Apparatus and method for reducing gaseous inclusions in a glass

Abstract

A glass manufacturing system and a method are described herein for reducing gaseous inclusions in high melting temperature or high strain point glasses, such as those that are used as glass substrates in flat panel display devices. In one embodiment, the method including the steps of: (a) heating a batch material within a melting vessel to form molten glass at a melting temperature TM, the molten glass comprising a multivalent oxide material; (b) heating the molten glass within a fining vessel to a fining temperature TF = TM; and (c) cooling the molten glass within a refractory tube after the first heating step or after the second heating step to a cooling temperature TC less than TM, where the molten glass remains within the refractory tube for a predetermined resident time to reduce a volume of the gaseous inclusions in the molten glass and cause gas species to migrate out of the gaseous inclusions into the molten glass such that at least a portion of the gaseous inclusions collapse into the molten glass.

Description

[0001] Claiming priority to an earlier U.S. application [0002] This application claims priority to US Patent Application Serial No. 12 / 368,585, filed February 10, 2009. This document, as well as all publications, patents, and patent documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. technical field [0003] The present invention relates to glass manufacturing systems and methods for reducing gaseous inclusions in glass. In one embodiment, the glass manufacturing systems and methods are particularly useful for reducing gaseous inclusions in high melting temperature or high strain point glasses, such as glasses used as glass substrates in flat panel display devices. Background technique [0004] Flat panel display devices, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), are fabricated from flat glass substrates or sheets. Conventional glassmaking processes for LCD glass typically begin by melting glass precursors, or feedstock, in a furnace. Reacti...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Arsenic-containing compounds are often toxic, and the disposal of arsenic-containing glass not only results in waste with high disposal costs, but also creates disposal issues associated with the display device itself after it exceeds the useful life of the display device

Unfortunately, many alternative fining agents typically release less oxygen, and / or at too low temperatures, absorb almost no more O during conditioning associated with established fining agents such as arsenic. 2 , thus limiting the clarification and oxygen reabsorption capacity of the clarifier

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