A molten material furnace system having a liquid cooled flow control mechanism and method are disclosed. In particular, the flow control mechanism can include a needle including: a longitudinal axis; an outer conduit including an outer base end, an outer body, and an outer free end; an inner conduit including an inner base end, an inner body radially spaced from the outer body, an inner free end, and a central inlet passage extending between the inlet and the inner free end. Also disclosed is a needle control assembly to position the flow control needle relative to a stilling tank outlet orifice to control flow of molten material through the outlet orifice.

A molten material furnace system having a liquid cooled flow control mechanism and method are disclosed. In particular, the flow control mechanism can include a needle including: a longitudinal axis; an outer conduit including an outer base end, an outer body, and an outer free end; an inner conduit including an inner base end, an inner body radially spaced from the outer body, an inner free end, and a central inlet passage extending between the inlet and the inner free end. Also disclosed is a needle control assembly to position the flow control needle relative to a stilling tank outlet orifice to control flow of molten material through the outlet orifice.

Continuous basalt fibers are produced by melting basalt rock in a submerged combustion melter, and by forming said melt into continuous basalt fibers.

Continuous basalt fibers are produced by melting basalt rock in a submerged combustion melter, and by forming said melt into continuous basalt fibers.

A submerged combustion melter is arranged with a melting chamber, which may be cylindrical, and at least five submerged combustion burners.

A submerged combustion melter is arranged with a melting chamber, which may be cylindrical, and at least five submerged combustion burners.

A method of minimizing the formation of a rhodium-platinum defect in a glass or glass ceramic material or in the melt thereof is provided. The method includes providing a vessel made of a platinum-rhodium alloy for use in a manufacturing process for obtaining the material, and an interface between the vessel and the melt is present. The method can include providing sufficient partial pressures of hydrogen outside and inside the vessel for controlling the partial pressure of oxygen in a region of the melt adjacent to the interface. A method of minimizing the formation of, or counteracting the impact of, a localized thermal, electrical, or composition cell in the melt during a manufacturing process is also provided. The method can include adding a multivalent compound to the melt, adding a mixer to the finer tube, adding a mixing step to the manufacturing process, or amplifying the mixing.

A method of minimizing the formation of a rhodium-platinum defect in a glass or glass ceramic material or in the melt thereof is provided. The method includes providing a vessel made of a platinum-rhodium alloy for use in a manufacturing process for obtaining the material, and an interface between the vessel and the melt is present. The method can include providing sufficient partial pressures of hydrogen outside and inside the vessel for controlling the partial pressure of oxygen in a region of the melt adjacent to the interface. A method of minimizing the formation of, or counteracting the impact of, a localized thermal, electrical, or composition cell in the melt during a manufacturing process is also provided. The method can include adding a multivalent compound to the melt, adding a mixer to the finer tube, adding a mixing step to the manufacturing process, or amplifying the mixing.

A known method for homogenizing glass includes the following steps: providing a cylindrical blank composed of the glass, having a cylindrical outer surface which extends between a first end face and a second end face, forming a shear zone in the blank by softening a longitudinal section of the blank and subjecting it to a thermal-mechanical intermixing treatment, and moving the shear zone along the longitudinal axis of the blank. To reduce the risk of cracks and fractures during homogenizing, it is proposed that a thermal radiation dissipator is used that at least partially surrounds the shear zone, the lateral dimension of which in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the blank is greater than the shear zone and smaller than the length of the blank, the thermal radiation dissipator being moved synchronously with the shear zone along the longitudinal axis of the blank.

A known method for homogenizing glass includes the following steps: providing a cylindrical blank composed of the glass, having a cylindrical outer surface which extends between a first end face and a second end face, forming a shear zone in the blank by softening a longitudinal section of the blank and subjecting it to a thermal-mechanical intermixing treatment, and moving the shear zone along the longitudinal axis of the blank. To reduce the risk of cracks and fractures during homogenizing, it is proposed that a thermal radiation dissipator is used that at least partially surrounds the shear zone, the lateral dimension of which in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the blank is greater than the shear zone and smaller than the length of the blank, the thermal radiation dissipator being moved synchronously with the shear zone along the longitudinal axis of the blank.