Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preparing glass, more specifically glass powder or glass films, together with a process for conditioning the raw materials intended for preparing glass characterized in that raw materials are converted to freely flowing powder suitable for feeding to a plasma torch in which the powder is converted to glass.

Abstract: A precursor solution composition is provided for making highly pure, fine barium-containing silicate glass powders and specifically barium aluminoborosilicate (BABS) glass powders. An atomized precursor solution containing colloidal silica, a water soluble source of barium, boric acid, and aluminum nitrate is used to make the powders. After mixing, the liquid precursor solution is formed into fine droplets, classified for size, and pyrolyzed into fine powders. The resulting spherical particles of the BABS glass is in the 0.1 to 10 micrometer size range.

Abstract: A method is provided for the manufacture of SiO.sub.2 granular material. Silicic acid is dispersed in a liquid to form a dispersion. The dispersion is stirred in a stirring tank with formation of a homogeneous liquid phase. The homogeneous liquid phase is maintained by stirring at a substantially constant rate until the granular mass develops, when the solids content of the dispersion is within the range of 65 to 80 weight percent. Moisture is gradually extracted to form a granular mass which is dried and sintered.

Abstract: A method to produce fused quartz particulates from quartz sand is disclosed employing continuous withdrawal of the molten material from a furnace apparatus. The molten material is rapidly cooled as withdrawn causing thermal fracture which is followed by mechanically pulverizing the fragments to a desired particle size.

Abstract: A process for producing inorganic microspheres (solid spheres or hollow spheres), which comprises pulverizing a material by wet pulverization to an average particle size of at most 5 .mu.m to obtain a slurry of a pulverized powder material, spraying the slurry to form liquid droplets, and heating the liquid droplets to fuse or sinter the powder material to obtain inorganic microspheres.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing low sintering fine-particle multicomponent glass powder having a particle size of the primary particle in the nanometer range. The method utilizes microemulsion techniques with subsequent separation of the particles out of the emulsion and calcination for utilization as glass flow having a sintering temperature <900.degree. C. or in a glass flow, for generating thin transparent layers or for generating color decorations on glass, glass ceramic or ceramic substrates after adding a coloring pigment to the glass flow. The microemulsion for producing the nanoscale glass powder particles is generated from a nonionic ambiphilic emulsifier with a component of 10 to 15 percent by weight on the emulsion, from an oil phase having a portion of 50 to 70 percent by weight and a glass precursor-containing aqueous salt solution having a portion of up to 31.3 percent by weight with salt contents of up to 45 percent by weight.

Abstract: The apparatus for manufacturing inorganic spherical particles according to the present invention consists of a vertical sphering furnace, a sphering burner disposed at the top of the furnace, a particle outflow pipe through which spherical particles formed in the furnace are drawn out therefrom and an air inflow pipe for introducing air for carrying the spherical particles toward the opening of the particle outflow pipe; wherein the particle outflow pipe and the air inflow pipe are arranged to oppose each other horizontally at a lower position of the furnace. The opening diameter of the particle outflow pipe is designed to be larger than that of the air inflow pipe.

Abstract: A process of removing flash from a molded silicone intraocular lens includes a step of tumbling (grinding) the lens body in a tumbling media. The tumbling media includes conditioned 0.5 mm diameter glass beads or a mixture of 0.5 mm and 0.3 mm diameter glass beads, alcohol and water. This process applies to single piece and multipiece silicone IOLs.

Abstract: To produce a free-flowing granulate which has a high bulk density and a defined particle size distribution, which generates little dust, is easy to handle, and is suitable as a starting material for quartz glass products, the mixing operation includes a first mixing phase, in which the materials to be mixed are subjected to a slow mixing action to form a coarse-grained mass, and a second mixing phase, in which the coarse-grained mass is converted to a fine-grained mass by a more intensive mixing action which grinds and compacts the grains. The content of silica powder in the materials to be mixed is adjusted at least during the second mixing phase to a value of at least 75 wt. %.

