Feed Material for Producing Flint Glass using Submerged Combustion Melting

Abstract

A vitrifiable feed material for producing flint glass by way of a process that uses submerged combustion melting includes a base glass portion, an oxidizing agent, and a decolorant. The base glass portion includes an SiO 2 contributor, an Na 2 O contributor, and a CaO contributor to provide SiO 2 , Na 2 O, and CaO, respectively, to a glass melt when melted therein. The oxidizing agent may be a sulfate compound in an amount ranging from 0.20 wt % to 0.50 wt % as expressed as SO 3 based on the total weight of the vitrifiable feed material, and the decolorant may be selenium in an amount ranging from 0.008 wt % to 0.016 wt % or manganese oxide in an amount ranging from 0.1 wt % to 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the vitrifiable feed material.

1 . A vitrifiable feed material for producing flint glass by way of a process that uses submerged combustion melting, the vitrifiable feed material comprising:
 a base glass portion that includes an SiO 2  contributor, an Na 2 O contributor, and a CaO contributor to provide SiO 2 , Na 2 O, and CaO, respectively, to an agitated glass melt when melted therein;   a sulfate compound in an amount ranging from 0.20 wt % to 0.50 wt % as expressed as SO 3  based on the total weight of the vitrifiable feed material; and   selenium in an amount ranging from 0.008 wt % to 0.016 wt % or manganese oxide in an amount ranging from 0.1 wt % to 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the vitrifiable feed material.   
     
     
         2 . The vitrifiable feed material set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base glass portion further includes an Al 2 O 3  contributor. 
     
     
         3 . The vitrifiable feed material set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base glass portion further includes flint cullet. 
     
     
         4 . The vitrifiable feed material set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the flint cullet constitutes up to 80 wt % of the base glass portion. 
     
     
         5 . The vitrifiable feed material set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sulfate compound includes sodium sulfate. 
     
     
         6 . A vitrifiable feed material for producing flint glass by way of a process that uses submerged combustion melting, the vitrifiable feed material comprising:
 a base glass portion that includes an SiO 2  contributor, an Na 2 O contributor, and a CaO contributor to provide SiO 2 , Na 2 O, and CaO, respectively, to an agitated glass melt when melted therein;   an oxidizing agent; and   selenium in an amount ranging from 0.008 wt % to 0.016 wt % or manganese oxide in an amount ranging from 0.1 wt % to 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the vitrifiable feed material.   
     
     
         7 . The vitrifiable feed material set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the oxidizing agent is a sulfate compound. 
     
     
         8 . The vitrifiable feed material set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the sulfate is present in an amount ranging from 0.20 wt % to 0.50 wt % as expressed as SO 3  based on the total weight of the vitrifiable feed material 
     
     
         9 . The vitrifiable feed material set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the sulfate compound is sodium sulfate. 
     
     
         10 . The vitrifiable feed material set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the base glass portion further includes an Al 2 O 3  contributor. 
     
     
         11 . The vitrifiable feed material set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the base glass portion further includes flint cullet. 
     
     
         12 . The vitrifiable feed material set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the flint cullet constitutes up to 80 wt % of the base glass portion.