The present invention relates to a glass article having high transmittance, while suppressing the discoloration and the solarization of the glass. The glass article is provided by controlling the contents of cerium oxide and iron oxide in the glass composition within the optimum range, further controlling the contents of manganese oxide and iron oxide in the glass composition within the optimum range, and controlling the basicity of the alkaline earth metal oxides in the glass composition depending on the iron amount contained in the glass.

A glass sheet having a composition which comprises total iron (expressed in terms of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3) from 0.002-0.06 wt %; chromium (expressed as Cr.sub.2O.sub.3) from 3-75 ppm; and manganese (expressed as MnO) from 50-1000 ppm. The glass sheet has a LTD4 higher than 70%. Such a glass sheet exhibits at once a high luminous transmission, an increased transmission of infrared (IR) radiation and a pleasing slight color or an almost neutral to neutral color.

A glass sheet having a composition comprising a total iron content of 0.002-0.03% expressed in the form of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 and in weight percentage with respect to the total weight of glass, and further satisfying the formula N*.sub.50.05; N*.sub.5 being defined as N*.sub.5={square root over ((a*.sub.5a*.sub.0).sup.2+(b*.sub.5b*.sub.0).sup.2, )}a*.sub.5 and b*.sub.5 being measured for a sheet thickness of 5 mm in transmission with illuminant D65, 10, SCI; a*.sub.0 and b*.sub.0 being computed for a sheet thickness of 0 mm in transmission with illuminant D65, 10, SCI. Such a glass sheet allows a color rendering of the sheet which is essentially the same whatever the view path available for an observer of the object integrating said glass sheet (when looking through its main faces or through its edges or through a zone bearing a diffusing coating).

Glass articles that are resistant to coloration when exposed to ultraviolet light or plasma cleaning processes. The glass articles comprise or consist of an alkali aluminosilicate glass containing from about 0.1 mol % to about 1 mol % of at least one of ZrO.sub.2, Sb.sub.2O.sub.3, and Nb.sub.2O.sub.5; and less than about 400 ppm each of oxides of titanium, iron, germanium, cerium, nickel, cobalt, and europium.

The invention relates to substrates, in particular to transparent substrates, optionally colored, coated with an infrared-reflecting layer and capable of being used as glazing in buildings or in vehicles. Said coated substrates are made up of the combination of a glass substrate in which the composition has a redox of less than 15%, characterized by infrared reflection RIR.sub.V so that RIR.sub.V1.087*TL.sub.V, wherein TL.sub.V is the light transmission of the glass, and an infrared reflecting layer characterized by light transmission TL.sub.C so that TL.sub.C1.3*TIR.sub.C, wherein TIR.sub.C is the infrared transmission of the layer.

The invention relates to laminated glazing comprising a substrate, in particular a transparent substrate, optionally colored, coated with an infrared-reflecting layer and capable of being used as glazing in buildings or in vehicles. The coated substrate is made up of the combination of a glass substrate in which the composition has a redox of less than 15%, characterized by infrared reflection RIRV so that RIRV1.087*TLV, wherein TLV is the light transmission of the glass, and an infrared reflecting layer characterized by light transmission TLC so that TLC1.3*TIRC, wherein TIRC is the infrared transmission of the layer.

The present invention provides a high-transparency glass having a high fining action at a low temperature and capable of achieving redox lowering more than before. The present invention relates to a glass containing 1 to 500 ppm of a total iron oxide (t-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3) in terms of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, having a redox ([divalent iron (Fe.sup.2+) in terms of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3]/[total (Fe.sup.2++Fe.sup.3+) of divalent iron (Fe.sup.2+) and trivalent iron (Fe.sup.3+) in terms of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3]) of 0% or more and 25% or less, containing, as expressed by mass percentage based on oxides, 50 to 81% of SiO.sub.2, 1 to 20% of Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 5% of B.sub.2O.sub.3, 5 to 20% of Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O, and 5 to 27% of MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, and having a bubble disappearance-starting temperature (TD) of 1485 C. or lower.

Compounds, compositions, articles, devices, and methods for the manufacture of light guide plates and back light units including such light guide plates made from glass. In some embodiments, light guide plates (LGPs) are provided that have similar or superior optical properties to light guide plates made from PMMA and that have exceptional mechanical properties such as rigidity, CTE and dimensional stability in high moisture conditions as compared to PMMA light guide plates.

The invention concerns an automotive glazing comprising (i) at least one glass sheet having an absorption coefficient lower than 5 m.sup.1 in the wavelength range from 750 to 1050 nm and having an external face and an internal face, and (ii) an infrared filter. According to the present invention, an infrared-based remote sensing device in the wavelength range from 750 to 1050 nm, and preferably in the wavelength range from 750 to 950 nm, is placed on the internal face of the glass sheet in a zone free of the infrared filter layer.

A transparent gahnite-spinel glass ceramic is provided. The glass ceramic includes a first crystal phase including (Mg.sub.xZn.sub.1x)Al.sub.2O.sub.4 where x is less than 1 and a second crystal phase including tetragonal ZrO.sub.2. The glass ceramic may be ion exchanged. Methods for producing the glass ceramic are also provided.