Abstract: Hollow microspheres produced by the present method each have a hollow interior evacuated of gases to a predetermined pressure. A reflective material layer coats the exterior of each microsphere and, optionally, an outer layer of a protective material is applied over the reflective material layer. Permeant gases are dissolved into glass or plastic frit particles prior to heating of the frit particles to form hollow microspheres having the permeant gases contained therein. The permeant gases are subsequently out-permeated in a non-permeant gas atmosphere to substantially evacuate the interior of each microsphere. The exterior layers of reflective material and protective material are then coated about each evacuated microsphere.

Abstract: Material, such as, for example, sealed double bags of asbestos containing waste or ash from infectious waste or toxic material or radioactive waste, is transferred into a glass melt of a furnace. Gas bubbles released into the melt form a gas curtain which causes enhanced mixing of the material to accelerate the dissolution of the components of the added material. The presence of the gas bubbles reduces the cross-section of the molten glass through which current passes, which in turn increases the electrical resistance of the glass melt and therefore increases power generation of the melt or power density at constant current. A highly oxidizing hot region is produced under the location where the material is introduced into the furnace. Drawn off glass is shaped and quenched into at least two sizes of approximate spheres. The spheres are cooled sufficiently fast to be thermally tempered and have a surface compressive strength level above 5000 psi.

Abstract: A process for producing flakes of glass. The process is started by applying a solution containing an organic metal compound to a substrate. The solution is dried and peeled from the substrate. The resultant film is sintered. There is also disclosed an apparatus for producing flakes of glass. The apparatus comprises means 2 for applying solution 1 containing an organic metal compound to a substrate 3 taking the form of a loop, means 4 for drying the film created by the solution containing the organic metal compound, and means 5 for collecting flakes obtained by peeling the dried film from the substrate. The substrate forms a circulatory continuous conveyance path which passes through the applying means, the drying means, and the collecting means in succession.

Abstract: For the production of a composite glass powder of any particle size from a fine particle size, multi-component mixture of a low-melting glass powder, fillers, and additives, the fine particle size, multicomponent mixture is sintered for 10-60 minutes at a temperature at which the base glass has a viscosity of 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.6.5 dPas, and the resultant sintered cake is ground to a powder of the desired particle size. If the multicomponent mixture comprises components decomposable with the release of gas, e.g., copper carbonate, the latter are decomposed prior to sintering at a temperature below the sintering temperature. The resultant composite glass powder containing copper oxide can be used for coating varistors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of reclaiming hazardous inorganic wastes to produce an environmentally benign abrasive for use in loose grain processes, as a coated or bonded abrasive, or as a polishing grain. A tough and useful abrasive, with a MOH hardness of 7 to 8, is manufactured from emission control dusts of the aluminum industry or sludges from other industries, and may include small amounts of lead and cadmium oxides as toughening agents. The abrasive particles are sized by air sifting or by water sedimentation separating methods.

Abstract: Spherical products of a heat-softened material are produced by supplying a molten heat-softened material into a C-shaped channel-like spinner with an open upper surface and a large number of orifices formed in its circumferential wall, at a rate of 0.020 kg/hr or lower per a single orifice of the spinner; rotating the spinner at a high speed to form cone-like fine streams of the molten material from the orifices by means of a centrifugal force; and flowing streams of a hot gas so as to traverse the fine streams of molten material to thereby heat the same resulting in reducing the viscosity of the molten material and to break the fine streams by the hot gas streams.

Abstract: Granules of glass flakes which comprise glass flakes in granular form and a binder which bonds the glass flakes to one another to form granules. The granules are used together with a molten thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: A process for making non-porous, dense, silica partices having a diameter of about 3 to 1000 microns, a nitrogen B.E.T. surface area less than about 1 m.sup.2 /g, a total impurity content of less than about 50 ppm and a metal impurity content content of less than about 15 ppm from an aqueous dispersion of fumed silica. The particles are converted into porous particles and sintered in an atmosphere having a water partial pressure of from about 0.2 to about 0.8 atmosphere for temperatures below about 1200.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for preparing nonradioactive microspheres adapted for radiation synovectomy of arthritic joints in a mammal involves forming the microspheres by doping a biodegradable glass material which may be lithium or potassium silicate, lithium or potassium aluminosilicate, lithium or potassium aluminoborate, lithium or potassium germanate or lithium or potassium aluminogermanate with an isotope which may be samarium, holmium, erbium, dysprosium, rhemium or yttrium so that the isotope is chemcially dissolved in and distributed uniformly throughout the glass material. The doped glass material is then treated with an acid wash to produce a thin layer on the surface thereof and heat treated to improve the chemical durability of the glass material by rendering the solubility of the layer lower than that of the underlying glass material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an additive powder for coating materials or plastics, comprising a particle of a metal or glass, comprised of a particle having a thickness of 0.5 to 5 .mu.m, a minor axis/major axis of from 5 to 500 .mu.m, an aspect ratio (ratio of the major axis to the thickness) of not less than 5, and a ratio of the minor axis to the major axis, of from 1 to 10, and having the shape of a leaf as a whole. This powder can be prepared by melting a metal or glass, bringing the resulting melt to flow out from a nozzle and jetting a gas to the melt to form droplets of the melt, and bringing said droplets, before they solidify, to collied against the surface of a rotating cooling member having the shape of an cone or horn and provided in the directio of the flow of said droplets, followed by cooling to effect solidification.

