Abstract: The present invention relates to a float glass plate that is formed by continuously supplying a molten glass onto a molten metal in a bath and allowing the molten glass to flow on the molten metal, wherein the float glass plate satisfies the following expression (1) when, on a coordinate axis that is parallel to a through-thickness direction and has, as an origin, an arbitrary point on a principal surface which is positioned on the molten metal side in the bath among both principal surfaces of the float glass plate, a water concentration in glass at a coordinate x (?m) indicating a distance from the origin is represented by C(x) (mass ppm), the thickness of the float glass plate is represented by D (?m), a maximum value of the C(x) is represented by Ca (mass ppm), and a coordinate at which the C(x) is maximum is represented by Da (?m). [ Math . ? 1 ] 0.5 < ? 0 Da ? ( Ca - C ? ( x ) ) ? ? x Ca × D × 100 ? 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a float glass by floating the glass on a molten tin that is contained in a molten tin bath, which includes the steps of a) discharging a portion of the molten tin in the molten tin bath to the outside of the molten tin bath; b) removing oxygen dissolved in the molten tin that is discharged from the molten tin bath by injecting an oxygen stripping gas that contains hydrogen into the molten tin; and c) returning the molten tin from which oxygen is removed to the molten tin bath, and an apparatus for manufacturing the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a float glass includes a bottom block in which molten metal is stored and floats, a loop block which covers the bottom block and has at least one hole formed therethrough, a heater installed through the hole, and a fragment intercepting member for preventing fragments generated at the loop block from falling onto the bottom block through the hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a float glass by floating the glass on a molten tin that is contained in a molten tin bath, which includes the steps of a) discharging a portion of the molten tin in the molten tin bath to the outside of the molten tin bath; b) removing oxygen dissolved in the molten tin that is discharged from the molten tin bath by injecting an oxygen stripping gas that contains hydrogen into the molten tin; and c) returning the molten tin from which oxygen is removed to the molten tin bath, and an apparatus for manufacturing the same.

Abstract: A method for removing oxygen from molten tin in the float bath chamber of a float glass manufacturing process is provided. The method includes providing a chamber having within it molten metal and a gaseous atmosphere above the molten metal, providing at least one reducing gas container proximate the interface between the molten metal and the gaseous atmosphere, providing a source of a reducing gas, and directing the reducing gas to the at least one container. In the at least one container, the reducing gas reacts with the oxygen in the molten metal. The method may include removing a vapor/particulate stream from the float bath chamber. The method may also include removing the vapor and/or the particulate from the stream. An apparatus for removing oxygen from the molten tin is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a float glass, including a float bath for storing a molten metal on which a molten glass flows, wherein the molten metal flows in the float bath, comprises an discharge opening formed through a wall of a downstream end of the float bath at the center of the wall to discharge a molten metal crashing against the wall and dross floating on the molten metal; and a pair of side channels formed inside of the wall and communicated with the discharge opening and both sides of the float bath.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a float glass, including a float bath for strong a molten metal on which a molten glass flows, wherein the molten metal flows in the float bath, comprises a plurality of discharge slits formed through a wall of a downstream end of the float bath to discharge a molten metal crashing against the wall and dross floating on the molten metal; a flow-back channel formed in a widthwise direction of the float bath and communicated with the discharge slits; and a dross collecting member for collecting the dross flowing through the flow-back channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a float glass, including a float bath for storing a molten metal on which a molten glass flows, wherein the molten metal flows in the float bath, comprises a discharge slot having substantially the same size as width of the molten glass to discharge a molten metal crashing against a wall of a downstream end of the float bath and dross floating on the molten metal, and formed through the wall substantially parallel to a traveling direction of the molten glass; connecting channels for communicating the discharge slot with both sides of the float bath; and dross collecting members for collecting the dross.

Abstract: A method for removing oxygen from molten tin in the float bath chamber of a float glass manufacturing process is provided. The method includes providing a chamber having within it molten metal and a gaseous atmosphere above the molten metal, providing at least one reducing gas container proximate the interface between the molten metal and the gaseous atmosphere, providing a source of a reducing gas, and directing the reducing gas to the at least one container. In the at least one container, the reducing gas reacts with the oxygen in the molten metal. The method may include removing a vapor/particulate stream from the float bath chamber. The method may also include removing the vapor and/or the particulate from the stream. An apparatus for removing oxygen from the molten tin is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glass substrate for flat panel display in which yellowing occurring in a case of forming silver electrodes on glass substrate surface is inhibited. A glass substrate for flat panel display, which is formed by a float method, which has a composition consisting essentially of, in terms of oxide amount in mass %: SiO2 50 to 72%, Al2O3 0.15 to 15%, MgO + CaO + SrO + BaO 4 to 30%, Na2O more than 0% and at most 10%, K2O 1 to 21%, Li2O 0 to 1%, Na2O + K2O + Li2O 6 to 25%, ZrO2 0 to 10%, and Fe2O3 0.0725 to 0.15%; and wherein the average Fe2+ content in a surface layer of the glass substrate within a depth of 10 ?m from the a top surface is at most 0.0725% in terms of Fe2O3 amount.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a float glass includes a bottom block in which molten metal is stored and floats, a loop block which covers the bottom block and has at least one hole formed therethrough, a heater installed through the hole, and a fragment intercepting member for preventing fragments generated at the loop block from falling onto the bottom block through the hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a float glass by floating the glass on a molten tin that is contained in a molten tin bath, which includes the steps of a) discharging a portion of the molten tin in the molten tin bath to the outside of the molten tin bath; b) removing oxygen dissolved in the molten tin that is discharged from the molten tin bath by injecting an oxygen stripping gas that contains hydrogen into the molten tin; and c) returning the molten tin from which oxygen is removed to the molten tin bath, and an apparatus for manufacturing the same.

