %, of zirconium dioxide. A method of operating the apparatus to make display glass is also described.

Abstract: A backup structure for an uprising pipe or a downfalling pipe of a vacuum degassing apparatus including the uprising pipe, a vacuum degassing vessel and the downfalling pipe, comprises the uprising pipe or the downfalling being made of platinum or a platinum alloy and having refractory bricks disposed therearound; and the refractory bricks having a thermal expansion relief member disposed on a top end thereof, the thermal expansion relief member comprising a material selected from a metal material and a ceramic material having a creep strength (JIS Z2271: 1993) of 35 MPa or above at 760° C.

Abstract: The invention mainly relates to a transparent, essentially colorless/??-quartz glass-ceramic material, the composition of which is free of As2O3 and of Sb2O3 and contains a specific combination of three nucleating agents: TiO2, ZrO2 and SnO2; TiO2 being present in low quantity.

Abstract: Apparatus, which is suitable for being surrounded by molten glass, the apparatus having a shank which has at least one at least partially seamless tube consisting of an oxide dispersion-strengthened PGM material, the shank having at least one thickened portion on which an actuating device is arranged.

Abstract: Provided is a low-dispersion optical glass that is formed of a fluorophosphate glass in which the molar ratio of the content of O2? to the content of P5+, O2?/P5+, is 3.5 or more and that has an Abbe's number (?d) of over 70 or has an F? content of 65 anionic % or more, and the optical glass enables the suppression of the volatilization of a glass component when an optical glass formed of a fluorophosphate glass is produced or when an obtained glass in a molten state is caused to flow out to shape it into a glass shaped material, so that the variation of properties such as a refractive index, etc., involved in the fluctuations of a glass composition and the variation of quality such as the occurrence of striae can be suppressed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation and a method of producing a glass having a low boron content, containing alumina or zirconia, the melting of the batch materials being carried out in an end-fired furnace equipped with regenerators, most of the fossil energy being introduced by the U-flame, the oxidant and fuel for which are introduced at the upstream face of said furnace, the oxidant being air or oxygen-enriched air. The melting compartment may be followed by a unit for fiberizing the glass. The invention makes it possible to produce fibers with an excellent combustion efficiency and high productivity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transparent and essentially colorless ?-quartz glass-ceramic material which is free of TiO2, As2O3, Sb2O3 and phosphates; articles formed from said glass-ceramic material; lithium aluminosilicate glasses, precursors for said glass-ceramic material; and methods of producing said glass-ceramic material and said articles formed from said glass-ceramic material.

Abstract: Alkali-free glasses are disclosed which can be used to produce substrates for flat panel display devices, e.g., active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs). The glasses contain iron and tin as fining agents, and preferably are substantially free of arsenic and antimony. In certain embodiments, the glasses are also substantially free of barium. Methods for producing alkali-free glass sheets using a downdraw process (e.g., a fission process) are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method are described herein that control the environment (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, humidity, temperature, gas flow rate, pressure) around one or more vessels in a glass manufacturing system. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a closed-loop control system and a capsule that are used to control the level of hydrogen around the exterior (non glass contact surface) of the vessel(s) so as to suppress the formation of gaseous inclusions and surface blisters in glass sheets. In addition, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to help cool molten glass while the molten glass travels from one vessel to another vessel in the glass manufacturing system. Moreover, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to maintain an atmosphere with minimal oxygen around the vessel(s) so as to reduce the oxidation of precious metals on the vessel(s).

Abstract: A system and method are described herein that control the environment (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, humidity, temperature, gas flow rate, pressure) around one or more vessels in a glass manufacturing system. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a closed-loop control system and a capsule that are used to control the level of hydrogen around the exterior (non glass contact surface) of the vessel(s) so as to suppress the formation of gaseous inclusions and surface blisters in glass sheets. In addition, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to help cool molten glass while the molten glass travels from one vessel to another vessel in the glass manufacturing system. Moreover, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to maintain an atmosphere with minimal oxygen around the vessel(s) so as to reduce the oxidation of precious metals on the vessel(s).

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a glass, including, in order to obtain an excellent refining effect: preparing a raw glass batch including: an antimony compound containing pentavalent antimony; and an oxidizing agent (a cerium oxide, a sulfate, a nitrate); and melting the raw glass batch. In preparing the raw glass batch, it is preferable that the antimony compound be premixed with the oxidizing agent. When the nitrate is used as the oxidizing agent, the raw glass batch is prepared so as to include the antimony compound in an amount of more than 0.5 parts by mass and at most 3 parts by mass, in terms of an amount of antimony pentoxide, per 100 parts by mass of a base glass composition expressed in terms of an amount of an oxide.