Abstract: An aggregate is produced from waste glass which is initially crushed to a granular state and is thereafter roughened at its surfaces and rounded at its edges. This result is obtained by a grinding treatment. The aggregate can be used for concrete. It allows an excellent adhering of the cement and it gives practically no rise to the danger of injury during the handling thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of producing a transition metal pattern on a glass or glass-ceramic substrate by selective exudation of a transition metal from a glass substrate containing the metal as an oxide. The selective exudation is effected by applying an intense, well-focused source of energy to a glass in a pattern corresponding to the desired metal pattern. This develops localized heating, and thereby causes corresponding localized metal exudation from the glass. The metal pattern may be rendered electroconductive, and may constitute a pattern of interconnecting lines for microcircuitry.

Abstract: A burner for producing glass fine particles provided with an intermediate passage between a central passage and an outer passage for surrounding the periphery of the central passage characterized by that the end of the intermediate passage is disposed inner side from the end of the outer passage and the end of the central passage is disposed between the end of the intermediate passage and the end of the outer passage. Thus, the burner can stably fabricate porous glass base material having GI type or triangular refractive index distribution and yet can suppress the production of bubbles.

Abstract: A spherical silica glass powder particle having projections of network pattern on its surface is produced by gel-route formation.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing finely divided spherical glass powders. The process comprises forming a coating of a surface active agent which can be of the nonionic or anionic type on the surfaces of the particles of a glass powder, feeding the coated particles and a carrier gas into a high temperature zone and maintaining the particles in the zone for a sufficient time to melt at least about 50% by weight of the particles and to form droplets therefrom, and cooling the droplets to form glass particles having essentially a spherical shape with the majority of the particles having an average particle size of less than about 25 micrometers in diameter which is essentially the same size as the starting glass particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a fine-crystalline .alpha.-quartz with a crystal size of from 0.08 to 0.8 mm.The process comprises crystallization of amorphous silica in the atmosphere of water vapors in the presence of a crystallization promotor--a surface-active nitrogen-containing substance possessing basic properties in an amount of from 1.times.10.sup.-3 to 1% by weight of amorphous silica at a temperature within the range of from 300.degree. to 500.degree. C. under a pressure of from 20 to 400 atm for 6 to 100 hours.The process of the present invention is simple as regards its technology and equipment. The resulting product is noted for a low content of impurities and is fit for the manufacture of high-quality quartz glass and quartz ceramics.

Abstract: First and second members spaced from each other are hermetically sealed by fused insulating materials. The insulating materials are partially amorphous and partially crystalline. The insulating materials have substantially identical characteristics. However, a first one of the insulating materials is more crystalline than a second one of the insulating materials.A third insulating material may also be included and may be more crystalline than the first insulating material. The first, second and third crystalline materials may have substantially identical compositions.The second insulating material may have nonwetting characteristics relative to the second member. This causes the second insulating member to have a domed configuration to increase the length of the dielectric leakage path. The third insulating material may be spaced from the second insulating material and may be provided with a flat surface to receive other members in abutting relationship.

