Measurement of viscosity of a melt in a plasma centrifugal furnace

Abstract

A system of determining a viscosity of a melt in a centrifugal furnace. In this system, the centrifugal furnace is rotated at a first rotational speed. The rotational speed of the centrifugal furnace is then changed to a second rotational speed. At least one physical characteristic is then measured during the transition from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed. Based on this at least one measured physical characteristic, the viscosity of the melt can be determined. This at least one physical characteristic may be a time varying torque required to change the rotational speed of the centrifugal furnace from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed. This at least one physical characteristic may also be a surface velocity and/or a height of the melt at a predetermined radial position in the centrifugal furnace in comparison with a velocity of the centrifugal furnace at the predetermined radial position. This at least one physical characteristic may also be a time variation of a change in a slope of the melt during the transition from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.