The Development of the Flat Glass Manufacture in Russia

Dr. Alexander Zhymalov, Dr. Valery Kondrashov

Owing to the developments of Saratov Glass Institute, Co., Stk. and a range of leading projecting, scientific ? research, machine-building and glass enterprises in Russia we have the scientific and technical chance for the creation, modification and modernization of the new highly efficient manufacture of the flat glass.

The first home line for manufacture of the plate glass onto the molten metal bath was developed by the scientists of Saratov Glass Institute, Co., Stk. and was put into operation at its pilot plant in 1969 ? a year and a half earlier than the first float line under Pilkington's licence at the Bor Glass Plant, the Nizhegorodsky Region, Russia.

From 1970 to 1980 a complex of scientific and designed works and also developing the industrial technology at the own pilot line with the output of 100 tons per day allowed to create and put into operation the lines for two-stage formation of glass.

The Institute has developed the two-stage method where a glass ribbon is formed within two stages: firstly on the molten metal and secondly on the gas cushion.

The essence of this development is that the gas cushion ? a device - was placed at an exit of the float bath. It allows to withdraw the glass ribbon with the higher temperature than patented by Pilkington Brs. Ltd (England).

Owing the fixation of the glass ribbon geometry onto the gas support the glass ribbon is transported from the float bath to an annealing device. Until now there have been no examples of such a large-scale development of the industrial-used gas cushion in the history of glassmaking.

From start-up of the home line technical modernization of the whole glass industry of the former USSR rises. Beginning from 1972 the Institute in close contact with other organizations designed and put into operation 6 home lines at Saratov Glass Plant. Later 7 home lines were put into operation at different plants of the glass industry in Russia.

In our opinion there is necessary to have float lines with the small output but with a wide range of glass products - as ordinary clear so decorative glass - in Russia with its large length and in countries where the small quantity of glass is required.

Such a line was created by the Institutes' scientists and has been operated for a long time. This line can be produced the polished plate glass with thickness from 2.0 to 12.0 mm; decorative float-glass "Metelitsa" with one surface decorated by alternated glossy and mat parts; architectural float glass "Rhythm" with surfaces formed of waves; electrochemically treated glass with a long scale of tints and glass with special coatings.

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