Borosilicate Glass Vessel Fire-Blast Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing glass vessels, such as fire-blast treatment after formation, increase production time and efficiency due to additional handling steps and potential deformation risks, while air evacuation methods do not effectively remove alkali condensate and restore the inner surface to a base glass matrix.
Innovation Solution
Integrate fire-blast treatment during the heat application process for forming the glass vessel, using a point burner to apply an oxygen-flammable gas flame between 650° C and 800° C to the inner surface, allowing for efficient removal of alkali components and reducing elution, and optionally include gas evacuation before or after treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fire-blast treatment is performed as an intermediate step after formation of the glass vessel, then alkali elution is reduced and silica peeling is prevented, but production time is increased and production efficiency is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fire-blast treatment step with the glass vessel formation step by using the same heating apparatus (burner) to perform both operations. The burner that forms the bottom portion of the glass vessel simultaneously performs fire-blast treatment on the inner surface, eliminating the need for separate treatment steps and intermediate handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire-blast treatment is performed during the formation process itself, before the glass vessel is completed and removed. The inner surface is treated with the flame while the glass is still being formed and held in the apparatus, so that when the vessel is removed, the treatment is already complete.
2Reliability
If pressurized gas is applied to reduce alkali condensate formation, then alkali elution is minimized, but glass vessel distortion occurs and alkali components condense due to cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of heating temperature by applying a flame at high temperature (600-800°C or higher) during the formation process. This temperature parameter is sufficient to volatilize alkali components and prevent their condensation, while also preventing glass vessel distortion because the glass is already at forming temperature and the heating is controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of high temperature (which could cause distortion) into a beneficial effect by timing the fire-blast treatment during the formation process when the glass is already heated to forming temperature. The additional heat from the flame does not cause excessive temperature rise or distortion, but effectively removes alkali components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces alkali elution and silica particle formation, enhances production efficiency by eliminating intermediate steps, and allows for direct transportation to subsequent processing stations, improving the overall manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
applying heat to the borosilicate glass tube by a burner at a location between the first holding device and the second holding device so as to soften the borosilicate glass tube
Implementation Method 2
the inner surface of the open end portion is fire-blast treated with a flame from a point burner during at least a part of at least one of (i) the application of heat to the borosilicate glass tube
Implementation Method 3
alkali components are volatilized and adhere to the inside surface of the open end portion
Implementation Method 4
applying heat to the separated open end portion to form a bottom portion on the open end portion and thereby form the glass vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A method of producing a glass vessel includes holding a borosilicate glass tube with a first holding device, and holding an open end portion of the glass tube with a second holding device such that the second holding device is spaced apart from the first holding device. Heat is applied to the glass tube by a burner to separate the open end portion and form a bottom portion on the open end portion. Fire-blast treatment of an inner surface of the open end portion with a flame from a point burner is performed during at least a part of (i) applying heat to the borosilicate glass tube for separation, (ii) applying heat to the separated open end portion for bottom portion formation, and/or (iii) a period applying heat to the separated open end portion and prior to releasing the glass vessel from the second holding device.