A process for the manufacture of a heat strengthened glass substrate, includes the application of a temporary layer including a polymer on a glass substrate including a glass sheet, then the application to the glass substrate coated with the temporary layer of a treatment for the heat strengthening of the glass including heating, leading to the removal of the temporary layer, and then cooling by blowing of air through nozzles. The glass substrate thus obtained exhibits a reduced level of iridescences.

A tempering frame for thermal tempering of glass panes, includes a carrier frame and a support frame that is joined to the carrier frame via a plurality of connection elements and is arranged completely within the carrier frame, wherein the support frame has an upper primary surface for placing a glass pane, a lower primary surface, a front edge, and a rear edge, and wherein the support frame has recesses introduced in the rear edge, which are arranged between adjacent connection elements.

A method for tempering substantially flat glass sheets. A glass sheet is heated to a tempering temperature and quenching is conducted by blasting cooling air to both surfaces of the glass sheet. The quenching of a top surface and a bottom surface of the glass sheet's both side lanes is commenced earlier or is performed at the early stage of quenching more effectively than the quenching of a top surface and a bottom surface of the glass sheet's middle lane. As a result, the compressive stress required for a desired tempering degree is established on both surfaces of the side lanes earlier than on both surfaces of the middle lane. In order to achieve this, the cooling air enclosures above and below a glass sheet are provided with a subarea of weakened cooling effect.

A method for tempering substantially flat glass sheets. A glass sheet is heated to a tempering temperature and quenching is conducted by blasting cooling air to both surfaces of the glass sheet. The quenching of a top surface and a bottom surface of the glass sheet's both side lanes is commenced earlier or is performed at the early stage of quenching more effectively than the quenching of a top surface and a bottom surface of the glass sheet's middle lane. As a result, the compressive stress required for a desired tempering degree is established on both surfaces of the side lanes earlier than on both surfaces of the middle lane. In order to achieve this, the cooling air enclosures above and below a glass sheet are provided with a subarea of weakened cooling effect.

A glass substrate comprises: a first position, wherein a tensile stress of the glass substrate is insufficient to cause fragmentation of the glass substrate into small pieces upon fracture of the glass substrate; and a second position, wherein the glass substrate is bent relative to the first position, and wherein the tensile stress of the glass substrate is sufficient to cause fragmentation of the glass substrate into small pieces upon fracture of the glass substrate. The glass substrate can include a first surface and a second surface. In the first position, the first surface and the second surface of the glass substrate can be planar. In the second position, the first surface and the second surface of the glass substrate can be planar. The small pieces can be generally cubic. In the second position, the glass substrate can be bent uniaxially along a bend axis of the glass substrate.

A glass substrate comprises: a first position, wherein a tensile stress of the glass substrate is insufficient to cause fragmentation of the glass substrate into small pieces upon fracture of the glass substrate; and a second position, wherein the glass substrate is bent relative to the first position, and wherein the tensile stress of the glass substrate is sufficient to cause fragmentation of the glass substrate into small pieces upon fracture of the glass substrate. The glass substrate can include a first surface and a second surface. In the first position, the first surface and the second surface of the glass substrate can be planar. In the second position, the first surface and the second surface of the glass substrate can be planar. The small pieces can be generally cubic. In the second position, the glass substrate can be bent uniaxially along a bend axis of the glass substrate.

A forming apparatus includes a frame, an air grid system, and a forming system; the air grid system includes a plurality of upper air grids and a plurality of lower air grids; the upper air grids are mounted at an upper part of the frame through a lifting mechanism, and the lower air grids are mounted in the forming system at a lower part of the frame; a gradual transition section is arranged at an inlet side of the forming system to enable a glass pane to be gradually arched in a transverse direction, and the gradually arched glass pane is conveyed into the forming system; and the forming system includes two groups of longitudinal forming and arching mechanisms and a plurality of transverse forming and arching mechanisms arranged in a glass pane conveying direction.

A strengthened cover glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the strengthened glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article is provided for use in consumer electronic devices. The process comprises cooling the cover glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened cover glass sheets for use in or on consumer electronic products.

A strengthened cover glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the strengthened glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article is provided for use in consumer electronic devices. The process comprises cooling the cover glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened cover glass sheets for use in or on consumer electronic products.

A device and a process for manufacturing a bent individual glass sheet including a peripheral compression belt, wherein the process includes the heating thereof to its bending temperature in a furnace, the individual bending thereof, and the general cooling thereof. One zone of the sheet at least partially inside the peripheral compression belt, referred to as locally cooled zone, undergoes, after the heating of the sheet, a local cooling faster than the general cooling, when the sheet is at a temperature of at least 530? C. The cutting of the sheet on the locally cooled zone creates edges having edge compressive stresses.