Tracing of primary melt formation and reactions involved in glass batch melting

Abstract

The primary melt formation and the reactions involved therein were traced by means of electrical conductivity measurement. After the temperature of the furnace had reached 1200 °C, 700 g of soda-lime-silica glass batches, either with or without carbon addidon, were loosely charged into an induction furnace. An electrical conductivity sensor connected with a thermocouple was put immediately into the batch; then the conductivity in terms of voltage drop and the temperatures were continuously recorded. Not only the changes in t h e reaction atmosphere were detected, but also at least four events leading to the occurrence of the primary melts could be identified. They were the double salt (Na₂Ca(CO₃)₂) with a soda-rich NaCa mixed crystal eutectic, the sodium distilicate-silica eutectic, the double salt melting temperature, and the soda melting temperature. The temperature at which the conductivity curve passed its original baseline is proposed as the primary melt formation temperature. The first highest sodium ion diffusion rate, or hopping region on the conductivity-temperature curve, is also proposed as the primary glass-forming melt temperature.