To form, on a ceramic member or a metal member, a thermal spray ceramic coating film which achieves both the quality of a ceramic coating film and gas barrier property, and with which a composite oxide having a melting point lower than the ambient temperature will not form when used as a coating film on a ceramic member or a metal member constituting a glass article manufacturing apparatus. A ceramic coating film-provided member comprising a ceramic member or a metal member and a thermal spray ceramic coating film formed on at least a part of the surface of the ceramic member or the metal member, wherein the thermal spray ceramic coating film contains Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and 12CaO.7Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and the weight ratio of CaO to Al.sub.2O.sub.3 (CaO/Al.sub.2O.sub.3) is more than 0.11 to 0.50.

A process for the manufacture of a refractory block including more than 80% zirconia, in percentage by weight based on the oxides. The process includes the following successive stages: melting, under reducing conditions, of a charge including more than 50% zircon, in percentage by weight, such as to reduce the zircon and obtain a molten material, application of oxidizing conditions to the molten material, casting of the molten material, and cooling until at least partial solidification of the molten material in the form of a block. Also, the process can include heat treatment of the block.

An apparatus and method for manufacturing a glass article includes a conduit of precious metal or precious metal alloy hat encloses molten glass. The apparatus and method also includes a channel positioned inside or proximate the conduit that flows a defect inhibiting fluid therethrough. The channel includes at least one orifice positioned proximate a free surface of the molten glass from which flows the defect inhibiting fluid.

Provided is an alkali-free glass substrate having a high strain point and excellent bubble count, and a method for manufacturing the alkali-free glass substrate. The method includes: a batch preparing process of preparing a raw material batch so as to obtain alkali-free glass containing, in mass %, 50 to 80% of SiO.sub.2, 15 to 30% of Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 4.5% of B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 10% of MgO, 0 to 15% of CaO, 0 to 10% of SrO, 0 to 15% of BaO, 0 to 5% of ZnO, 0 to 5% of ZrO.sub.2, 0 to 5% of TiO.sub.2, 0 to 15% of P.sub.2O.sub.5 and 0 to 0.5% of SnO.sub.2 as a glass composition; a melting process of melting the prepared raw material batch; a fining process of fining the molten glass; and a forming process of forming the fined glass into a sheet shape. The raw material batch is melted such that a bubble enlarging temperature of the obtained glass is lower than a maximum temperature of the fining process.

An installation for melting a composition of raw materials, suitable for obtaining glass wool, textile glass yarns and/or flat glass, includes a melting chamber equipped with at least one submerged burner, wherein the melting chamber is defined by side walls made of refractory material and a bare metal bottom traversed by a network of pipes adapted for the circulation of a cooling fluid.

An installation for melting a composition of raw materials, suitable for obtaining glass wool, textile glass yarns and/or flat glass, includes a melting chamber equipped with at least one submerged burner, wherein the melting chamber is defined by side walls made of refractory material and a bare metal bottom traversed by a network of pipes adapted for the circulation of a cooling fluid.

A method for producing a glass product having a low bubble content from a melt is provided, wherein the melt at least partly comes into contact with a noble metal-comprising component.

A method for testing the internal structure of a refractory part, has the following steps: a) by a transmission antenna, sending at least one electromagnetic wave, termed a “pulse”, into the refractory part to be tested; b) by a reception antenna, receiving the pulse after reflection thereof by a reflecting zone of the refractory part; c) analyzing the time offset between the two preceding steps in order to deduce the position, in the refractory part, of the reflecting zone, the pulse having a duration less than or equal to 0.5 nanoseconds.

A system and method are described herein for controlling an environment around an inlet tube in the glass manufacturing system. More specifically, the system and method control a level of hydrogen within a humid gas mixture that flows over an exterior of the inlet tube to effectively suppress the formation of undesirable gaseous inclusions in molten glass that flows through the inlet tube.

A system and method are described herein for controlling an environment around an inlet tube in the glass manufacturing system. More specifically, the system and method control a level of hydrogen within a humid gas mixture that flows over an exterior of the inlet tube to effectively suppress the formation of undesirable gaseous inclusions in molten glass that flows through the inlet tube.