Abstract: A method for reducing surface defects during production of float glass having a transformation temperature Tg of at least 600° C. is provided. A method for removing impurities from the surface of the glass band in the floating chamber by molten metal flowing over the glass band is also provided. The undesired spreading of the molten metal on the glass band is limited in a contactless manner. A device is also provided for carrying out the method, in addition to a floating glass having a transformation temperature of at least 600° C., which has a maximum of 3 surface defects (top specks) having a size greater than 35 ?m per m2 when it leaves the floating chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a glass substrate for an image display device having high picture quality. The reducing force in a float furnace is controlled to be decreased so that Sn++ content on a surface of the glass substrate forming an Ag electrode is a predetermined value or less. When the resultant Sn++ content on the surface of the glass substrate forming the Ag electrode exceeds the predetermined value, the surface is partially removed to decrease the Sn++ content to the predetermined value or less to suppress the occurrence of yellowing of the glass substrate.

Abstract: A method for reducing the defect density of glass comprising melting a glass composition comprising from 65–75 wt. % of SiO2; from 10–20 wt. % of Na2O; from 5–15 wt. % of CaO; from 0–5 wt. % of MgO; from 0–5 wt. % of Al2O3; from 0–5 wt. % of K2O; from 0–2 wt. % Fe2O3; and from 0–2 % FeO, wherein the glass composition has a total field strength index of greater than or equal to 1.23 is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a glass article having a transparent hydrophobic surface during a glass-forming operation. In accordance with the method, a plurality of solid particles of inorganic material having an average diameter of less than about 400 nm are applied to a surface of the glass article when the glass article is at a temperature within the range of from about 700° C. to about 1200° C. The inorganic particles fuse to the surface of the glass article to form the transparent hydrophobic surface. Optionally, a fluorosilane agent can be applied to the transparent hydrophobic surface to further increase its hydrophobicity. The transparent hydrophobic surface has a nano-structured texture, which makes the surface of the glass article very hydrophobic and easy to clean.

Abstract: A process for the production of a photocatalytically active self-cleaning coated substrate, especially a glass substrate, which comprises depositing a titanium oxide coating on the surface of the substrate by contacting it with a fluid mixture containing a source of titanium and a source of oxygen, the substrate being at a temperature of at least 600° C. The coated surface has good durability, a high photocatalytic activity and a low visible light reflection. Most preferably the deposition temperature is in the range 645° C. to 7200° C. which provides especially good durability. The fluid mixture preferably contains titanium chloride and an ester, especially ethyl acetate. Also disclosed is a self cleaning coated substrate, especially a glass substrate, having high photocatalytic activity and low visible light reflection and a durable self-cleaning coated glass.

Abstract: A method and article are disclosed wherein a substrate is provided with a photocatalytically-activated self-cleaning surface by forming a photocatalytically-activated self-cleaning coating on the substrate by spray pyrolysis chemical vapor deposition or magnetron sputter vacuum deposition. The coating has a thickness of at least about 500 Angstroms to limit sodium-ion poisoning to a portion of the coating facing the substrate. Alternatively, a sodium ion diffusion barrier layer is deposited over the substrate prior to the deposition of the photocatalytically-activated self-cleaning coating to prevent sodium ion poisoning of the photocatalytically-activated self-cleaning coating. The substrate includes glass substrates, including glass sheet and continuous float glass ribbon.

Abstract: A method of forming a photocatalytic coating includes depositing a precursor composition over at least a portion of a substrate surface by a coating device. The precursor composition includes a titania precursor material and at least one other precursor material having a metal selected from boron, strontium, zirconium, lead, barium, calcium, hafnium, lanthanum, and mixtures thereof. Sufficient other precursor material is added to the composition such that a molar ratio of the selected metal to titanium in the applied photocatalytic coating is in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.05.

Abstract: A method of producing flat glass in which foam which appears on the surface of molten glass melted using oxy-fuel burners is dispersed by directing a diffuse, luminescent flame onto the surface of the glass carrying the foam.

Abstract: A heat-resistant pipe is arranged so as to traverse below a glass ribbon in a float bath of molten tin, and bubbles emanate from the heat-resistant pipe, thereby making the bottom surface (which is in contact with the tin) uneven. Alternatively, the bottom surface is made uneven with a roller for lifting the glass ribbon out of the float bath into an annealing furnace. In addition to these operations for making the glass surface uneven, a film can be applied to the top face of the glass ribbon (i.e. the surface that is not in contact with the tin) by CVD, supplying a mixed gas of raw material from coaters. Thus, the invention makes it possible to manufacture a glass sheet having an uneven surface efficiently, using a technique for processing the surface of a glass sheet that is suitable for a production line for float glass.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a stain-resistant float glass and an apparatus for carrying out such a method. In keeping with this method, SO3 is applied to the upper surface of float glass in an amount efficacious to materially reduce staining of the upper surface of the glass. Optimally, SO3 gas can be applied directly onto the upper surface of the glass. An apparatus of the invention generally includes a downwardly open hood positioned above the upper surface of the glass and having walls defining an enclosure. SO3 gas (either as such or as a reactive mixture of SO2 gas and an oxygen-containing gas) is delivered through a delivery tube to the enclosure.