Float processing of high-temperature complex silicate glasses and float baths used for same

A method of making float glass from glass materials requiring a forming temperature substantially above 1100.degree. C., comprising the steps of:

• (a) melting glass forming materials in a melting furnace to provide a liquid glass melt at a temperature above 1100.degree. C.;
• (b) providing a float bath enclosure having a float bath tank containing a liquid metal alloy, the liquid metal alloy comprising an exothermic alloy formed of a solvent metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver and copper and a solute selected from the group consisting of germanium, silicon and tin wherein the solvent and solute in the liquid metal alloy are substantially a eutectic composition;
• and
• (c) feeding the glass melt into the float bath enclosure at an entrance end of the float bath and forming a sheet of glass on the liquid metal alloy and drawing the formed sheet from an exit end of the float glass enclosure, while maintaining the liquid metal bath at a temperature greater than 1100.degree. C. adjacent to the entrance end and at a lower temperature adjacent to the exit end which is cool enough to allow hardening of the glass melt sheet and which is above the melting temperature of the metal bath.

A method of making float glass from glass materials requiring a forming temperature substantially above 1100.degree. C., comprising the steps of:

• (a) melting glass forming materials in a melting furnace to provide a liquid glass melt at a temperature above 1100.degree. C.;
• (b) providing a float bath enclosure having a float bath tank containing a liquid metal alloy, the liquid metal alloy comprising an exothermic alloy selected from the group consisting of gold-germanium, gold-silicon, copper-germanium, and copper-silicon;
• and
• (c) feeding the glass melt into the float bath enclosure at an entrance end of the float bath and forming a sheet of glass on the liquid metal alloy and drawing the formed sheet from an exit end of the float glass enclosure, while maintaining the liquid metal bath at a temperature greater than 1100.degree. C. adjacent to the entrance end and at a lower temperature adjacent to the exit end which is cool enough to allow hardening of the glass melt sheet and which is above the melting temperature of the metal bath.

A method of making float glass from glass materials requiring a forming temperature substantially above 1100.degree. C., comprising the steps of:

• (a) melting glass forming materials in a melting furnace to provide a liquid glass melt at a temperature above 1100.degree. C.;
• (b) providing a float bath enclosure having a float bath tank containing a liquid metal alloy, the liquid metal alloy comprising an exothermic alloy selected from the group consisting of gold-germanium, gold-silicon, copper-germanium, and copper-silicon wherein the solvent and solute in the liquid metal alloy are substantially a eutectic composition;
• and
• (c) feeding the glass melt into the float bath enclosure at an entrance end of the float bath and forming a sheet of glass on the liquid metal alloy and drawing the formed sheet from an exit end of the float glass enclosure, while maintaining the liquid metal bath at a temperature greater than 1100.degree. C. adjacent to the entrance end and at a lower temperature adjacent to the exit end which is cool enough to allow hardening of the glass melt sheet and which is above the melting temperature of the metal bath.

A method of making float glass from glass materials requiring a forming temperature substantially above 1100.degree. C., comprising the steps of:

• (a) melting glass forming materials in a melting furnace to provide a liquid glass melt at a temperature above 1100.degree. C.;
• (b) providing a float bath enclosure having a float bath tank containing a liquid metal alloy, the liquid metal alloy comprising an exothermic alloy formed of gold as a solvent metal and tin as a solute;
• and
• (c) feeding the glass melt into the float bath enclosure at an entrance end of the float bath and forming a sheet of glass on the liquid metal alloy and drawing the formed sheet from an exit end of the float glass enclosure, while maintaining the liquid metal bath at a temperature greater than 1100.degree. C. adjacent to the entrance end and at a lower temperature adjacent to the exit end which is cool enough to allow hardening of the glass melt sheet and which is above the melting temperature of the metal bath.

A method of making float glass from glass materials requiring a forming temperature substantially above 1100.degree. C., comprising the steps of:

• (a) melting glass forming materials in a melting furnace to provide a liquid glass melt at a temperature above 1100.degree. C.;
• (b) providing a float bath enclosure having a float bath tank containing a liquid metal alloy, the liquid metal alloy comprising an exothermic alloy formed of a solvent metal selected from the group consisting of gold and silver, and a solute selected from the group consisting of germanium, silicon and tin;
• and
• (c) feeding the glass melt into the float bath enclosure at an entrance end of the float bath and forming a sheet of glass on the liquid metal alloy and drawing the formed sheet from an exit end of the float glass on the liquid metal alloy and drawing the formed sheet from an exit end of the float glass enclosure, while maintaining the liquid metal bath at a temperature greater than 1100.degree. C. adjacent to the entrance end and at a lower temperature adjacent to the exit end which is cool enough to allow hardening of the glass melt sheet and which is above the melting temperature of the metal bath.

A method of making float glass from glass materials requiring a forming temperature substantially above 1100.degree. C., comprising the steps of:

• (a) melting glass forming materials in a melting furnace to provide a liquid glass melt at a temperature above 1100.degree. C.;
• (b) providing a float bath enclosure having a float bath tank containing a liquid metal alloy, the liquid metal alloy comprising an exothermic alloy selected from the group consisting of gold-germanium and gold-silicon;
• and
• (c) feeding the glass melt into the float bath enclosure at an entrance end of the float bath and forming a sheet of glass on the liquid metal alloy and drawing the formed sheet from an exit end of the float glass enclosure, while maintaining the liquid metal bath at a temperature greater than 1100.degree. C. adjacent to the adjacent to the entrance end and at a lower temperature adjacent to the exit end which is cool enough to allow hardening of the glass melt sheet and which is above the melting temperature of the metal bath.