Process for melting and refining silica-based glass
AssigneeOwens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
InventorsDaniel Russell Swiler, Terence John Clark, Carl Lucas Fayerweather
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Abstract
A process for making silica-based glass includes: (a) forming a glass precursor melt that includes glass network formers and glass network modifiers, the glass precursor melt having a viscosity of not more than 30 Pa·s at 1300 C., and (b) refining the glass precursor melt. Either or both steps (a) and (b) can include stirring and/or be carried out under reduced pressure to enhance refining. The refined glass precursor melt preferably is mixed with additional materials including silica (SiO2) to form a silica-based glass melt.
Claims26
A process for making a silica-based final glass composition, which includes the steps of:
- (a) forming a glass precursor melt that includes glass network formers and glass network modifiers, said glass precursor melt having a relatively low viscosity of less than 30Pa·s at a temperature of 1300 C.;
- (b) refining said glass precursor melt;
- and then
- (c) adding additional glass network formers to said glass precursor melt to form said silica-based final glass composition, wherein said final glass composition has a viscosity of greater than 30Pa·s at a temperature of 1300 C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.