Evaluation of reaction rate of refining agents

Abstract

To elucidate the thermal decomposition behavior of antimony oxide which is added to promote (re)fming of bubbles in TV glass, an evolved gas analysis (EGA) was conducted using a newly designed device for detecting the gases from the glass batch at increasing temperatures. Furthermore, a mathematical formulation was made to describe the above behavior. From the results of the EGA measurements, three parameters, which govern the reaction rate constant, viz. reaction order, activation energy and frequency factor, were decided. By coupling this mathematical model and the thermal fluid model of glass melts in tank furnaces, it is possible to simulate the conditions of generating refming oxygen in the furnace.