Other

Glassflake Limited

Watkinson, Charles

Charles Watkinson

John H Elvidge

Emma Golden

A heating element for use in a system for melting materials during the production of a glass or ceramic material may include a first coupling member which may couple to a first side of the interior of a melt tank; a second coupling member which may couple to a second side of the interior of the melt tank; and at least one elongate strip extending between the first coupling member and the second coupling member. The at least one elongate strip is integral with the first coupling member and the second coupling member. During a heating operation, current may flow between the first coupling member and the second coupling member of the heating element, along the at least one elongate strip to thereby radiate heat to materials located within the interior of the melt tank.

Heating element, a system and method for melting materials using said heating element

A system for melting materials during the production of a glass or ceramic material is disclosed. A method for melting materials during the production of a glass or ceramic material is also disclosed. The system comprises a melt tank having an interior with a width and a length; and an electrode array comprising a plurality of elongate electrodes each extending at least partially across the width of the interior of the melt tank. Each electrode within the electrode array is spaced apart from an adjacent electrode within the electrode array by from about 5 mm to 100 mm. The electrode array is configured such that during a heating operation, current flows between adjacent electrodes within the electrode array, such that heat is radiated from the electrodes to materials located within the interior of the melt tank.

System and method for melting glass or ceramic materials

The present invention provides flake having a thickness up to 350 nm, the flake being made of basalt, ceramics, alumina, graphite, a metal, a metal oxide or a combination of any two or more thereof. Equipment for manufacturing such flake is also described as is a method for the manufacture of the flake. The equipment comprises a cup mounted for rotation and for receiving molten glass. The equipment further comprises either insulating means extending at least partially around said cup or means for heating the cup while it is rotating.

Flakes made of materials such as glass

A method for changing the width of particle thickness size distribution of flakes of material with the flakes being formed by a process that includes the steps of feeding a stream of molten material in a downwards direction into a rotating cup or disc and allowing the material to pass over the edge of the cup or disc in such a manner as to be forced into a gap between a pair of plates surrounding the cup or disc. The movement of material in the process used for forming the flakes is maintained in an angular direction and effected by a flow of air passing through the plates and either side of the material, so as to pull the stream of material in a manner for keeping it flat and, further, to pull the stream of material so that, as solidification of the material is effected, the sheet of material so formed is broken into flakes. The method for adjusting the width of particle thickness size distribution of the flakes of material so formed includes the step of varying the distance between the cup, or the disc, and the entrance to the gap between the plates until the desired particle size distribution is obtained.

Formation of glass flakes

A pearlescent pigment includes a ceramic flake coated with a metal oxide. The metal oxide is, preferably, an oxide of titanium, iron, tin, chromium1, zirconium or a combination thereof, and the refractive index of the metal oxide coating is preferably at least 0.5 higher than that of the ceramic flake. The pearlescent pigment may be included in a coating applied to a metallic or plastic surface to give the surface a lustrous or pearlescent optical effect.

Ceramic pigments

Apparatus for forming fibers or flakes of material comprises means () for producing a heated stream of molten material (), means for feeding the stream in a substantially vertically downward direction and means () for receiving the downwardly directed stream and for forming fibers or flakes therefrom. The apparatus includes means () for effecting a change in the temperature of the stream subsequent to the production thereof whereby fibers or flakes of a desired thickness are obtained. Instead of, or in addition to, the temperature changing means, there may be provided means for controlling the mass or volume flow of the stream. The invention also provides methods corresponding to the apparatus.

Method and apparatus for forming glass flakes and fibres

A bone substitute composition includes glass flake and a hardenable material. The glass flake is a particle with an aspect ratio of, at least, 20:1. The preferred thickness of the glass flake is in the range from 200 to 1,000 nm and the average particle size is, preferably, from 20 to 60 &#x3bc;m.

Dental fillings and bone tissue

Method and apparatus for forming glass flakes

In a jet pump suitable for pumping liquids, gases, or particulate solids, the primary and secondary flows both pass through the pump in-line, i.e. in the same axial direction. This is achieved by mounting the nozzle head (from which the primary flow issues) at one end of a streamlined body which is suitably supported in the mixing chamber. The suction hose opens directly onto the other end of the body. The whole of the primary flow passes through the streamlined body, so that the secondary flow is sucked over the streamlined body and entrained by the primary flow. The primary flow may issue from a single nozzle at the downstream end of the streamlined body. Alternatively several jets may issue from a ring of nozzles and also from a further nozzle in the center of the ring, all the nozzles being so angled that several jets converge downstream of the nozzle head.

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Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Charles Watkinson