APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TEMPERING GLASS USING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

摘要

A method of thermally tempering a glass sheet. The method includes preheating the glass sheet to a temperature higher than a strain point of the glass sheet and lower than a softening point of the glass sheet, exposing the glass sheet to an electromagnetic radiation in order to heat the mid-plane of the glass sheet to a temperature significantly higher than the transition point while simultaneously keeping a surface of the glass sheet at a temperature that is below the softening point, and quenching the glass sheet so that the temperature of the mid-plane and the surface of the glass sheet fall below the strain point, respectively.

主权项

1. A method of thermally tempering a glass sheet , the method comprising:
preheating the glass sheet in a preheating section to a surface temperature significantly higher than a transition point of the glass sheet and lower than a softening point of the glass sheet; moving said sheet from the preheating section into a quench section through a transferring section wherein the glass sheet is exposed to a penetrating electromagnetic radiation having sufficient wavelength and power density to create a predetermined temperature distribution across the sheet while it moves toward the quench section; and quenching the glass sheet whereby the temperature of a mid-plane and a surface of the glass sheet fall below the strain point of the glass to obtain temper stress.