Energy efficient, rapid thermal toughening of glass plates - using short heating and quenching zones between preheating and cooling zones

摘要

In a glass plate thermal toughening process, the plates are preheated to near their critical temperature, heated to above the toughening temperature, quenched to below the critical temperature and then cooled to room temperature. Also claimed is the apparatus for carrying out the above process, comprising a heating zone (2) and a succeeding cooling zone (3) which contain respective spaced heating and cooling plates inclined at an acute angle to the vertical, the heating zone (2) being preceded by a preheating zone (1) and the cooling zone (3) being followed by a post-cooling zone (4).