PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SPHERICAL GLASS

摘要

A production apparatus comprising a melting crucible (2) for heating and melting a glass, a nozzle (2A) which is disposed under the melting crucible (2) and through which a molten glass (4) residing in the melting crucible (2) is dropped, and a glass-drop-receiving part (11) disposed under the nozzle (2A) and filled with a cooling liquid (150) for cooling glass droplets (10) dropped from the nozzle (2A), wherein the cooling liquid (150) comprises a material which vaporizes due to the heat of the glass droplets (10) to form a bubble layer surrounding the periphery of each glass droplet (10) until the glass droplet (10) is cooled to or below the glass transition temperature in the cooling liquid (150). Also provided is a production process employing the apparatus. Glass spheres with a satisfactory sphericity can be continuously and efficiently produced at low cost.