A float glass chamber and related methods include a hot section having an atmosphere in at least the lower plenum with less than 3 percent hydrogen based on volume and a cold section having a different volume percent hydrogen.

Certain example embodiments relate to an improved method of strengthening glass substrates (e.g., soda lime silica glass substrates). In certain examples, a glass substrate may be chemically strengthened by creating an electric field within the glass. In certain cases, the chemical tempering may be performed by surrounding the substrate by a plasma including certain ions, such as Li.sup.+, K.sup.+, Mg.sup.2+, and/or the like. In some cases, these ions may be forced into the glass substrate due to the half-cycles of the electric field generated by the electrodes that formed the plasma. This may advantageously chemically strengthen a glass substrate on a substantially reduced time scale. In other example embodiments, an electric field may be set in a float bath such that sodium ions are driven from the molten glass ribbon into the tin bath, which may advantageously result in a stronger glass substrate with reduced sodium content.

Certain example embodiments relate to an improved method of strengthening glass substrates (e.g., soda lime silica glass substrates). In certain examples, a glass substrate may be chemically strengthened by creating an electric field within the glass. In certain cases, the chemical tempering may be performed by surrounding the substrate by a plasma including certain ions, such as Li.sup.+, K.sup.+, Mg.sup.2+, and/or the like. In some cases, these ions may be forced into the glass substrate due to the half-cycles of the electric field generated by the electrodes that formed the plasma. This may advantageously chemically strengthen a glass substrate on a substantially reduced time scale. In other example embodiments, an electric field may be set in a float bath such that sodium ions are driven from the molten glass ribbon into the tin bath, which may advantageously result in a stronger glass substrate with reduced sodium content.

A method of the present invention for producing glass sheets includes the steps of: (I) forming a molten glass raw material into a glass ribbon on a molten metal; and (II) bringing an acid gas that contains a fluorine element (F)-containing acid and in which a volume ratio of water vapor to the acid (a volume of the water vapor/a volume of the acid) is 0 or more and 30 or less, into contact with a surface of the glass ribbon on the molten metal so as to subject the surface of the glass ribbon to dealkalization and control a morphology of the surface in accordance with the volume ratio.

A method of the present invention for producing glass sheets includes the steps of: (I) forming a molten glass raw material into a glass ribbon on a molten metal; and (II) bringing an acid gas that contains a fluorine element (F)-containing acid and in which a volume ratio of water vapor to the acid (a volume of the water vapor/a volume of the acid) is 0 or more and 30 or less, into contact with a surface of the glass ribbon on the molten metal so as to subject the surface of the glass ribbon to dealkalization and control a morphology of the surface in accordance with the volume ratio.

Certain example embodiments relate to an improved method of strengthening glass substrates (e.g., soda lime silica glass substrates). In certain examples, a glass substrate may be chemically strengthened by creating an electric field within the glass. In certain cases, the chemical tempering may be performed by surrounding the substrate by a plasma including certain ions, such as Li.sup.+, K.sup.+, Mg.sup.2+, and/or the like. In some cases, these ions may be forced into the glass substrate due to the half-cycles of the electric field generated by the electrodes that formed the plasma. This may advantageously chemically strengthen a glass substrate on a substantially reduced time scale. In other example embodiments, an electric field may be set in a float bath such that sodium ions are driven from the molten glass ribbon into the tin bath, which may advantageously result in a stronger glass substrate with reduced sodium content.

Certain example embodiments relate to an improved method of strengthening glass substrates (e.g., soda lime silica glass substrates). In certain examples, a glass substrate may be chemically strengthened by creating an electric field within the glass. In certain cases, the chemical tempering may be performed by surrounding the substrate by a plasma including certain ions, such as Li.sup.+, K.sup.+, Mg.sup.2+, and/or the like. In some cases, these ions may be forced into the glass substrate due to the half-cycles of the electric field generated by the electrodes that formed the plasma. This may advantageously chemically strengthen a glass substrate on a substantially reduced time scale. In other example embodiments, an electric field may be set in a float bath such that sodium ions are driven from the molten glass ribbon into the tin bath, which may advantageously result in a stronger glass substrate with reduced sodium content.

A furnace has a melting chamber with a periphery defined by a surrounding wall structure. The furnace is provided with a purge system configured to direct inert gas to flow downward in the melting chamber in the configuration of a curtain that adjoins the wall structure and reaches only partially around the periphery of the melting chamber.

The present invention relates to a float glass for chemical strengthening, containing a bottom surface coming into contact with a molten metal at the time of forming and a top surface opposing the bottom surface, in which a difference (NNa.sub.2O.sup.2) determined by subtracting a square of a normalized Na.sub.2O surface concentration of the bottom surface which is a value obtained by dividing an Na.sub.2O concentration in the bottom surface by an Na.sub.2O concentration at a depth position of 100 m therefrom, from a square of a normalized Na.sub.2O surface concentration of the top surface which is a value obtained by dividing an Na.sub.2O concentration in the top surface by an Na.sub.2O concentration at a depth position of 100 m therefrom, is 0.040 or less.

The present invention relates to a float glass for chemical strengthening, containing a bottom surface coming into contact with a molten metal at the time of forming and a top surface opposing the bottom surface, in which a difference (NNa.sub.2O.sup.2) determined by subtracting a square of a normalized Na.sub.2O surface concentration of the bottom surface which is a value obtained by dividing an Na.sub.2O concentration in the bottom surface by an Na.sub.2O concentration at a depth position of 100 m therefrom, from a square of a normalized Na.sub.2O surface concentration of the top surface which is a value obtained by dividing an Na.sub.2O concentration in the top surface by an Na.sub.2O concentration at a depth position of 100 m therefrom, is 0.040 or less.