Owens-brockway Glass Container Inc.

Owens Brocking Glass Container Inc.

Dawid Dewet-Smith

Carl Lucas Fayerweather

D Wayne Leidy

Brett E Hixson

Terence John Clark

Daniel Russell Swiler

Brett Evan Hixson

An apparatus for melting and refining a silica-based glass composition includes a vertical first reaction chamber having an input adjacent to a lower end for receiving glass-forming components. The glass-forming components are heated to elevated temperature during upward flow through the vertical first reaction chamber to form a glass precursor melt adjacent to an upper end of the vertical first reaction chamber. A vertical second reaction chamber has an input adjacent to an upper end and an output adjacent to a lower end for delivering glass melt. A cross passage connects the upper end of the vertical first reaction chamber to the upper end of the vertical second reaction chamber such that the precursor melt flows from the vertical first reaction chamber through the cross passage and then through the vertical second reaction chamber to homogenize the precursor melt. Vacuum preferably is applied to the cross passage both to assist upward flow through the vertical first reaction chamber, and to assist refining of the precursor melt during such upward flow and during flow through the cross passage.

Apparatus for melting and refining silica-based glass

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.

Process for melting and refining silica-based glass

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Perrysburg, OH, United States of America

Dawid Dewet-Smith