Abstract: First and second spaced members are hermetically sealed by a partially amorphous and partially crystalline insulating material. The insulating material is non-hygroscopic and is able to withstand forces of about 26,000 psi at about 700.degree. F. It may provide resistances of at least 10,000 megohms even when subjected to 500 volts AC or DC and to steam at about 212.degree. F. for three (3) days. A second insulating layer may be fused to the first insulating layer with essentially the same properties and composition as the first layer. However, the second layer may be more crystalline than the first layer to provide a mechanical and chemical barrier. The insulating materials may be formed from the oxides of lead, zinc, aluminum, silicon, cerium, lanthanum, cobalt, sodium, zirconium, bismuth and molybdenum. The oxides of lead, silicon, bismuth and sodium may be glass formers. The oxides of cerium, lanthanum and zirconium may form crystals. A mixture of the oxides may be heated to at least 2000.degree. F.

Abstract: First and second spaced members are hermetically sealed by a partially amorphous and partially crystalline insulating material. The insulating material is non-hygroscopic and is able to withstand forces of about 26,000 psi at about 700.degree. F. It may provide resistances of at least 10,000 megohms even when subjected to 500 volts AC or DC and to steam at about 212.degree. F. for three (3) days. A second insulating layer may be fused to the first insulating layer with essentially the same properties and composition as the first layer. However, the second layer may be more crystalline than the first layer to provide a mechanical and chemical barrier. The insulating materials may be formed from the oxides of lead, zinc, aluminum, silicon, cerium, lanthanum, cobalt, sodium, zirconium, bismuth and molybdenum. The oxides of lead, silicon, bismuth and sodium may be glass formers. The oxides of cerium, lanthanum and zirconium may form crystals. A mixture of the oxides may be heated to at least 2000.degree. F.

Abstract: First and second members spaced from each other are hermetically sealed by fused insulating materials. The insulating materials are partially amorphous and partially crystalline. The insulating materials have substantially identical characteristics. However, a first one of the insulating materials is more crystalline than a second one of the insulating materials.A third insulating material may also be included and may be more crystalline than the first insulating material. The first, second and third crystalline materials may have substantially identical compositions.The second insulating material may have nonwetting characteristics relative to the second member. This causes the second insulating member to have a domed configuration to increase the length of the dielectric leakage path. The third insulating material may be spaced from the second insulating material and may be provided with a flat surface to receive other members in abutting relationship.

Abstract: A process of forming glass balls by treatment of particulate vitreous material and a second material comprising carbon material and a carbonated salt. The process is carried out at a temperature, for the particular particulate vitreous material, which corresponds to a viscosity of from about 10.sup.6 to about 10.sup.3.5 poises with mixing and agitation.The apparatus includes a furnace having a tube (4) adapted to rotate about an horizontal or inclined axis, delivery means (10, 12, 14) to the tube for the materials to be treated, and heating means (8, 20) for heating the tube and the bed of material from both an external and internal location.

Abstract: Admixture of unsaturated polyester and finely ground powder particles of soda-containing silicate glass, preferably soda-lime-silicate glass, e.g. below about 40 mesh and in an amount of between about 1 to 60% based on the weight of the polyester-glass particle admixture, providing improved properties in the ultimately cured resin at lower material costs and having special application as a composition for use in fabricating fibrous glass (i.e. fiber-glass) reinforced plastics composite products.

Abstract: A material is provided for producing a hermetic seal with a member made from one of the following: titanium, titanium alloys, platinum, chromel, Alumel, stainless steels and Inconel. The material is particularly adapted to be used with titanium, titanium alloys, Inconel and the 300 series of stainless steels since it has at different temperatures a coefficient of thermal expansion matching changes in the coefficient of thermal expansion of titanium, titanium alloys, Inconel and the 300 series of stainless steels throughout a range of temperatures to approximately 1500.degree. F. The material is partially polycrystalline and partially amorphous and is provided with a high electrical insulation and is impervious to acids and thermal and mechanical shocks. The material may have the following composition:______________________________________ Oxide Range of Percentages by Weight ______________________________________ Lead oxide (red lead) 57-68 Silicon dioxide 28-32 Soda ash (sodium carbonate) 0.4-0.

Abstract: Glass microspheres and other glass elements based on B.sub.2 O.sub.3, BaO, SiO.sub.2 and TiO.sub.2 have an improved combination of crushing strength, index of refraction, and, especially in some formulations, chemical resistance. The microspheres are especially adapted for use as retroreflective elements in pavement markings.