摘要 |
<p>The present invention relates to a process and apparatus to cast and form slag directly from the molten state into crystalline or amorphous products suitable for use as decorative and structural building and construction materials. Molten slag and additives are refined at high temperature in a treatment furnace for a period of hours. The eventual entrapped gas content is controlled using a variety of methods, such as vacuum pressures and bottom stirring with inert gas. The molten slag is cast directly into moulds, and these moulds form the slag into any shape desired. The formed products are immediately introduced into a heat treatment furnace at temperatures at or above the glass transition temperature (GGT) for the case of crystalline products, or just below the GGT for amorphous products. The product is thermally cycled over a period of hours to relieve thermal stresses during cooling to ambient temperatures. If desired, the product can be coated using enamel or glaze and cured in another furnace, or metal plated.</p> |