The invention relates to an arrangement of a furnace and of bulk material of glass particles, said furnace (10) comprising a pressing punch (36), a pressure, distance and/or speed sensor and a control device for controlling a pressing process based on the output signal of the sensor. The sensor detects at least a pressure, position and/or motion parameter of the pressing punch (36). The pressing punch (36) acts on the bulk material of glass particles (32)possibly via an interposed ram (28), said glass particles being guided and crystallizable in a press channel (30). The trigger criterion for the process control is a change of at least a motion parameter of the pressing punch (36) upon softening of the bulk material of glass particles (32) which change is detected by the sensor.

The invention relates to an arrangement of a furnace and of bulk material of glass particles, said furnace (10) comprising a pressing punch (36), a pressure, distance and/or speed sensor and a control device for controlling a pressing process based on the output signal of the sensor. The sensor detects at least a pressure, position and/or motion parameter of the pressing punch (36). The pressing punch (36) acts on the bulk material of glass particles (32)possibly via an interposed ram (28), said glass particles being guided and crystallizable in a press channel (30). The trigger criterion for the process control is a change of at least a motion parameter of the pressing punch (36) upon softening of the bulk material of glass particles (32) which change is detected by the sensor.

A mixture including glass fragments is located in a containment vessel and is processed in a kiln to form a commercially useful building product. The mixture is initially heated over a first time period to a first temperature intermediate the glass transition point temperature and about 950 C. or 1,100 C. (Section A). At the first temperature the glass fragments slump and bond to each other and the mixture is soaked at this temperature for a second time period (Section B). After reducing the temperature (Section C), the mixture is annealed for another time period (Section D). Finally, the kiln is cooled to allow the mixture to be removed (Section E).

A mixture including glass fragments is located in a containment vessel and is processed in a kiln to form a commercially useful building product. The mixture is initially heated over a first time period to a first temperature intermediate the glass transition point temperature and about 950 C. or 1,100 C. (Section A). At the first temperature the glass fragments slump and bond to each other and the mixture is soaked at this temperature for a second time period (Section B). After reducing the temperature (Section C), the mixture is annealed for another time period (Section D). Finally, the kiln is cooled to allow the mixture to be removed (Section E).

A processing technique for production of fused silica for radomes and like elements is described. The processing technique includes forming a mixture of milled silica having an average particle size of about 1 to 5 microns, and a colloidal silica. This mixture is processed to form fused silica having substantially high strength.

A solid state electrolyte including an oxy-sulfide glass or glass ceramic, solid state electrolyte layer having a thickness in the range of ten micrometers to two hundred micrometers is provide. The composition of the electrolyte layer is the reaction product of a mixture initially including either a glass former including sulfur or a glass co-former including sulfur, and a glass modifier including Li.sub.2O or Na.sub.2O. The solid-state electrolyte layer is further characterized as having a wholly amorphous microstructure or as having small recrystallized regions separated from each other in an amorphous matrix, the recrystallized regions having a size of up to five micrometers. The solid-state electrolyte layer includes mobile lithium ions or mobile sodium ions associated with sulfur anions chemically anchored in the microstructure.

A glass/quartz composite structure may comprise aggregate including glass grit, nano-glass crystals, and/or amorphous silica that may be produced from crystalline quartz. The aggregate may be in an amount greater than any other single material by weight of the composite structure, which may further include quartz powder and/or alumina as well as a binding resin. The glass/quartz composite structure may be devoid of crystalline silica. The structure may be formed into a 1.2-1.5 cm thick slab for countertops using standard cabinet perimeter support. The slab may be made by mixing the aggregate, the quartz powder and/or alumina, and the binding resin, pouring the mixture in a mold, and compacting the mixture in the mold. Specific natural mineral components, decorative chips, and/or wet mixture pieces may be added to the composite structure to provide aesthetics of specific natural stones.

A glass/quartz composite structure may comprise aggregate including glass grit, nano-glass crystals, and/or amorphous silica that may be produced from crystalline quartz. The aggregate may be in an amount greater than any other single material by weight of the composite structure, which may further include quartz powder and/or alumina as well as a binding resin. The glass/quartz composite structure may be devoid of crystalline silica. The structure may be formed into a 1.2-1.5 cm thick slab for countertops using standard cabinet perimeter support. The slab may be made by mixing the aggregate, the quartz powder and/or alumina, and the binding resin, pouring the mixture in a mold, and compacting the mixture in the mold. Specific natural mineral components, decorative chips, and/or wet mixture pieces may be added to the composite structure to provide aesthetics of specific natural stones.

A mold for manufacturing a quartz glass crucible by a rotary molding method, having a plurality of grooves that are concentric with respect to a mold rotation axis in at least a straight body portion of an inner surface of the mold, wherein the plurality of concentric grooves are non-penetrating grooves that do not penetrate the mold. This provides a mold for manufacturing a quartz glass crucible by a rotary molding method, having an inner surface made so that it is difficult for quartz powder to slide down when forming a quartz powder compact.

In authentication of machineries and cards (artifact) that are used in social acts such as economic acts, an approach of artifact metrics corresponding to biometrics is effective. Therefore, the subject is to find out a material that satisfies requirements of artifact metrics and is, preferably, suppliable stably and also economically, to establish the production method thereof, and to apply these to an individual authentication system of artifact. Porous glass, which possesses a spinodal phase separation structure, is an individual authentication medium as artifact metrics. There is provided a production method thereof, and an individual authentication system utilizing the individual authentication medium.