A material includes a transparent substrate on the surface of which is deposited a stack of layers which itself includes a plurality of functional layers making it possible to influence the solar and/or infrared radiation capable of striking said surface. The material has high thermal performance qualities and also an attractive shiny surface appearance of neutral color.

A material includes a transparent substrate on the surface of which is deposited a stack of layers which itself includes a plurality of functional layers making it possible to influence the solar and/or infrared radiation capable of striking said surface. The material has high thermal performance qualities and also an attractive shiny surface appearance of neutral color.

An invention is provided for creating smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments. The invention includes placing a plurality of heat-treated glass fragments into a tumbling or vibrating apparatus. Each heat-treated glass fragment is formed from glass that has been heated to a temperature of at least 1000° Fahrenheit and rapidly cooled to a temperature below 800° Fahrenheit. The plurality of glass fragments is then tumbled or vibrated for a predetermined period of time such that surfaces of the heat-treated glass fragments are smoother than prior to tumbling. The glass fragments are thereafter removed from the tumbling apparatus, resulting in smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments that have a slightly rounded, bead like-shape and are suitable for direct handling without hand protection. The glass fragments as are able to be provide radiant heat in the temperature range of 400° to 800° Fahrenheit. This temperature range and the use of the heat-treated glass fragments provides for a clean burning fire that virtually eliminates any soot and carbon monoxide while burning.

An invention is provided for creating smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments. The invention includes placing a plurality of heat-treated glass fragments into a tumbling or vibrating apparatus. Each heat-treated glass fragment is formed from glass that has been heated to a temperature of at least 1000° Fahrenheit and rapidly cooled to a temperature below 800° Fahrenheit. The plurality of glass fragments is then tumbled or vibrated for a predetermined period of time such that surfaces of the heat-treated glass fragments are smoother than prior to tumbling. The glass fragments are thereafter removed from the tumbling apparatus, resulting in smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments that have a slightly rounded, bead like-shape and are suitable for direct handling without hand protection. The glass fragments as are able to be provide radiant heat in the temperature range of 400° to 800° Fahrenheit. This temperature range and the use of the heat-treated glass fragments provides for a clean burning fire that virtually eliminates any soot and carbon monoxide while burning.

Transparent, dyed cook top or hob with improved color display capability, consisting of a glass ceramic with high quartz mixed crystals as predominant crystal phase, whereby the glass-ceramic contains none of the chemical refining agents arsenic oxide and/or antimony, with transmission values of greater than 0.1% in the range of the visible light within the entire wavelength range greater than 450 nm, a light transmission in the visible of 0.8-2.5% and a transmission in the infrared at 1600 nm of 45-85%.

Transparent, dyed cook top or hob with improved color display capability, consisting of a glass ceramic with high quartz mixed crystals as predominant crystal phase, whereby the glass-ceramic contains none of the chemical refining agents arsenic oxide and/or antimony, with transmission values of greater than 0.1% in the range of the visible light within the entire wavelength range greater than 450 nm, a light transmission in the visible of 0.8-2.5% and a transmission in the infrared at 1600 nm of 45-85%.

Provided is a method of producing a glass-ceramic blank including: preparing plural glass-ceramic powders, laminating the glass-ceramic powders, so that colors of any adjacent layers of the powders are the same as or approximate to each other, and so that said any adjacent layers are different in total light transmittance, and pressure-molding the laminated powders; heating, at 500° C. to 800° C., a laminate obtained by the pressure molding to degrease the laminate; immersing an entire of the laminate after the degreasing in a colorant solution including a single-colored metal ion; and heat-treating, at higher than 750° C. and 1000° C. or lower, the laminate having immersed in the colorant solution.

Provided is a method of producing a glass-ceramic blank including: preparing plural glass-ceramic powders, laminating the glass-ceramic powders, so that colors of any adjacent layers of the powders are the same as or approximate to each other, and so that said any adjacent layers are different in total light transmittance, and pressure-molding the laminated powders; heating, at 500° C. to 800° C., a laminate obtained by the pressure molding to degrease the laminate; immersing an entire of the laminate after the degreasing in a colorant solution including a single-colored metal ion; and heat-treating, at higher than 750° C. and 1000° C. or lower, the laminate having immersed in the colorant solution.

A sensor module includes: a base member; at least one of a single or a plurality of sensors and vibrators arranged on the base member; and a protective member constituted of at least one flat surface or a curved surface, provided so as to cover the at least one of the sensors and the vibrators. A part or whole of the protective member is formed of a strengthened glass and the strengthened glass is a chemically strengthened glass or a physically strengthened glass.

Al.sub.2O.sub.3-rich compositions with desirable hardness and crack resistance for various functional applications. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the composition into various dimensions and shapes under a temperature much lower than in conventional methods.