Methods and systems for processing glass and methods for reinforcing glass products
AssigneeLCRT Pty Ltd
InventorsGregory David Willis, Graeme Lindsay White, Michael Vincent Maher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mixture including glass fragments is located in a containment vessel and is processed in a kiln to form a commercially useful building product. The mixture is initially heated over a first time period to a first temperature intermediate the glass transition point temperature and about 950° C. or 1,100° C. (Section A). At the first temperature the glass fragments slump and bond to each other and the mixture is soaked at this temperature for a second time period (Section B). After reducing the temperature (Section C), the mixture is annealed for another time period (Section D). Finally, the kiln is cooled to allow the mixture to be removed (Section E).
Claims38
A process for forming a glass product, the process comprising:
- providing a containment system;
- locating a mixture in said containment system, said mixture comprising glass fragments and locating at least one layer of reinforcement, adapted to mechanically interlock with said mixture when heated;
- and
- applying at least one heating process and at least one cooling process to said mixture, wherein the at least one heating process comprises a first heating process of heating the one or more materials to a soaking temperature being a temperature between the glass transition point temperature and 1100° C. such that said glass fragments slump to form the product;
- wherein said mixture comprises at least two cullet types being a first cullet type and a second cullet type, and wherein said at least two cullet types are different size categories or different colours;
- wherein said locating of said mixture in said containment system comprises locating at least a first layer of cullet of said first cullet type and a second layer of cullet of said second cullet type;
- and
- wherein a layer of said at least one layer of reinforcement is disposed intermediate said first layer and said second layer.
A process for forming a glass-ceramic product, the process comprising:
- providing a containment system;
- locating a mixture in said containment system, wherein said step of locating said mixture in said containment system comprises the step of locating at least one layer of reinforcement, adapted to mechanically interlock with said mixture when heated;
- said mixture substantially comprising glass fragments of a size greater than about 3 mm;
- applying at least one heating process and at least one cooling process to said mixture, wherein the at least one heating process comprises a first heating process of heating said mixture to a soaking temperature being a temperature between 800° C. and 880° C. such that said glass fragments slump to form the product and so as to form at least one zone of partial devitrification of the product;
- wherein said mixture comprises at least two cullet types being a first cullet type and a second cullet type, and wherein said at least two cullet types are different size categories or different colours;
- wherein said locating of said mixture in said containment system comprises locating at least a first layer of cullet of said first cullet type and a second layer of cullet of said second cullet type;
- and
- wherein a layer of said at least one layer of reinforcement is disposed intermediate said first layer and said second layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.