2. Glass production

2.1 Flat glass

Flat glass is used for traditional glazing. Nowadays, it is most often combined with other types of glass separated by air or gas to provide insulation.

The industrial production of float glass involves five complex operations:

1. The merger

The vitrifiable mixture is fed into the furnace and heated to 1,450°C. However, many gas bubbles remain from the decomposition of carbonates and sulfates;

2. Refining

This stage involves raising the temperature to the maximum possible (1,450 to 1,530°C for common soda-lime glasses), so as to reduce the glass's viscosity as much as possible and lead to the elimination of bubbles and the homogenization of the paste....