MELTING GLASS MATERIALS USING RF PLASMA

摘要

The disclosure relates to methods for forming pre-melting and/or melting glass batch materials comprising bringing glass batch materials into contact with a plasma plume for a residence time sufficient to form substantially homogeneous, spheroid-shaped glass intermediate particles. The glass batch materials may flow in a cyclonic pattern in the plasma plume for increased residence time. The glass intermediate particles may be cooled with a tangential flow of gas to produce a cyclonic flow within the collection vessel. Also disclosed herein are glass intermediate particles comprising at least about 45 wt % of alumina and/or silica and less than about 55 wt % of at least one oxide of boron, V magnesium, calcium, sodium, strontium, tin, and/or titanium, wherein the glass intermediate particles are substantially homogenous and substantially spheroid in shape and have an average particle size ranging from about 5 to about 1,000 microns.

主权项

1. A method for processing glass batch materials, comprising:
bringing the glass batch materials into contact with a plasma for a residence time sufficient to react and melt the glass batch materials to form substantially homogeneous, spheroid-shaped glass intermediate particles, wherein the glass batch materials comprise from about 45 wt % to about 95 wt % collectively of at least one of alumina and silica, and from about 5 wt % to about 55 wt % collectively of at least one oxide of boron, magnesium, calcium, sodium, strontium, tin, and/or titanium.