Owens-brockway Glass Container Inc.

Owens Brocking Glass Container Inc.

Brett E Hixson

Carl Lucas Fayerweather

Dawid Dewet-Smith

D Wayne Leidy

A process for making soda-lime glass includes calcining calcium carbonate in solid phase and at elevated temperature to form calcium oxide in solid phase and carbon dioxide gas. Sodium silicate glass is formed and refined separately in liquid phase. The solid phase calcium oxide is dissolved in the refined liquid phase sodium silicate glass to form a soda-lime glass melt. Formation of sodium silicate glass as an intermediate product before mixing with calcium oxide has the advantage of promoting release of gaseous reaction products from the sodium silicate glass during the refining step due at least in part to the relatively low viscosity of the sodium silicate glass. One or more steps in the process can be carried out under reduced pressure to promote release of gases and to reduce bubble formation.

Process for melting and refining soda-lime glass

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 being at a temperature in the range of 900 C to 1700 C and having a viscosity of not more than 3 Pa&#xb7;s, 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.

Growing community of inventors

Adrian, MI, United States of America

Brett E Hixson