Abstract: Glass, glass compositions, methods of preparing the glass compositions, microfluidic devices that include the glass composition, and methods of fabricating microfluidic devices that include the glass composition are disclosed. The borosilicate glass composition includes silicon dioxide (SiO2) in a range from about 60% to 74% by total composition weight; boric oxide (B2O3) in a range from about 9% to 25% by total composition weight; aluminum oxide (Al2O3) in a range from about 7% to 17% by total composition weight; and at least one alkali oxide in a range from about 2% to 7% by total composition weight. In addition, the borosilicate glass has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is in a range between about 30×10?7/° C. and 55×10?7/° C. Furthermore, the borosilicate glass composition resists devitrification upon sintering without the addition of an inhibitor oxide.

Abstract: Feed materials are melted in a furnace to form a glass melt at a first temperature T1, the glass melt containing at least one fining agent. The glass melt is cooled to a second temperature T2 less than T1, and an oxygen-containing gas is bubbled through the cooled melt. The glass melt is then re-heated to a third temperature T3 equal to or greater than the first temperature T1.

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: A technique of manufacturing glass having fairly clear color and/or high visible transmission is provided. In certain example embodiments of this invention, it has surprisingly been found that by using carbon-containing compound(s) including CxHyOz.mH2O, excellent melting and refining can be achieved in the manufacture of glass, and not as much ferrous iron is formed compared to the use of elemental carbon as a refining agent. Such compound(s) are especially advantageous when highly transparent clear glass is desired, in that less ferrous iron is formed and thus transmittance and coloration can be improved.

Abstract: A glass making process comprising a step of fining the molten glass in a fining vessel comprising a top wall portion not in direct contact with the molten glass, and a side wall portion in direct contact with the molten glass, wherein the top wall portion has a temperature T(top), the side wall portion has a temperature T(side), and T(top)?T(side)?10° C., and a glass fining system. The invention is particularly useful for glass fining systems comprising a metal fining vessel made of precious metals such as Pt and/or Pt—Rh alloys.

Abstract: A method of feeding a pulverulent batch material into a furnace in the manufacture of glass. The pulverulent batch material is fed from a first bulk batch feeder at a first batch feed rate, and from a second trim batch feeder at a second trim batch feed rate. The trim batch feed rate is equal to or less than 10% of the total batch feed rate. The use of trim electrodes and trim burners is also disclosed.

Abstract: The process of producing a refined borosilicate glass includes preparing a glass batch with a composition in wt. % on the basis of oxide content of SiO2, 65-82; Al2O3, 2-8; B2O3, 5-13; MgO+CaO+SrO +BaO+ZnO, 0-7; ZrO2, 0-2; and Li2O+Na2O+K2O, 3-10; adding 0.05 wt. % to 0.6 wt. % of sulfate(s) expressed as SO3 to the glass batch as the refining agent; melting the glass batch including the refining agent to form melted glass; and then hot-shaping the borosilicate glass. The refining agent may also include from 0.01 wt. % to 0.6 wt. % of F? or from 0.015 wt. % to 0.6 wt. of Cl?. The sulfate is preferably an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal sulfate or sulfates.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention provides a refining chamber for glass production, made of platinum group metal materials, with improved refining effectiveness. The refining chamber according has the shape of a tube with a cross section (1), with the cross section of the tube being shaped, in at least one segment, so that in the operating position the length (10) of a horizontal line (12) which divides the surface of the cross section into essentially a lower and an upper segment of the surface, both of which have essentially the same area, is greater than twice the maximum vertical extent (30) of the lower segment of the surface. The cross section of the refining chamber can, for example, have the shape of an oval, an ellipse, a slot, a rounded triangle or a polygon, and the stiffness of the shape of the refining chamber can be increased by forming radially peripheral creases, corners, waves or folds.

Abstract: A method of forming an oxide glass including heating a glass melt having a ?—OH concentration of at least about 0.35 in a vessel comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, molybdenum, palladium, rhodium, and alloys thereof, there being an interface present between the vessel and the glass, and controlling a partial pressure of hydrogen in an atmosphere in contact with an outside surface of the vessel in an amount such that hydrogen permeation blisters form in a region of the glass adjacent the glass-vessel interface.

Abstract: A method of forming a glass melt including heating a glass feed material in a first melting furnace to form a glass melt, flowing the glass melt into a second melting furnace through a refractory metal connecting tube, and further heating the glass melt in the second melting furnace. The refractory metal connecting tube is heated to prevent the molten glass from excessive cooling, and to ensure that the glass melt entering the second melting furnace is equal to or greater than the temperature of the glass melt in the second melting furnace. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Molten glass is formed from high-temperature glass batch by feeding the glass batch to a melt chamber and heating the glass batch in the melt chamber using one or more submerged combustion burners to melt the glass batch and form molten glass. The molten glass can be removed from the melt chamber and fiberized.