Provided is a glass fiber having a low spinning temperature and a low liquidus temperature, and besides, having a large difference between the liquidus temperature and the spinning temperature, and a method of manufacturing the same. The glass fiber of the present invention includes as a glass composition, in terms of mass % on an oxide basis, 50% to 65% of SiO.sub.2, 0% to 3% of Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0% to 1% of MgO, 0% to less than 0.7% of CaO, 0% to 1% of Li.sub.2O, 10% to 20% of Na.sub.2O, 0% to 2% of K.sub.2O, 6% to 10% of TiO.sub.2, and 15% to 20% of ZrO.sub.2, and has a value for (Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O)/(MgO+CaO) of 6.0 or more.

Provided is a glass fiber having a low spinning temperature and a low liquidus temperature, and besides, having a large difference between the liquidus temperature and the spinning temperature, and a method of manufacturing the same. The glass fiber of the present invention includes as a glass composition, in terms of mass % on an oxide basis, 50% to 65% of SiO.sub.2, 0% to 3% of Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0% to 1% of MgO, 0% to less than 0.7% of CaO, 0% to 1% of Li.sub.2O, 10% to 20% of Na.sub.2O, 0% to 2% of K.sub.2O, 6% to 10% of TiO.sub.2, and 15% to 20% of ZrO.sub.2, and has a value for (Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O)/(MgO+CaO) of 6.0 or more.

Lithium silicate-diopside glass ceramics are described which are characterized by a controllable translucence and can be satisfactorily processed mechanically and therefore can be used in particular as restoration material in dentistry.

The disclosure relates to a method for producing an optical element (202), wherein a blank of transparent material is heated and/or provided and, after heating and/or after being provided is press molded, for example on both sides, between a first mold (UF) and at least one second mold (OF), to form the optical element (202) and is then sprayed with a surface treatment agent.

The disclosure relates to a method for producing an optical element (202), wherein a blank of transparent material is heated and/or provided and, after heating and/or after being provided is press molded, for example on both sides, between a first mold (UF) and at least one second mold (OF), to form the optical element (202) and is then sprayed with a surface treatment agent.

A thermal insulation material includes inorganic fibers and an endothermic material dispersed throughout the inorganic fibers. The endothermic material may be incorporated into the inorganic fibers during a fiber attenuation process. The endothermic material may be particles entangled within a web of the inorganic fibers or may be coated onto surfaces of the inorganic fibers.

A thermal insulation material includes inorganic fibers and an endothermic material dispersed throughout the inorganic fibers. The endothermic material may be incorporated into the inorganic fibers during a fiber attenuation process. The endothermic material may be particles entangled within a web of the inorganic fibers or may be coated onto surfaces of the inorganic fibers.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to reactive media including calcium. A reactive media includes a vitrified calcium silicate comprising reactive calcium. Various embodiments of the reactive media described herein are useful for removal of anionic impurities such as phosphate from water.

A process for the manufacture of inorganic fibres comprises: (a) selecting a composition and proportion of: (i) silica sand; (ii) lime comprising at least 0.10 wt % magnesia; and (iii) optional additives comprising a source of oxides or non-oxides of one or more of the lanthanides series of elements, or combinations thereof; (b) mixing the silica sand; lime; and optional additives to form a mixture; (c) melting the mixture in a furnace; and (d) shaping the molten mixture into inorganic fibres. The raw materials selection comprises composition selection and proportion selection of the raw materials to obtain an inorganic fibre composition comprising a range of from 61.0 wt % and 70.8 wt % silica; less than 2.0 wt % magnesia; less than 2.0% incidental impurities; and no more than 2.0 wt % of metal oxides and/or metal non-oxides derived from said optional additives; with calcia providing the balance up to 100 wt %; and wherein the inorganic fibre composition comprises no more than 0.80 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3 derived from the incidental impurities and/or the optional additives.

The present invention relates to a method for evaluating the thermal expansion properties of a titania-containing glass body. On the basis of measured values, obtained at a certain temperature, for a physical parameter that changes depending on the titania concentration and a physical parameter that changes depending on the fictive temperature, the thermal expansion coefficient of the titania-containing silica glass body and the slope of the thermal expansion coefficient are calculated using a linear relational expression represented by a plurality of physical properties. The thermal expansion properties of the titania-containing silica glass body are evaluated on the basis of the calculated thermal expansion coefficient and thermal expansion coefficient slope.