New Method for Improving Glass Quality: Perm Scientists Achieve a Breakthrough

Silicate glasses are widely used in various industries, from laboratory equipment to construction and electronics. To improve the quality of the final product, such as lenses, test tubes, fiberglass and protective coatings, it is necessary to improve the transparency and ensure the homogeneity of the glass composition.

Scientists from Perm Polytechnic University (PNRPU) have developed an innovative method that accelerates the production of glass with improved characteristics and reduces the environmental footprint by using acid mine water purification technologies.

To improve the properties of glass during its production, two key processes are important: clarification and homogenization. Clarification involves removing gas inclusions and solid impurities from molten glass, which significantly increases its transparency.

Homogenization, on the other hand, ensures the homogeneity of the melt through mixing, elimination of unmelted particles and equalization of the temperature field, which leads to uniform physical and optical properties.

PNRPU researchers have created a mixture of salts (NH4)2SO4 and Li2CO3, which acts as a continuous accelerator for melting silicate glasses in a wide range of temperatures. This mixture simplifies the processes of melt clarification and homogenization. An important feature is the use of sediment obtained as a result of cleaning acidic mine waters in glass production.

Mine waters that penetrate and accumulate in mines and mine workings may contain acids formed as a result of the interaction of sulfide minerals. These waters can cause environmental pollution due to the leaching of heavy metals.

Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Department of Heat and Gas Supply, Ventilation and Water Supply, Drainage of PNRPU Olga Ruchkinova explained that the resulting product demonstrates a synergistic effect, improving the processes of clarification and homogenization of glass mass at least twice.

This material changes the composition, viscosity and increases the mixability of the glass mass due to chemical reactions, accelerating the melting process and reducing the temperature by 20-50ºС, which is necessary to complete the clarification and homogenization of the glass.

Glass made using this method has increased permeability to ultraviolet rays, resistance to alkalis, acids and cracking, and also increased strength by 1.5-2 times.

Scientists from PNRPU for the first time proposed using a mixture of salts obtained from waste - acidic mine water, as a clarifying and homogenizing material for silicate glasses. This material can be used all year round in any region as a finished product, packaged and hermetically sealed.

The study was conducted within the framework of the strategic academic leadership program "Priority-2030". The Federal Service for Intellectual Property approved the issuance of a patent for this invention.

Source: www.newsinfo.ru