The present invention relates to a high-generation TFT-LCD glass substrate production line. The production line includes a kiln, a large-flow precious metal channel, a tin bath, an annealing kiln, a cutting machine and an unloading machine connected in sequence. The present invention combines high-efficiency melting, clarification and homogenization of molten glass, ultrathin float forming and annealing process technologies of the TFT-LCD glass, which can produce the TFT-LCD glass substrates with large sizes such as 8.5 generations and 10.5/11 generations, which has the advantages of large product size, excellent product performance, coherent process procedures, high production efficiency, high productivity and the like.

The present invention relates to a high-generation TFT-LCD glass substrate production line. The production line includes a kiln, a large-flow precious metal channel, a tin bath, an annealing kiln, a cutting machine and an unloading machine connected in sequence. The present invention combines high-efficiency melting, clarification and homogenization of molten glass, ultrathin float forming and annealing process technologies of the TFT-LCD glass, which can produce the TFT-LCD glass substrates with large sizes such as 8.5 generations and 10.5/11 generations, which has the advantages of large product size, excellent product performance, coherent process procedures, high production efficiency, high productivity and the like.

A glass sheet of the present invention releases CO.sub.2 gas in an amount of 5.0 μL/g or less when the glass sheet is subjected to heat treatment under the conditions of 1,500° C. and 4 hours after having been subjected to preheating under the conditions of 900° C. and 1 hour.

A glass sheet of the present invention releases CO.sub.2 gas in an amount of 5.0 μL/g or less when the glass sheet is subjected to heat treatment under the conditions of 1,500° C. and 4 hours after having been subjected to preheating under the conditions of 900° C. and 1 hour.

A method of producing glass using submerged combustion melting is disclosed. The method includes introducing a vitrifiable feed material into a glass melt contained within a submerged combustion melter. The glass melt contained in the melter has a redox ratio defined as a ratio of Fe.sup.2+ to total iron in the glass melt. The method further includes combusting a combustible gas mixture supplied to each of the submerged burners to produce combustion products, and discharging the combustion products directly into the glass melt. Still further, the method includes adjusting the redox ratio of the glass melt by controlling one or more operating conditions of the submerged combustion melter selected from (1) an oxygen-to-fuel ratio of the combustible gas mixture supplied to each of the submerged burners, (2) a residence time of the glass melt, and (3) a gas flux through the glass melt.

The invention discloses a composition for preparing glass, a glass article and a use thereof, and a glass article made from the composition. The glass article is preferably a glass substrate made from a composition with an M value of from about 1 to about 10 as calculated by the empirical equation: M=0.13×wt (B.sub.2O.sub.3)×wt (B.sub.2O.sub.3)+0.42×wt (CaO)+0.55×wt (MgO)+0.75×wt (SrO)−0.05×wt (Al.sub.2O.sub.3)×wt (Al.sub.2O.sub.3). A use of the glass article (especially the glass substrate) for manufacturing a display device is disclosed herein, wherein the glass article has better properties, such as lowered content of solid inclusions and gas inclusions, lowered thickness range and lowered warpage.

The invention discloses a composition for preparing glass, a glass article and a use thereof, and a glass article made from the composition. The glass article is preferably a glass substrate made from a composition with an M value of from about 1 to about 10 as calculated by the empirical equation: M=0.13×wt (B.sub.2O.sub.3)×wt (B.sub.2O.sub.3)+0.42×wt (CaO)+0.55×wt (MgO)+0.75×wt (SrO)−0.05×wt (Al.sub.2O.sub.3)×wt (Al.sub.2O.sub.3). A use of the glass article (especially the glass substrate) for manufacturing a display device is disclosed herein, wherein the glass article has better properties, such as lowered content of solid inclusions and gas inclusions, lowered thickness range and lowered warpage.

A method of manufacturing a glass article includes flowing molten glass through a first vessel to a downstream second vessel, the molten glass flowing through a conduit connecting the first vessel to the second vessel, the first vessel and the conduit defining a continuous free volume above a free surface of the molten glass extending into at least a portion of the conduit. The method further includes venting a first atmosphere contained in the free volume to a second atmosphere external to the first vessel through a vent tube connected to the conduit proximate a top of the conduit and above the free surface, the vent tube extending downward from the conduit to a distal end of the vent tube along a longitudinal axis at an angle a relative to horizontal and providing fluid communication between the first atmosphere and the second atmosphere.

A method of manufacturing a glass article includes flowing molten glass through a first vessel to a downstream second vessel, the molten glass flowing through a conduit connecting the first vessel to the second vessel, the first vessel and the conduit defining a continuous free volume above a free surface of the molten glass extending into at least a portion of the conduit. The method further includes venting a first atmosphere contained in the free volume to a second atmosphere external to the first vessel through a vent tube connected to the conduit proximate a top of the conduit and above the free surface, the vent tube extending downward from the conduit to a distal end of the vent tube along a longitudinal axis at an angle a relative to horizontal and providing fluid communication between the first atmosphere and the second atmosphere.

The invention relates to a smoothing tool (3) configured for smoothing glass frit in a radioactive environment, in an induction-melting cold crucible. Smoothing tool (3) comprising a rod (30), a grid (50) configured to be in contact with glass frit (7) to be smoothed, and at least one vibrator (37, 55, 56) configured to make the grid (50) vibrate. The grid (50) is mechanically connected to the rod (30).